After a weekend away from regular-season action and extra time on the training ground to prepare for the end of the season, FC Cincinnati are back on the road this weekend to take on Atlanta United FC in an Eastern Conference battle that kicks off a very busy October.
The Orange and Blue will play twice a week for the rest of the season, stacking seven matches between now and Halloween before a ‘regular’ week heading into Decision Day. With playoff spots on the line and a congested schedule to account for, FCC head into this road matchup with a clear look at what will be needed of them.
But you can only take it one game at a time, so for this match in the Peach State, FC Cincinnati Head Coach Pat Noonan says they are keeping their eyes on what’s next.
"We're preparing for Atlanta. We don't have an approach other than we know the schedule as far as the seven games. We have to put together a good performance against Atlanta and go from there,” Noonan said at his prematch press conference. “That's just kind of where we're at. I think the good part is the health for the most part of the group is giving us good (availability), and we're going to need (that) through this stretch. That's what we know. But as far as a long-term plan or a plan that gets us through it, we need to have a good performance against Atlanta and go from there."
The visit to Atlanta pits The Orange and Blue against a side also looking to right the ship this season, and one that has brought in a collection of reinforcements to support that late-season effort. ATLUFC currently sit in 14th in the Eastern Conference, but have added plenty of experience and veteran know-how this window.
“There's definitely some new pieces, players that we haven't seen up close…[Breel] Embolo, very strong attacking presence. The way they utilize him with the ball, how he moves off the line and behind. He's just a very well-rounded player and can beat you with speed in the right moments, can beat you with his ability to win a duel with how he turns, how he handles pressure, hold up play, disguise. There's creativity in the way he plays, and obviously he can finish off plays. But a good addition, and with you know [Alexey] Miranchuk and [Miguel] Almiron, that front line is, and their team as a whole is very experienced from the goalkeeper all the way through,” Noonan said of his upcoming opponent. “The two center backs now with those additions – experienced internationals with [Júnior] Alonso and with [Paulo] Díaz. So you're starting to see the pieces that Tata's bringing into play. [Mauricio] Amaro, a new addition, [Giuliano] Galoppo ...those are all the new guys that we haven't seen, and so very talented players. That as you start to see these quality pieces start working together more, it's a different team and a strong team, so it'll be a good challenge."
After this match, FC Cincinnati returns home for a three-match home stand over seven days. Between October 14 and 21, FCC will host New England Revolution, Columbus Crew and D.C. United all at TQL Stadium.
FC Cincinnati at Atlanta United FC – Saturday, October 10, 2026 – 7:30 p.m. ET – Mercedes-Benz Stadium
Watch/Stream (English/Spanish): Apple TV
English Local Radio: ESPN 1530
Spanish Local Radio: La Mega 101.5 FM
History vs Atlanta United FC
FC Cincinnati and Atlanta United FC last met back in February on Matchday 1, a frigid 42-degree day in the Queen City. The Orange and Blue won 2-0 with Kévin Denkey’s 80th minute goal and Nick Hagglund’s 90th minute header serving as the difference in the clean sheet win.
All time, FC Cincinnati are 5-6-6 against Atlanta United FC, but have lost just one of their last nine matches against the side. At Mercedes-Benz Stadium, FC Cincinnati are 2-4-2, but 2-1-1 under Head Coach Pat Noonan.
FC CINCINNATI NOTES
(Courtesy of FC Cincinnati Communications)
The Cincinnati Kid – Cincinnati native Nick Hagglund’s next appearance for FC Cincinnati will be his 179th in all competitions for the club, tying him with Yuya Kubo for the most in club history. He is two appearances away from standing alone at 180 appearances and the
all-time club games played record.
In solely MLS Regular Season play, Hagglund already is the all-time appearance leader (160)
and is the only player in club history to have made more than 150 MLS appearances for FCC
(2nd: Kubo, 146). Hagglund is the only player to have been on the FCC roster for all eight MLS
seasons dating to the club’s first in MLS in 2019.
