Understrength NYCFC vow to 'deal with' international absentees at Atlanta

International break thins squads for Eastern Conference showdown

Both New York City FC and Atlanta United will be shorthanded for their MLS clash at Mercedes-Benz Stadium on Saturday, with the international break stripping key players from each squad. NYCFC boss Pascal Jansen admitted his disappointment at losing players to national team duty, but insisted his side "will deal with it" ahead of the trip to Georgia.

Five NYCFC players away on duty

NYCFC sit 10th in the Eastern Conference with just one MLS win since the Leagues Cup break, having fallen 1-0 to rivals New York Red Bulls last time out. Jansen will be without goalkeeper Matt Freese, defender Tayvon Gray and midfielder Aiden O'Neill, among a group of five players on international duty, and conceded some adjustments will be needed against Atlanta.

"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."

Atlanta also depleted as Almiron and Miranchuk depart

The Five Stripes ended a four-game winless run in MLS with a 1-0 victory over the Portland Timbers last time out, but they too will be missing key men. Miguel Almiron and Aleksey Miranchuk are both away on international duty, representing a significant creative loss for the hosts.

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.

Players to watch

Atlanta United – Matt Edwards: With players away 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: 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 and 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), and only four Eastern Conference teams have collected more points than the Five Stripes (14) over that period. They have also 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 (alongside 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.

OPTA win probability: Atlanta United – 44.4% | Draw – 24.3% | New York City FC – 31.3%