Here are 5 things to watch as Atlanta United opens its season Sunday
Atlanta United kicks off its sixth Major League Soccer season on Sunday. The club will play host to Sporting Kansas City at Mercedes Benz Stadium.
It will be the first full season under head coach Gonzalo Pineda. Although the Five Stripes suffered a first round playoff loss last November, the club posted the league’s best record after Pineda took over in August.
The match begins at 3 p.m. and will be broadcast on FS1 and Fox Deportes if you can’t make it in person.
Here are five things to watch on Sunday:
The results of training camp…
“It’s been good, it’s been tactically oriented, we’ve definitely gotten fit as well,” said defender Miles Robinson. “We definitely have offensive talent to score goals, but it’s about how we put them in the best spot.”
Some new faces…
Much of Atlanta’s core remains in place – forward Josef Martinez, goalkeeper Brad Guzan, Robinson and Brooks Lennon. But the team also welcomes 20-year-old midfielder Thiago Almada from Argentina, veteran midfielder Ozzie Alonso (who previously played with Pineda in Seattle) and defender Andrew Gutman, who played 22 matches for the New York Red Bulls last season.
Gonzalo Pineda…
Pineda took over the team in August of 2021 and guided Atlanta United to a playoff appearance. Despite a first-round loss, a full training camp should allow Pineda to further put his stamp on the club. Expectations are high with Atlanta United trying to win its first championship since 2018.
Attendance…
Atlanta United holds most of Major League Soccer’s attendance records and regularly draws the top crowds in the league. The all-time record was 72,548 inside Mercedes Benz Stadium for Atlanta’s game against Los Angeles on Aug. 3, 2019. “It’s incredible, every season our fans never cease to amaze me,” said club president Darren Eales. “It’s a full stadium game against Sporting Kansas City, so we’re excited for that.”
What they’ll be wearing…
Atlanta United will be sporting its traditional black uniforms for Sunday’s opener. But the team recently unveiled a secondary kit that features a green color scheme in honor of the iconic Atlanta tree canopy. The jersey is made from 100% recycled material, too. Watch for that jersey throughout the season.
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