Syndicated reporting provided by Stats Perform and reviewed by the SoccerNews editorial team.
Pascal Jansen expressed his disappointment in losing New York City FC players to the international break, but insists they “will deal with it” ahead of their trip to Atlanta United.
NYCFC are 10th in the Eastern Conference with just one MLS win since the Leagues Cup break after losing to rivals New York Red Bulls last time out.
Jansen will now be without goalkeeper Matt Freese against Atlanta, as well as defender Tayvon Gray and midfielder Aiden O’Neill, among a group of five players on international duty.
Jansen admitted some adjustments will be needed when they face Atlanta, but he is eager to pick up three points at Mercedes-Benz Stadium.
“That’s something that still amazes me in this league, that we have to play during a national team break,” said the NYCFC boss.
“But it is what it is and we will deal with it. Unfortunately, we’re coming off a tough game against Red Bull [a 1-0 loss]. I think we deserved more from that game.
“But now it’s all full focus on Atlanta and we know we have a chance there, but we have to adjust a couple of things because there’s a few guys not available and this time not because of injury, because of international duty.”
— New York City FC (@newyorkcityfc) September 25, 2026
Atlanta, meanwhile, ended a four-game winless run in MLS with a 1-0 win over the Portland Timbers last time out.
The Five Stripes will also be missing key players against NYCFC, with Miguel Almiron and Aleksey Miranchuk both on international duty.
Since the start of last season, Miranchuk has recorded 95 chances created while Almiron has 87. They are the only pair of teammates to each create 80 or more chances since the start of the 2025 campaign, with both players setting up at least 40 shots for team-mates in each of the last two seasons.
Due to players on international duty, Matt Edwards could start in defence for Atlanta.
After coming off the bench against Portland last time out, Edwards led his team-mates in interceptions (three) and aerial duels won (two), while winning five of his 10 duels overall.
New York City FC – Nicolas Fernandez Mercau
Nicolas Fernandez Mercau has been involved in 22 goals in his first full season with New York City FC (15 goals, seven assists).
Only three players in club history have contributed to more goals in a single regular season (David Villa, Maxi Moralez, Valentin Castellanos) with Castellanos the last to do so, in 2021 (27).
MATCH PREDICTION: ATLANTA UNITED WIN
Atlanta have suffered only two defeats in eight matches since returning from the Leagues Cup break in August (W4 D2). Only four Eastern Conference teams have collected more points than the Five Stripes (14) over that time.
And they have lost only one of nine all-time home matches against New York City FC (W4 D4), including a 4-3 win in the last meeting at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in March 2025.
Atlanta are one of two Eastern Conference teams (also Nashville SC) against whom NYCFC do not have multiple road wins.
NYCFC have managed just one win in their last nine regular-season matches (D4 L4), while their defeat to NYRB was their 10th loss of the year. NYCFC have lost 11 or more games in each of the previous five seasons after recording 10 or fewer losses in five straight seasons from 2016 to 2020.
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