Gerardo Martino left Atlanta United’s season finale with a message that went beyond the scoreboard. After a 3-1 win over Toronto FC, he said there is plenty to be positive about the club’s future, even though the result came after Atlanta had already been eliminated from postseason contention.
That is why Atlanta United vs RBNY is drawing attention on Decision Day. Atlanta entered the match 10 points adrift of the playoff places, meaning the club’s finish was already settled before the final whistle in its last outing. The win over Toronto was still useful, though: Miguel Almiron scored and set up Cooper Sanchez before the break, Aleksey Miranchuk added another goal just after the restart, and Atlanta collected its ninth MLS win in 2026.
The bigger point for Martino was not the timing of the victory but the way it looked. He said the team can compete and has an identity, and that the performance showed there is something to build on for next season. That matters because this is the first time since 2022 that Atlanta United has missed the postseason, and the club is trying to leave the year with a clearer sense of direction rather than just another result on the table.
There is still a sharp edge to the story. Atlanta’s encouraging finish arrived only after the playoff chase was over, so the final stretch cannot erase the fact that the season slipped away before Decision Day. The same applies to New York Red Bulls, who also missed the playoffs and are trying to close with some dignity after Sunday’s defeat to Nashville SC, when they led by two goals before conceding three unanswered, including a 91st-minute winner from Sam Surridge. Michael Bradley said the group was disappointed and stressed how hard it is to become the kind of team that can hold up in the biggest moments.
Atlanta can at least point to one possible sign of progress when the teams meet again. The club beat New York Red Bulls 2-1 at home in August, and another win would mean consecutive victories against them for the first time. It would also make New York Red Bulls the 25th different club Atlanta United has beaten in back-to-back matches across all competitions, a small but telling marker for a team that is looking for signs it can turn a better end to the season into a better one next year.
