Atlanta United 2 will host CT United FC on Friday, Oct. 16, in its first playoff match. The MLS NEXT Pro Eastern Conference quarterfinal is scheduled for 6 p.m. ET at Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta Training Ground. The league’s updated playoff schedule confirms the fixture after completion of the play-in round.
Atlanta earned the Eastern Conference’s No. 3 seed after finishing 14–9–5 with 48 points. CT United enters as the No. 7 seed after a 14–12–2 season worth 46 points. The records place both teams in their first postseason and give Atlanta home advantage for the opening knockout match.
The league’s Pick-Your-Opponent format allowed Atlanta to select CT United after the higher seeds made their choices. The teams met once during the regular season, with Atlanta winning 4–1 on Sept. 8. That result provides a reference point, although one previous meeting cannot determine the outcome of a playoff rematch.
Atlanta’s attacking production includes Golden Boot winner Arif Kovac, who scored 20 regular-season goals. Cameron Dunbar supplied 13 assists to tie the league’s single-season record. Their ability to convert and create chances gives Atlanta an established attacking foundation entering the postseason.
Head coach Jose Silva’s team also set club season records for wins, points, goals and assists. The postseason qualification followed a 4–2 Decision Day victory against Orlando City B. The achievement gives the club a new competitive benchmark while leaving the work of winning a knockout match still ahead.
MLS NEXT Pro lists all playoff matches on OneFootball and MLSNEXTPro.com. The conference semifinals are scheduled for the following weekend, with the conference finals and MLS NEXT Pro Cup to follow later. Atlanta’s immediate focus remains the opening match, where discipline and efficiency will matter as much as its regular-season milestones.
GSB Take
Atlanta has earned a home playoff opportunity through a season of improved team results and standout attacking production. The previous win over CT United should provide useful preparation without reducing the urgency of a knockout game. Turning sustained progress into a composed postseason performance would be the club’s most meaningful next step.