Atlanta United released its 2022 schedule on Wednesday, a 34-match campaign that runs from the end of February to Decision Day on Oct. 9.
The regular season includes 15 nationally televised matches. The remaining 19 regular season matches will be televised regionally on Bally Sports South or Bally Sports Southeast as well as the Bally Sports app.
Three home matches, including the home opener against Sporting Kansas City on Feb. 27, are slated to be full venue matches, opening all three levels of Mercedes-Benz Stadium to fans.
Here are a few more takeaways from Atlanta United’s 2022 schedule:
1
Atlanta United plays expansion club Charlotte FC twice and both meetings occur in Atlanta’s first six matches. The first is at Mercedes-Benz Stadium on March 13. The second is on April 9 at Charlotte’s Bank of America Stadium and will air on ESPN.
2
Three of Atlanta United’s first four matches are at Mercedes-Benz Stadium, including the season opener against Sporting Kansas City on Sunday, Feb. 27.
3
Most games in 2022 are either on Saturday or Sunday. The schedule includes five mid-week matches, four on Wednesdays (July 13, Aug. 17, Aug. 31, and Sept. 14) and one on Thursday (June 30). Just two of those mid-week matches are at home.
4
Atlanta’s eight Western Conference opponents are Sporting Kansas City, Nashville SC, Austin FC, Real Salt Lake, LA Galaxy, Seattle Sounders, 2021 regular season Western Conference champion Colorado Rapids and 2021 MLS Cup runner-up Portland Timbers.
5
The longest road trip and longest homestand are three games each. The three-match road trip is in late June/early July against Toronto FC, New York Red Bulls and New York City FC. The longest home stretch follows right after with three games in July against Austin FC, Real Salt Lake and Orlando City SC.
6
In one of the marquee matchups, Gonzalo Pineda faces his former club, Seattle Sounders, on Aug. 6 for the first time since becoming head coach of Atlanta United. The match will air on ABC.
7
July and August are the busiest months, and Atlanta United plays six matches each month. Atlanta’s three-game homestand is in July. August alternates home-away for its six matches.
8
There are three breaks in the schedule. Two are international windows on March 21-30 (for the last leg of World Cup qualifying matches) and Sept. 17-Oct. 1. The other break occurs near mid-season May 29-June 15.
9
The season marks a couple of firsts for Atlanta United. On May 21, the club travels to play in Nashville’s brand-new stadium, which will be the largest soccer-specific venue in the U.S. July 9 will be the first time in club history that Atlanta United faces Austin FC.
10
Atlanta United meets both clubs that competed for the 2021 MLS Cup. Atlanta returns to Yankee Stadium, the field where Atlanta’s 2021 campaign ended, to take on defending MLS Cup champion New York City FC on July 3. Atlanta faces the Western Conference champion Portland Timbers later in the year (Sept. 4).
The regular season concludes with another matchup against NYCFC on Decision Day (Oct. 9) at Mercedes-Benz Stadium.
