Atlanta United Begins New Era Under Tata Martino Against Cincinnati

Eastern Conference rivals clash in season opener as Atlanta looks to bounce back from disappointing 2025 campaign.

Published on Feb. 21, 2026

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FC Cincinnati and Atlanta United, two Eastern Conference rivals, will face off in their season opener on Saturday afternoon. Cincinnati is coming off a strong 2025 season where they finished second in the East and made it to the conference semifinals, while Atlanta struggled and missed the playoffs. Atlanta has brought back former head coach Gerardo "Tata" Martino to try to turn the team around, with a focus on shoring up their leaky defense from last season.

Why it matters

This matchup between two Eastern Conference contenders will be an early test for both teams as they look to set the tone for their 2026 campaigns. Cincinnati will aim to build on their success from last year, while Atlanta hopes Martino's return can spark a turnaround after a disappointing season.

The details

Cincinnati returns their dynamic offensive duo of Evander and Kevin Denkey, who combined for 33 goals in 2025. They also have a strong defensive unit led by Matt Miazga, Miles Robinson and Nick Hagglund. Atlanta, on the other hand, struggled mightily on defense last season, conceding 63 goals. Martino's top priority will be shoring up the backline and finding a way to neutralize Evander, who he called a "very key player" for Cincinnati.

  • The teams played to a 2-2 draw in Cincinnati last March.
  • Atlanta won 4-2 at home against Cincinnati in May.

The players

Gerardo "Tata" Martino

The new head coach of Atlanta United, who previously led the team to the MLS Cup title in 2018.

Evander

The dynamic attacking midfielder for FC Cincinnati, who scored 17 goals in 2025.

Kevin Denkey

The other half of Cincinnati's dangerous offensive duo, who scored 16 goals in 2025.

Matt Miazga

A key defender for FC Cincinnati, who will look to anchor the backline.

Pat Noonan

The head coach of FC Cincinnati, who will aim to build on the team's strong 2025 season.

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What they’re saying

“I think the only thing missing is now it's time to compete. We have to find a way to neutralize a very key player for them in Evander. He's a player who can be difficult to mark because he plays free and pops up in different spaces and can cause a lot of damage in certain moments.”

— Gerardo "Tata" Martino, Head Coach, Atlanta United (Field Level Media)

“The majority of the focus is on our progress. We'll continue to emphasize our play and always keep guys up to speed with what each game will likely look like.”

— Pat Noonan, Head Coach, FC Cincinnati (Field Level Media)

What’s next

The teams will meet again later in the season, with the return match in Atlanta scheduled for May.

The takeaway

This early-season clash between Eastern Conference rivals Cincinnati and Atlanta will be an important test for both teams as they look to set the tone for their 2026 campaigns. Cincinnati will aim to build on their strong 2025 season, while Atlanta hopes the return of coach Tata Martino can spark a turnaround after a disappointing year.