Where is Atlanta United's preseason place in the Eastern Conference?
There are teams that are better than Atlanta United at soccer
via Atlanta United
This is part four of a week-long series previewing the 2026 Atlanta United season. These are all free, but please consider a premium subscription for access to all of our written, audio, and video content for the whole season.
We’ve talked plenty this week about what Atlanta United might look like in 2026. But what about the rest of the East?
Well, look, this is far from an exact science. For every preseason projection you get right in MLS, there’s an Atlanta United waiting to put up 28 points despite spending over $30 million on DPs. All you can do is take your best guess based on what information already exists. And that information is oftentimes hot garbage.
It’s all a total guessing game. But we’ll do our best to give you a sense of how preseason projections are lining up throughout the conference.
Tier One - Lol. Lmao. Cool. Neat. Awesome. Very Cool.
Inter Miami
The reigning MLS Cup champs lost Sergio Busquets and Jordi Alba but added multiple players that project as high level starters. Last year’s Goalkeeper of the Year, Dayne St. Clair joined up this offseason, as did former Portland U22 midfielder David Ayala. They have a new DP striker now too. CF Monterrey’s Germán Berterame is in South Beach. He scored 59 goals in Liga MX over the last four and a half seasons.
There’s a strong chance they’re even better this year.
Tier Two - Willing and able (?) to challenge Inter Miami
Nashville SC
Nashville made the most notable free agent signing of the offseason when they signed longtime San Jose DP winger Cristian Espinoza. He’s normally good for about 14 assists per year. Their three-headed monster in attack (ft. Espinoza, Hany Mukhtar and Sam Surridge) might be the best attacking trio in MLS this year. The hype has never been stronger in Nashville.
FC Cincinnati
It’s Cincy. They’ve spent the last three years piling up more wins than any other team in MLS history over a three year span. They’re going to be decent to great defensively. They’re going to rely on their match winners like Evander. And they’re going to win a ton of one-goal games. Until the formula changes, expect the formula to stay the same.
Tier Three - Maybe, probably, actually?
Chicago Fire FC
Like Nashville, Chicago are headed into 2026 with an unprecedented amount of hype. The national buzz is that they’ll take a leap forward in year two under Gregg Berhalter. They were already one of the best attacking teams in MLS last year. If they can sort out things defensively even a little, they could quickly turn into a contender. The arrival of Jakob Glesnes from Philly should help with that.
Charlotte FC
Charlotte is generally a high-floor side with an uncertain ceiling. You can generally expect their defense to be solid and for the attack be productive enough to earn points. There are a number of questions though. In particular, at striker and center back. They expect big things out of U22 Idan Toklamati as their No. 9, but he’s (obviously) young and relatively unproven. Even after an excellent second half last season.
It will be even more difficult to replace star center back Adilson Malanda. Actually, maybe the floor isn’t quite as high as most folks are thinking?
Orlando City
Like Charlotte, you typically just expect Orlando to figure things out these days. They’ve made the playoffs for five consecutive seasons now. Even after undergoing big changes this offseason—longtime starters like goalkeeper Pedro Gallese and midfielder Cesar Araujo are gone, among others—they seem to have made a handful of signings that work on paper. They likely won’t challenge for trophies this year, but it would be surprising to see them crater.
Tier Four - Just maybe.
Columbus Crew
The first year of the post-Wilfried Nancy era is going to be fascinating. Former Malmo FF manager Henrik Rydström is in charge now. He apparently has a similar game model to Nancy, but who knows if he can actually reach the same heights as him. That’s in both the results and on-field aesthetics.
They should be just fine. It’s still a very solid roster despite Darlington Nagbe’s retirement. But it’s hard to ignore that Nancy felt like a unicorn in MLS.
Philadelphia Union
The Union have earned the benefit of the doubt. However, there are just so many reasons to doubt this year. Multiple critical pieces exited this offseason. Best XI left back Kai Wagner is gone. Forwards Tai Baribo and Mikael Uhre are gone. Center back Jakob Glesnes is gone. Starting midfielder Quinn Sullivan is hurt. There are serious questions across this roster.
But it’s Philly. They’ll probably tag in a few academy kids, find some Best XI-caliber players from the Norwegian second division and call it a day.
NYCFC
NYCFC have had a tough time of it this offseason. They thought they had a replacement for injured DP striker Alonso Martinez, but the deal fell through at the very last second. Now they’re floating a bit. Like Philly, they just get the benefit of the doubt until proven otherwise. It will probably be a 50-point team. But their ability to replace Martinez and breakout center back Justin Haak will determine whether they can challenge for trophies.
Tier Five - Probably still bad, but willing to spend enough money to convince people there’s upside
Atlanta United
Maybe this is the year.
Toronto FC
Unlike Atlanta, they have money *and* significant roster space. That they’re definitely going to use. Any day now. Here it comes, I promise. Just wait a…ok…now. How about now? Now?...........now?
Tier Six - Very unlikely to be a playoff team, but, also, MLS happens
New England Revolution
Not having Caleb Porter in charge of their team is a major bonus. But we know next to nothing about how new head coach Marko Mitrovic will affect this team. Will the former USMNT youth coach follow San Diego’s Mikey Varas and Nashville’s BJ Callaghan as the latest USMNTer to produce a great MLS team? Or are there too many holes on this roster for his influence to even matter? I’m leaning toward the latter. But, also, ya know, MLS.
New York Red Bulls
In 2025, they missed the playoffs for the first time in a decade and a half. They’re replacing their starting goalkeeper and best center back. There’s no real reason to believe they’ll be good other than the fact that they were good for like 15 of the last 16 years.
Anyway, Michael Bradley is the head coach of this team and you are absolutely ancient. You had to go get your reading glasses to even understand what I’m saying here. Oh, hey, look out, it’s about time for an early dinner isn’t it? Did you take your medicine today? Shame your kids don’t call as much, huh. Old. So old. Olllllddddd. Wheel is on soon. Can’t miss Wheel.
Tier Seven - Don’t make eye contact and keep walking quickly
CF Montréal
Trading for a homegrown near you!
D.C. United
All you need to know is that their new sporting director makes people call him “Doctor”, has never held a front office job, and that he writes novels about handsome, suave soccer agents that get the girl. (He is, of course, a former agent.)