Other milestones – Fellow MLS veterans Tom Barlow and Kyle Smith, both in their first seasons with FC Cincinnati, enter Saturday night on the verge of 200 all-time MLS Regular Season appearances. Each player has 199 career appearances, and the duo will soon join Nick Hagglund and Alvas Powell as the only active players on the roster with 200+ career MLS appearances.
Ahoj, Holla, Hallo – After David Douděra made his debut in Montréal last time out, two other FCC additions are available for selection after obtaining their P-1 Visa: Julián Malatini [hoo-lee-AHN mal-ah-TEE-ni], who joined on loan from SV Werder Bremen of the German Bundesliga, and Tyrell Malacia [ty-RELL mah-LAH-see-ah], formerly of Manchester United.
Back from Abroad (mostly)(…the abroad part, not back) – Six FC Cincinnati first-team players represented their country during the FIFA September/October window: Miles Robinson (Made one start with United States in friendly against Chile), Pavel Bucha (Made one appearance for Czechia in Nations League match against Spain), Kévin Denkey (Made two starts for Togo in AFCON Qualifiers against Burundi and Zambia), Andrei Chirila (Made two starts in friendlies for United States U19 against Wales and England), Samuel Gidi (Made two starts for Slovakia U21 in UEFA U21 Euro Qualifiers against England and Andorra), and Connor Dale (one start for United States U17 in win over Netherlands).
Scouting Atlanta United FC (7-14-6, 27 Points, 14th in the Eastern Conference, D-W-D-L-D)
Atlanta United FC host The Orange and Blue this weekend on the brink and, much like FC Cincinnati, desperate for a result to keep their playoff hopes alive. With 27 points on the season, the 5 Stripes are on the outside looking in on the postseason and need to close a six-point gap to get back into the play-in game picture.
In 2026, Atlanta has had oscillating periods of success and failure, but the bad times have outweighed the good this season. Shortly after the season returned this summer after the World Cup pause, Atlanta ripped off a three-game win streak to kickstart their late-season push, but they've since won only one of their next five games.
The home-road splits also don't weigh much in Atlanta's results this season;: at Mercedes-Benz Stadium, they are 4-7-2, while on the road they nhave an only slightly worse 3-7-4 record.
Team leader in scoring, Alexey Miranchuk, who has six goals and seven assists this season, leads the offense and is a reliable option for the side, ranking third in minutes played for Atlanta with 2055. The leading outfield minutes-getter for this ATLUFC side, though,, is Elías Báez, a center back with 24 starts this season who joined the club last winter as a U22 Initiative player, signing from Argentine side San Lorenzo.
The biggest addition to Atlanta United FC this summer was Swiss international forward Breel Embolo, signed from French Ligue 1 side Stade Rennais for what is reportedly one of the largest fees in league history. Embolo, a forward who has represented his country at the last three World Cups, is 29 and has been one of France's most prolific scorers over the last five years.
The striker made his club debut on September 5 against Inter Miami CF, scoring in that premiere and has played full 90s in all but one of Atlanta's five matches since.
Other key contributors for Atlanta include Paraguayan international Miguel Almiron, in his second stint with the club after a then-record sale to Newcastle in 2019. The winger has scored four goals this season and a tie for the team high of with seven assists in his 20 appearances. Midfielder Tristan Muyumba is another reliable feature for the side, appearing in all 27 games, scoring four goals and logging the fourth-most minutes.
This side is managed by Head Coach Gerardo “Tata” Martino, who, like some other members of this team, is back for another tenure after leading the club to great heights in their first stint. Tata coached Atlanta from 2016 to 2018, winning the MLS Cup in 2018 before leaving to Head Coach the Mexican National Team. He returned to manage Inter Miami CF from 2023 to 2024, winning a Supporters’ Shield, but returned to manage Atlanta at the start of the 2026 campaign.
Under Tata, Atlanta has used a combination of formations but has typically stuck to a 4-2-3-1, or a 4-3-1-2 since the arrival of Embolo.
Finally, Atlanta's goalkeeper this season has been Argentine keeper Lucas Hoyos, who has started all 27 matches and earned three clean sheets. The former Newell’s Old Boys keeper is 37 years old and, before joining Atlanta, played his entire career in Argentina’s Primera División.
