{"id":257119,"date":"2026-08-01T12:41:11","date_gmt":"2026-08-01T12:41:11","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/257119\/"},"modified":"2026-08-01T12:41:11","modified_gmt":"2026-08-01T12:41:11","slug":"philadelphia-union-vs-atlanta-united-preview-can-richter-lead-philly-to-a-third-straight-mls-victory","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/257119\/","title":{"rendered":"Philadelphia Union vs. Atlanta United preview: Can Richter lead Philly to a third straight MLS victory?"},"content":{"rendered":"

The Philadelphia Union look for their third straight win in MLS play after the World Cup break Saturday night against Atlanta United<\/a>. This time last week, the Union were in last place, having occupied that place for most of the 2026 season. Now, it is Atlanta who sit at the bottom of the East. This is a meeting between two teams at the bottom of the Eastern Conference, but momentum is carrying the two in opposite directions.<\/p>\n

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\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\"Philadelphia
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a><\/p>\n

\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tPhiladelphia Union supporters celebrate their team’s goal vs New York Red Bulls\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n

\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tImage Provided \/ Philadelphia Union\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n

Philadelphia Union vs Atlanta United preview<\/p>\n

The Philadelphia Union have won their last two matches, claiming one less point than they had from their first 15 games. The turnaround comes from interim coach Ryan Richter’s leadership<\/a> that has brought joy and freedom back to the team.\u00a0 The Union’s third game in 11 days presents an opportunity to get another win and inch back towards the playoff spots in the East.<\/p>\n

Atlanta United is in a similar spot to Philadelphia; they too are at the bottom of MLS, but their momentum and recent form seem to be crushing them. There isn’t a spark helping Atlanta live up to the amount of money their front office spent on the roster. They are winless in their last seven games and took over last place from Philly last weekend with their most recent loss. Let’s take a closer look at Atlanta and Philadelphia, their tactics, and if the Union could take nine points out of nine available on their return to MLS play.<\/p>\n

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\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tMajor League Soccer game balls at Subaru Park home of the Philadelphia Union\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n

\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tImage Provided \/ Philadelphia Union\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n

A look at Atlanta United’s 2026 so far<\/p>\n

Atlanta saw the return of their legendary head coach Tata Martino before the beginning of this season, but he has not helped this club that used to be a perennial power return to their former perch. This year Atlanta has won just three MLS matches while drawing three and losing 11 games. The Five Stripes<\/a> did go on a US Open Cup run to the quarterfinals, but got bounced there. All in all, this seems to be another disastrous season for Atlanta.<\/p>\n

They may be having a poor season, but one of their three MLS wins was against the Philadelphia Union way back in March. At Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Atlanta thumped Philly 3-1. On that day, the stars were Atlanta’s highly paid players: Miguel Almir\u00f3n, Emmanuel Latte Lath, and Alexsey Miranchuk. Almir\u00f3n and Miranchuk are currently still playing a part for Atlanta, but\u00a0 Latte Lath has been absent from Atlanta’s last two games, and reports are he’s been out of training this week. This is a very weak Atlanta team at the moment.<\/p>\n

Gone are the days when Atlanta United struck fear into opponents. Now they play a mixture of MLS vets and young players who have little collective effort. They don’t defend well, and they can’t produce much in attack that’s not on the counterattack. This weekend’s game on the banks of the Delaware River could prove a promising one for Philly if they can dictate the game’s intensity.<\/p>\n

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\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tPhiladelphia Union Midfielder Indiana Vassilev tries to advance the ball against Atlanta United.\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n

\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tImage Provided \/ Philadelphia Union\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n

Philadelphia Union’s tactics and projected XI<\/p>\n

Richter has the Union buzzing, but doesn’t want his team to get too high; they are, after all, only one point above last place in the whole league. With that being said, this weekend’s match against Atlanta will be decided on how the Union pushes the tempo. If they can defend as a unit as they have in their last two games, and be direct in attack, then three points could be on the horizon.<\/p>\n

Philadelphia Union projected Starting XI vs Atlanta United<\/p>\n

GK: Blake
LB: Wagner\u00a0CB: Pierre\u00a0CB: Harriel\u00a0RB: Westfield
DM: Lukic\u00a0DM: Danley<\/p>\n

AM: C. Sullivan\u00a0AM:\u00a0Vassilev<\/p>\n

ST: Iloski\u00a0ST: Alladoh<\/p>\n

It’s still early days in the Ryan Richter era, but he seems like he rides with his players. The above starters are a mixture of high-performing homegrowns and veterans who have tasted the success a win streak can give.\u00a0 They are the guys who will be able to execute Philly’s chaotic game plan<\/a>, and could find a few different ways to get goals against a shaky Atlanta side.<\/p>\n

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\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\"Philadelphia
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a><\/p>\n

\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tPhiladelphia Union fans celebrate a goal scored against their rival, the New York Red Bulls\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n

\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tImage Provided \/ Philadelphia Union\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n

Can Philly gain nine points before Leagues Cup?<\/p>\n

The Union sit in 14th place in the Eastern Conference, but have the chance to possibly move up to 12th after this weekend with a win and losses from Montreal and Toronto. As things stand, Philly is just three wins out of the play-in game spot. With half a season to go,\u00a0 they could just find a way to sneak up into those playoff spots.<\/p>\n

A win against Atlanta<\/a> would mean that the Union would be on a three-game win streak, getting nine points in 10 days. That would be a dramatic turnaround from the first half of the season, and two more points than Philly had in their first 15 games. We’ll have to wait and see if they can do it, but the chance is there.<\/p>\n

After this match with Atlanta United, the Philadelphia Union will spend the first half of August playing in Leagues Cup. It’ll be the first time they’re in that competition since 2024, and the first time they will be in it in its revised format. Philly takes on three opponents from Liga MX: Cruz Azul (Aug. 6),\u00a0 Necaxa (Aug. 9), and Santos Laguna (Aug. 13). If the Union are one of the top four MLS teams in the standings after their matches, they’ll advance to the quarterfinals of the competition and enter knockout-round games.<\/p>\n

Could the Union’s summer 2026 be one for the history books with a win streak in MLS and a run in Leagues Cup?<\/p>\n

MORE:\u00a0Philadelphia Union gains momentum to spark playoff hope<\/a><\/p>\n

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