
Atlanta United host NYCFC at Mercedes-Benz Stadium on Saturday, September 26 (7:30 PM ET / 6:30 PM CT / 4:30 PM PT).
Atlanta United have no injury concerns of note heading into this one, meaning Aleksey Miranchuk should again pull the strings in the final third after a season in which the attacking midfielder has scored six goals and created 45 chances in 2055 minutes. Miguel Almirón offers a second outlet alongside him, having managed 53 shots and 20 shots on target of his own. NYCFC arrive with a clean bill of health too, and much of their threat will run through Nicolás Mercau, the attacking midfielder responsible for 15 goals, 35 shots on target and 50 chances created — comfortably the standout individual output in this fixture.
Neither side has much rhythm to lean on. Atlanta United’s past five have brought one win, two draws and two losses. That form leaves them 14th in the East on 26 points, with a goal difference of -13 that points to a defense which has leaked far too often. NYCFC’s last five have produced one win, two draws and two losses too. That leaves them 10th in the East, still needing more from the group beyond Mercau’s individual production. With both teams short on scoring form and Atlanta especially fragile at the back, this has the makings of a low-event, cagey night at Mercedes-Benz Stadium.
US viewers can watch Atlanta United vs NYCFC on Apple TV’s MLS Season Pass.
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Season Form & Standings
Atlanta United sit 14th in the East on 26 points from 26 games, with a goal difference of -13 leaving them well adrift of the playoff picture. NYCFC are in better shape at 10th in the East, still with work to do but closer to the postseason positions than their hosts.
| Team | Pos | GP | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Atlanta United | 14 | 26 | 7 | 5 | 14 | 30 | 43 | -13 | 26 |
Atlanta United vs NYCFC Predicted Lineups
Predicted XI — updated for the latest team news.
Atlanta United
4-2-3-1NYCFC
4-2-3-1Potential Match-Winners
- Aleksey Miranchuk (Atlanta United): Atlanta’s most productive attacker this season, the attacking midfielder has scored 6 goals and created 45 chances across 2055 minutes.
- Miguel Almirón (Atlanta United): The attacking midfielder has fired 53 shots and hit the target 20 times, adding 4 goals of his own this season.
- Nicolás Mercau (NYCFC): Mercau’s 15 goals and 50 chances created make him the standout individual talent on either team sheet.
Recent Form
Atlanta United: L D L D W
- 2026-09-20: Portland Timbers 0-1 Atlanta United (W, away)
- 2026-09-13: DC United 0-0 Atlanta United (D, away)
- 2026-09-10: Atlanta United 2-3 Orlando City (L, home)
- 2026-09-06: Inter Miami 2-2 Atlanta United (D, away)
- 2026-08-30: Atlanta United 0-2 Charlotte FC (L, home)
Atlanta United’s past five have brought one win, two draws and two losses. Most recently that was a 1-0 win at Portland, but the home losses to Orlando City (2-3) and Charlotte (0-2) conceded 5 goals between them.
NYCFC: D D L W L
- 2026-09-19: NYCFC 0-1 New York Red Bulls (L, home)
- 2026-09-13: Real Salt Lake 0-2 NYCFC (W, away)
- 2026-09-10: NYCFC 1-2 New England Revolution (L, home)
- 2026-09-05: NYCFC 0-0 Nashville SC (D, home)
- 2026-08-30: Toronto FC 1-1 NYCFC (D, away)
NYCFC’s last five have produced one win, two draws and two losses. The win came 2-0 away at Real Salt Lake, while the draws — 0-0 with Nashville and 1-1 at Toronto — kept them from slipping further down the East.
Atlanta United vs NYCFC Prediction
This looks set to be tight and light on quality chances. Atlanta United sit 14th in the East. They have leaked goals in their last two home matches, shipping five between the losses to Orlando City and Charlotte, which does not inspire confidence in a defense facing NYCFC’s sharpest attacking midfielder. NYCFC sit 10th in the East and don’t need to be at their fluent best to find a way through. Mercau alone has produced fifteen goals and fifty chances created this season, enough quality to swing a low-scoring game without the rest of the team clicking. Expect a scrappy, cagey affair decided by fine margins, with NYCFC winning 0-1 on the road.
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