Atlanta seeks – Atlanta United face Columbus on Sunday, May 24 at 5 p.m. ET, trying to bounce back from a 4-1 U.S. Open Cup quarterfinal loss to Orlando City and close the first half of the season with momentum before a long league break for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
Sunday night is supposed to be a reset — and for Atlanta United, it starts with how quickly they can move past a rough midweek exit.
The 5-Stripes take the field against Columbus on Sunday, May 24 at 5 p.m. ET from ScottsMiracle-Gro Field in Columbus. The timing matters. It’s the kind of match Atlanta can’t afford to waste because it comes right before a long league break for the upcoming 2026 FIFA World Cup.
Atlanta is coming off a 4-1 loss to Orlando City SC in the U.S. Open Cup quarterfinal in midweek. All four Orlando goals arrived in the first half, and head coach Tata Martino didn’t look past it when he spoke to the media after the defeat.
“My responsibility. Absolutely me. It’s not the responsibility of the players.”
The response now has to be visible. Atlanta isn’t chasing a distant storyline — it’s trying to finish this first half of the campaign with something better than the feeling that lingered from that early Orlando surge. The team sits just three points out of 10th place in the Eastern Conference. and a win on Sunday could carry weight for what comes next.
They’ll also be trying to correct a specific wound. Earlier this season, Atlanta suffered a 3-1 home loss to the Crew on “404 Day,” and this match offers a direct chance at revenge.
Midfielder Alexey Miranchuk, speaking to the media this week, framed it the simplest way possible: don’t let the moment slip into another dropped stretch.
“It’s not going to be an easy game obviously. It’s an away game against another good team. We need to understand everything, and we will do everything to finish this part of the season on a good end.”
The bigger challenge for Atlanta is making that “good end” real, especially after how quickly Orlando swung the game early. If Atlanta can’t slow the tide in the opening stretches, the rest of the season won’t just start behind — it could deepen a gap that’s already close enough to worry about.
Their best lever may be the one they’ll be looking for after halftime. Columbus has conceded 16 of its 23 goals in the second half of matches this season. Atlanta. meanwhile. has scored nine of its 14 goals in the second half. which gives them a narrow. tactical opening: if the game runs long. the statistics suggest Atlanta is more built to strike when legs and spacing start to break down.
And there’s reason to believe they can create that pressure from midfield. In last weekend’s MLS match against Orlando City. Homegrown midfielder Jay Fortune played what was described as one of — if not the best — matches of his young career. He scored the crucial late goal to earn the 1-1 result. Fortune also created a career-high five chances, led the team with 22 passes into the final third and 12 final third entries.
His form hasn’t stalled either. It’s continued to climb after he worked his way back from injury in the offseason.
Atlanta’s midfield picture is also changing in another way. Alongside Fortune, Cooper Sanchez — another Homegrown player — has emerged in midfield, giving Atlanta more building blocks as they push toward the break.
The availability picture, though, complicates everything. Missing from the pitch for a few weeks. Miguel Almirón is aiming for one final opportunity to return before the break. Fafa Picault has moved from questionable to out due to a hamstring injury. Steven Alzate is listed as questionable with an adductor issue.
Matías Galarza remains out for personal reasons. Emmanuel Latte Lath is listed as questionable due to illness.
Atlanta’s task on Sunday is straightforward in wording and hard in execution: shake off the heavy first-half damage from Orlando, finish the first half of the season on a positive note, and do it in a match that could define momentum right before the long pause. Kickoff is set for 5 p.m. ET.
Atlanta United Columbus Tata Martino U.S. Open Cup Jay Fortune Alexey Miranchuk Miguel Almirón Fafa Picault Steven Alzate Matías Galarza Emmanuel Latte Lath Cooper Sanchez MLS 2026 FIFA World Cup break
4-1 Orlando wtf. Atlanta better show up.
So it’s like a reset match before the World Cup break? I still don’t get why they’re saying it’s “not the players” fault when… players are literally on the field lol. Hopefully they can “bounce back” because Columbus games always feel cursed.
Orlando scored all in the first half right? That’s the part I keep hearing. Columbus is probably gonna press them and Atlanta will panic again. Also the 404 Day thing sounds like a tech joke?? like why would a soccer team have that as a date.
I don’t even follow Atlanta that hard but if they’re only 3 points out of 10th then they’re not really doing that great. And waiting for a long league break for the 2026 World Cup?? seems like they’re setting themselves up to lose momentum. Tata Martino blaming himself is fine but results are results. Need at least a point Sunday or people are gonna be mad.