The wait is almost over, Atlanta! The energy is buzzing at the Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta Training Ground, and all eyes are on Mercedes-Benz Stadium as Atlanta United kicks off their 2025 MLS campaign this Saturday against CF Montréal. The Five Stripes faithful have been counting down the days since December, and now, the moment has arrived.
Fired Up and Ready to Roll
With just 72 hours to go before the season opener, Atlanta United is locking in their final preparations despite the frigid conditions. Training has been intense, fast-paced, and focused—just the way head coach Ronny Deila wants it.
Brad Guzan, the veteran leader between the posts, made it clear after Thursday’s training session: “Ready or not, it’s here.” After a grueling preseason filled with high-intensity drills and plenty of tactical fine-tuning, the squad is eager to step onto the pitch in front of more than 60,000 roaring ATLiens.
“For us to be able to play at home in front of a massive crowd, it’s that much more exciting,” Guzan said.
Montréal Brings the Heat, but ATL is Locked In
The visiting CF Montréal side won’t make it easy. Their pace in attack and relentless press gave Atlanta a battle in last season’s Wild Card round, and they’ll be looking for another upset. But Deila is ready for whatever comes their way.
“Montréal will feel the same way about us,” Deila said. “It’s clear how we play.”
Tactical adaptability will be key. If the game doesn’t go according to plan early, Deila and his squad will need to adjust on the fly. The second half will be a true test of Atlanta United’s ability to adapt and control the game when it matters most.
With a deep and talented roster, Deila isn’t locked into a set starting XI just yet—but that’s a good problem to have.
“There’s always doubts because so many are in good shape,” Deila said. “The depth in this squad is very, very good. What it gives me is more about how we can change the game. What kind of scenarios inside the game can happen?”
That depth—and the relentless work put in during preseason—should give Atlanta an edge as matches wear on. The Five Stripes are built to outlast and outwork opponents. Now, it’s time to prove it.
Eyes on the Prize: Atlanta’s 2025 Mission
There’s plenty of preseason buzz around Atlanta United’s potential this season, but Guzan isn’t letting the outside noise distract the squad.
“A lot of that talk and discussion comes from the outside,” Guzan said. “Us as a group, we’re continuing to build. It may not be perfect on Saturday at times, and that’s okay. It’s how we get through those moments throughout the 90 minutes… Ultimately, we want to build and grow as the season goes on.”
While Guzan takes the steady approach, winger Saba Lobjanidze isn’t shy about the team’s ambitions.
“I’m expecting something really big,” Lobjanidze said earlier this week. “My minimum is top four. I want to be top four for sure. With this squad, with these players, with this coach. One thing is on paper, [another] is on the pitch. I can say whatever I want, I can say top one. But we have to go on the pitch and show this confidence.”
That confidence matches what Chief Soccer Officer and Sporting Director Chris Henderson has been building toward. Henderson has carefully constructed this roster with a clear goal: finishing in the top four of the Eastern Conference and competing for silverware.
Deila has analyzed the numbers—points, goals scored, goals conceded—all to see what it will take to reach that top-four finish. But make no mistake, the ultimate objective is winning it all.
Can Atlanta Reignite the 2018 Magic?
Five Stripes fans have been dreaming of recapturing the glory of 2018, when Atlanta United stormed through the league en route to an MLS Cup. Guzan acknowledges the comparisons but stresses that success won’t happen overnight.
“That’s what 2018 represented,” Guzan said. “That’s ultimately what we want to do. How we get there is going to be a process. It’s not going to happen in week one, it’s not going to happen in week six… We now need to, as a group, continue to build and grow and learn—individually, collectively, and together with the staff. I think if we do that, then we can have consistent performances week to week that put us in a position to be able to compete for trophies.”
The journey starts Saturday night. The fans are ready. The team is ready. The city is ready.
Atlanta, let’s do this.
