Atlanta United’s path to the playoffs is as simple as driving through Midtown, with all of its detours for construction. Atlanta United needs to win at Orlando on Oct. 19 and get some help. OK, a lot of help. For Atlanta United supporters, you’ll want to root for Charlotte over D.C. United and NYCFC over Montreal and, maybe, Cincinnati over Philadelphia on the final Saturday of the season.
Here is the map with the twists and turns:
The top three seeds are locked.
1. Miami, 70 points, one match remaining.
2. Columbus, 60 points, two matches remaining
3. Cincinnati, 56 points, one match remaining.
Seeds four and five, five and six, and six and seven* are still in play:
4. Orlando, 52 points, one match remaining against Atlanta United.
5. NYCFC, 50 points, one match remaining at Montreal.
6. Charlotte, 48 points, one match remaining at D.C. United.
7. Red Bulls, 47 points, one match remaining against Columbus.
*Red Bulls will lose the first tiebreaker (wins) if it finishes tied with NYCFC.
Seeds eight and nine, the last two in the playoffs, are still in play, which is where Atlanta United’s path starts.
8. D.C. United, 40 points, one match remaining against Charlotte.
9. Montreal, 40 points, one match remaining against NYCFC.
10. Toronto, 37 points, no matches remaining.
11. Philadelphia, 37 points, one match remaining against Cincinnati.
12. Atlanta United, 37 points, one match remaining at Orlando.
The scenarios
All scenarios for Atlanta United making it to the playoffs start with it defeating Orlando on Oct. 19. Atlanta United can’t advance if it doesn’t win.
If Atlanta United wins, other results also need to go its way.
If Atlanta United wins AND D.C. United and Montreal lose AND Philadelphia draws or loses, Atlanta United will finish eighth. The eighth seed will host the one-game wildcard match. The winner will advance to a best-of-three series against Lionel Messi and Inter Miami.
If Atlanta United wins AND D.C. United and Montreal lose AND Philadelphia wins, Atlanta United will finish ninth and will go to Philadelphia for the wildcard match. The winner will advance to a best-of-three series against Lionel Messi and Inter Miami.
What is the likelihood of these scenarios?
Atlanta United defeated Orlando 2-0 on March 17. Orlando has won three consecutive and six of seven. It needs at least a point, or for NYCFC to lose, to stay in fourth and keep homefield advantage in the first round of the playoffs.
D.C. United lost to Charlotte 1-0 on June 15. D.C. United has won its past two matches and is unbeaten in its past three. Charlotte has won its past two matches and is unbeaten in its past four. D.C. United is 4-7-5 at home. Charlotte is 4-8-4 on the road.
Montreal lost at NYCFC 2-0 on July 3. Montreal has won three of its past four and four of six. NYCFC has won its past three. Montreal is 7-4-5 at home. NYCFC is 4-7-5 on the road.
Philadelphia lost at Cincinnati 4-3 on June 19. Philadelphia is winless in its past three. Cincinnati is locked into the third seed. Philadelphia is 4-7-5 at home. Cincinnati is 10-4-2 on the road.
For more content about Atlanta United
Follow me on Twitter/X @DougRobersonAJC
On Facebook at Atlanta United News Now
On Instagram at DouglasDavidRoberson
Atlanta United coverage on The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Southern Fried Soccer podcast can be found
Apple - https://apple.co/3ISD6Ve
Spotify - https://spoti.fi/3L8TN0C
Google podcasts - https://bit.ly/32KlZW3
If you are going to listen to the podcast for the first time, please follow it on Apple, Spotify or wherever you get your podcasts ... and if you like what you hear, please give us a good rating so we can grow the show. If you have questions about the MLS team, you can email Doug Roberson at droberson@ajc.com, DM him on Twitter @dougrobersonajc or call 404-526-2527.
Stay up to date every day on breaking news, in-depth investigations, politics, sports, entertainment, food and dining and so much more by becoming a subscriber to the AJC. Go to AJC.com/start for a very special offer and unlock hundreds of original articles published daily on the refreshed AJC.com and the new AJC mobile app. Plus, access to our news alerts, subscriber-only events, AJC original shows, films and videos, newsletters, and so much more.
Atlanta United’s 2024 schedule
Feb. 24 Columbus 1, Atlanta United 0
March 9 Atlanta United 4, New England 1
March 17 Atlanta United 2, Orlando 0
March 23 Toronto 2, Atlanta United 0
March 31 Atlanta United 3, Chicago 0
April 6 Atlanta United 1, NYCFC 1
April 14 Atlanta United 2, Philadelphia 2
April 20 Cincinnati 2, Atlanta United 1
April 27 Atlanta United 1, Chicago 1
May 4 Minnesota 2, Atlanta United 1
May 7 Atlanta United 3, Charlotte Independence 0 in U.S. Open Cup
May 11 D.C. United 3, Atlanta United 2
May 15 Cincinnati 1, Atlanta United 0
May 18 Atlanta United 1, Nashville 1
May 21 Atlanta United 0 (5), Charleston 0 (4) in U.S. Open Cup
May 25 LAFC 1, Atlanta United 0
May 29 Atlanta United 3, Miami 1
June 2 Charlotte 3, Atlanta United 2
June 15 Atlanta United 2, Houston 2
June 19 Atlanta United 1, D.C. United 0
June 22 Atlanta United 1, St. Louis 1
June 29 Atlanta United 2, Toronto 1
July 3 New England 2, Atlanta United 1
July 6 Real Salt Lake 5, Atlanta United 2
July 9 vs. Indy Eleven 2, Atlanta United 1
July 13 Montreal 1, Atlanta United 0
July 17 Atlanta United 2, NYCFC 2
July 20 Atlanta United 2, Columbus 1
July 26 D.C. United 3 (6), Atlanta United 3 (5) in Leagues Cup
Aug. 4 Santos Laguna 0 (5), Atlanta United 0 (3) in Leagues Cup
Aug. 24 L.A. Galaxy 2, Atlanta United 0
Aug. 31 Atlanta United 1, Charlotte 0
Sept. 14 Nashville 2, Atlanta United 0
Sept. 18 Atlanta United 2, Inter Miami 2
Sept. 21 Atlanta United 2, Red Bulls 2
Sept. 28 Atlanta United 1, Philadelphia 1
Oct. 2 Montreal 2, Atlanta United 1
Oct. 5 Atlanta United 2, Red Bulls 1
Oct. 19 at Orlando, 6 p.m.
About the Author
