When Does Atlanta United Play? Your Guide to Match Days in Atlanta

Atlanta United has quickly become one of the city’s biggest sports traditions, and knowing when they play helps you plan everything from MARTA rides to pregame meetups downtown. While specific dates change every year, there are clear patterns that can help you keep track of the season.

Below is a practical, Atlanta-focused guide to when Atlanta United plays, where they play, and how to keep up with the schedule all year long.

The Big Picture: When Is the Atlanta United Season?

Atlanta United plays in Major League Soccer (MLS), which has a fairly consistent yearly rhythm:

• Regular season: generally late February or early March through October
• Playoffs (if the team qualifies): typically late October through November or early December
• Leagues Cup and other tournaments: usually mid-summer
• Preseason friendlies: a few matches in January and February, sometimes in or near Atlanta

If you live in Atlanta, this means your heaviest run of home games is usually March through September, with a mix of weekday and weekend matches at Mercedes‑Benz Stadium.

Typical Match Days and Kickoff Times

Exact dates and times change every year, but there are strong patterns in when Atlanta United plays:

Common Match Days

Most Atlanta United matches fall on:

• Saturdays – the most common match day, especially in the evening
• Sundays – often afternoon or early evening
• Occasional Wednesdays – usually evening midweek games

Friday and Monday games are less common but can happen, especially for nationally televised matches.

Typical Kickoff Times in Atlanta

Kickoff times are usually set to balance TV schedules, stadium events, and fan attendance. Typical start times at Mercedes‑Benz Stadium (MBS) include:

• 7:30 p.m. – 8:00 p.m.: the most common evening kickoff
• 3:00 p.m. – 4:30 p.m.: common for Sunday afternoon games
• Midweek games: usually between 7:00 p.m. and 8:30 p.m.

Because MLS adjusts times for TV broadcasts and national coverage, always double‑check the official schedule close to match day, especially if you’re coordinating MARTA, rideshares, or parking downtown.

Where Does Atlanta United Play Home Matches?

Almost all home matches are played at:

Mercedes‑Benz Stadium

• Address: 1 AMB Drive NW, Atlanta, GA 30313
• Neighborhood: Downtown Atlanta / Vine City / Home Park area
• Nearest MARTA stations: GWCC/CNN Center, Vine City, and Dome/GWCC/State Farm Arena/College Football Hall of Fame

Select matches, especially preseason or special events, may be played at other venues in the region, but MLS regular-season home games are centered at Mercedes‑Benz Stadium.

Home vs. Away: How the Season Schedule Typically Works

Each MLS season, Atlanta United plays a mix of home and away games:

• Home games: played at Mercedes‑Benz Stadium
• Away games: played in other MLS cities across the U.S. and Canada

From an Atlanta resident or visitor’s perspective, what matters most is:

• Home games = plan for downtown crowds, traffic, and heavy MARTA use
• Away games = plan watch parties at home, local bars, restaurants, or fan group meetups

You can expect roughly half the games to be in Atlanta, spread fairly evenly across the season, though some months may be heavier than others.

Simple Overview: When Atlanta United Usually Plays

*Timing can change slightly depending on league format and TV schedules.

How to Check the Exact Atlanta United Schedule

Because dates, kickoff times, and competition formats can change from year to year, the most accurate schedule will always be the official one for the current season. To get up‑to‑date details while you’re in Atlanta, you can:

• Check the official Atlanta United schedule online or through their official app
• Use sports apps or calendar tools that track MLS matches and adjust for Eastern Time
• Look at local Atlanta sports coverage on TV, radio, or newspapers that list upcoming matches and kickoff times

If you’re planning travel into downtown Atlanta, it’s wise to confirm:

• Kickoff time (especially if it’s been moved for TV)
• Gate opening time for Mercedes‑Benz Stadium
• Any special events or doubleheaders that may affect traffic or transit

Match Day Logistics for Atlanta Residents and Visitors

Knowing when Atlanta United plays is only half the story; in Atlanta, how match days feel matters too.

Traffic and Transit Timing

When Atlanta United has a home game, expect:

• Heavier traffic on I‑75/85, Northside Drive, and surface streets around the stadium 1–2 hours before kickoff
• Packed MARTA trains, especially:
  • East–West (Blue/Green) lines to GWCC/CNN Center
  • North–South (Red/Gold) lines transferring through Five Points

If you’re not going to the match but live or work downtown, it can help to:

• Avoid driving directly past the stadium close to kickoff and final whistle
• Plan errands or commutes around evening and weekend home matches

If You’re Attending a Game

When Atlanta United plays at home, most fans aim to arrive:

• 45–90 minutes before kickoff to deal with lines, security, and concessions
• Earlier if they’re planning to meet friends at downtown bars, restaurants, or tailgate areas near the stadium

For visitors, it’s useful to build in extra time to:

• Get used to MARTA routes and stations
• Navigate the walk from stations to Mercedes‑Benz Stadium
• Find your gate and seating section inside the stadium

Other Competitions: Not Just Regular MLS Games

When you ask, “When does Atlanta United play?” you might also be thinking about non‑MLS competitions. Throughout the year, the team may play in:

• Leagues Cup – mid‑season competition involving MLS and Liga MX clubs
• U.S. Open Cup – a national knockout competition (schedule varies)
• Preseason friendlies – often in late January and February, sometimes in or near the Atlanta metro area

Match days for these events follow similar patterns (evenings, weekends), but they may be announced on a different timeline than regular-season fixtures. If you’re in Atlanta and want to attend, it’s a good idea to monitor the schedule as each new competition is announced.

How Far in Advance Are Atlanta United Matches Announced?

For planning in Atlanta—booking hotels, organizing group outings, or arranging transportation—timing matters.

In a typical year:

• Full regular-season schedules are released before the season starts, often early in the calendar year
• Kickoff times are usually set for most matches at the time of release, but some can be finalized or adjusted later
• Playoff matches are scheduled as the team qualifies, sometimes on shorter notice
• Cup competitions and friendlies may be released separately

If you’re trying to plan well in advance—for example, a spring break trip to Atlanta or a summer weekend downtown—you can usually see the majority of Atlanta United’s home games listed months ahead of time, then confirm times as the date approaches.

Quick Recap for Atlanta Fans and Visitors

• Season window: Atlanta United typically plays from late February or early March through October, with potential playoff matches into November or December.
• Common game days: Mostly Saturdays and Sundays, with some Wednesday evening games.
• Typical kickoff times: Evenings around 7:30–8:00 p.m., plus some afternoon matches.
• Home stadium:Mercedes‑Benz Stadium, 1 AMB Drive NW, Atlanta, GA 30313.
• Best practice: Always check the current official schedule and verify kickoff times before planning your trip downtown or your game‑day plans.

With these patterns in mind, you can quickly figure out when Atlanta United plays, how that fits your calendar, and how to navigate Atlanta on match days—whether you’re cheering from the stands inside Mercedes‑Benz Stadium or watching from elsewhere in the city.