Atlanta United gears up for 2026 MLS season kickoff

New Season

The 2026 Major League Soccer (MLS) season will begin in less than a week, and for Atlanta United, it will be far from their home turf, Mercedes-Benz Stadium. 

On Saturday, February 14, Atlanta United played its third preseason match of the year against Dallas FC in Texas. The match was a draw.

The Five Stripes will start the season in Cincinnati, one of the toughest places to play on the road in MLS. That game will take place on Saturday, Feb. 21 (4:45 p.m.). The following Saturday, Atlanta United will make its first West Coast trip, playing at San Jose (7:30 p.m.). 

The month of March will be more favorable to manager Tata Martino and the squad, as all three of their matches will be at home. Atlanta United is scheduled to host Real Salt Lake on Saturday, March 7 (7:30 p.m.), Philadelphia Union on Saturday, March 14 (3:15 p.m.), and D.C. United on Saturday, March (7:30 p.m.). 

New Kits

Among the hanging airplanes and memorabilia of flights long past, the new Atlanta United Spirit of ‘96 kit was unveiled on Tuesday night at the Delta Flight Museum. 

Live music filled Hangar 1 as season ticket holders wearing jerseys, jackets, and hats emblazoned with the iconic Five Stripes and the golden A filed in and made themselves comfortable an hour or so before the big reveal. 

The 2026 regular season was still three weeks away, but as live music filled the hangar, the excitement for a fresh start after last season’s rollercoaster ride could be felt in the air. 

The new Atlanta United kit was revealed around 7 pm and was met with round applause from the fans in attendance. The Spirit of ‘96 kit is paying homage to the 1996 Summer Olympic Games, which took place in Atlanta and across Georgia 30 years ago. The primary color is white, with accents of green and gold throughout. The gold continues through the kit on the crest. 

Former Atlanta United and United States National Team goalkeeper Brad Guzan modeled the new kit alongside Morehouse College legend and Olympic gold medal 400-meter hurdler Edwin Moses, and Olympic gold medal gymnast Shannon Miller. 

“Everyone is going to be coming here to experience Atlanta,” Guzan said. Once his name was announced, the familiar chants of “GUZZZZZZ” were chanted from the crowd. Guzan said the city and Atlanta United will be on display this summer when the FIFA World Cup stops downtown for eight matches, including one semifinal match. 

“You talk about being able to host the 1996 Olympics, this will be a chance to show the world how great Atlanta is,” Guzan said. 

Following the reveal, a pop-up shop selling the new kit opened in the back of Hangar 2. A five-minute mini-documentary appropriately titled  “Spirit of ‘96” played on a loop throughout the night. 

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