February 7, 2026; Houston, Texas, USA; Atlanta United FC defender Enea Mihaj (4) dribbles against Houston Dynamo FC during a preseason game at Shell Energy Stadium in Houston, Texas. Mandatory Credit: Thomas Shea-Imagn Image After failing to score in their first two games of the 2026 MLS season, Atlanta United will be looking for a better result to celebrate their home opener.
Atlanta (0-2-0, 0 points) opens Saturday against Real Salt Lake (1-1-0, 3 points), which will play its next four games and six of its next seven at home.
Back-to-back 2-0 defeats, including a Matchday 2 defeat at the San Jose Earthquakes, could be a reminder of a dismal 2025 campaign, but Atlanta United’s mindset needs to be more positive, defender Enea Mihaj has said.
“I think we have to have much more confidence in our quality as a team and individually,” Mihaj said on Thursday. “Honestly, I think we have (a little) doubt and sometimes (it shows) during the game that we don’t get off to a very good start, but I think Saturday is a big opportunity for us.”
Real Salt Lake, who beat Seattle Sounders 2-1 on Matchday 2, will be missing a big name from their lineup. Diego Luna, who scored 9 goals and 7 assists in 2025, has yet to play in 2026 due to a knee injury.
The club is taking a cautious approach to Luna’s return. Coach Pablo Mastroeni said, especially since Luna is likely to be included in the U.S. World Cup roster in the summer.
“We have to think carefully about how we get him back so that he’s not only healthy for us for the next month and a half, but he’s also ready to go (to the United States),” Mastroeni told ESPN 700 in Salt Lake City on Wednesday.
Aiden Hezarkhani, who scored against the Sounders, is 18 years old, while midfielder Xavier Gozo turns 19 on March 22. While Salt Lake’s youth players could benefit, Mastroeni noted Mercedes-Benz Stadium could present a challenge.
“A lot of the young players have never played in an environment like this,” he said. “(So) it’s really important to get your emotions under control in the early stages and be a bit more practical in the way you play, because you know they’re going to throw the kitchen sink at us to get the fans involved.”
–Field level media
