Atlanta United 2 Begins 2026 Focused on Development and Identity

Before Atlanta United 2’s first match of 2026, I caught up with head coach Jose Silva as the 2’s prepared to make their way to Beirne Stadium to face the New England Revolution II.

To fully prepare for Sunday, we have to revisit 2025.

Atlanta United 2 was fighting for a playoff spot down the stretch, battling tooth and nail. It all came down to the final match of the season against Chattanooga FC at Finley Stadium. Atlanta needed a win with help, or a shootout win with help, to earn its first-ever playoff berth.

A 1-1 draw with Chattanooga FC in regulation sent the match to penalties. The shootout went all the way to sudden death, but unfortunately, Chattanooga came out on top, winning 5-4 in the extra-point penalty shootout. Atlanta was eliminated from playoff contention in heartbreaking fashion.

While it ended with pain, the season was the start of something wonderful for so many associated with the team.

Second teams are designed to help young players progress and grow in the early stages of their professional careers. They prepare players for the first team and beyond. In 2025, the 2’s had nine Academy players make their professional debuts.

That’s one of the reasons why Atlanta United 2 Head Coach Jose Silva loves being part of the second team environment and academies. You get to see the growth in real time. On Dec. 15, 2025, it was announced that Silva would continue to lead the 2’s as head coach after being named interim on July 23, 2025, following the departure of Steve Cooke.

“I think something I learned a lot, listening to a volleyball coach called Julio Velasco, is be yourself. Don't try to be this guy. Don't try to be that guy. Be yourself,” Silva said when asked about the biggest lesson from his interim stint. “Be honest with the players, and try to give them solutions because what the players want on Saturday, on Sunday is show me the way, then I'm going to do the way for you.”

One of the biggest highlights from last season was the breakthrough of several Academy players.

One of them is DD Sibrian, who signed with the 2’s through the 2027 MLS NEXT Pro season and will become a Homegrown signing effective July 1, 2028. He made his professional debut on June 11, 2025, and finished the season with 12 appearances for ATL UTD 2.

“It's probably the best trophy that we can have as a coach because we are here for these guys to develop and to move them forward to the first team,” Silva said.

Another Academy standout was Santiago Pita, who signed a Homegrown contract for the 2026 MLS season with club options through 2029. With ATL UTD 2, Pita started 10 of his 12 matches after becoming a regular starter in the second half of the MLS NEXT Pro season. The 18-year-old scored twice and added two assists in 2025, and he’s earned time with the U.S. U-18 National Team.

Moises Tablante returns to Atlanta United 2 for 2026 as a stabilizing force for the squad. (photo: Sofia Cupertino)

There are also familiar faces fans will recognize: Toto Majub, Moises Tablante and Patrick Weah. Silva highlighted how important those players will be this season, especially with so many new faces on the roster.

“These three, I mean, they already know the club. They already know the city, so it's going to be a big help to adapt the new guys in,” Silva said. “These kinds of players help a lot too, help the new guys to build the group and to teach them how is the city, how is the club, how everything operates here.”

One of those new additions is former Atlanta United Academy forward Liam Butts, who joins the 2’s after spending two seasons with New England Revolution II.

“Obviously, I spent a lot of time here, there's a level of excitement,” Butts told SDH. “Growing up here and training here, I know what the club has to offer and has some of the best facilities around the nation. For me, it was a very nice feeling. But also, for my life outside the field, I thought it was honestly great because I get to be close to family. I'm familiar with the area. So honestly, I was very excited and ready to take that opportunity.”

Building the 2026 group is about more than filling spots. It’s about knowing where help is needed and making sure every player, whether from the Academy or signed directly, has space to grow.

“We try to see what players we have from the Academy coming through and what position we have to put a player in so it helps the younger one to grow,” Silva said. “All the players that we brought during the six weeks of preseason, we thought that they can add a lot to the team to build identity in the way that we want to play. At the same time, get points for the team and push the younger guys to be better.”

With Tata Martino back in Atlanta, the communication and collaboration throughout the club have naturally increased, all to make sure young players are ready when their opportunity comes.

“Tata is amazing. He's one of the biggest coaches right now in the world, and he has a lot of experience developing younger guys. For us, it’s amazing to have him here. We are really excited. He's giving opportunities to young guys already, and that is incredible.

“And the collaboration is every day. We speak with Javier Perez, Atlanta United’s Director of Methodology, Jorge [Theiler], his assistant, about what players are doing good, what players in the field we think they could do better. And we try to move players when they have a spot to train over there so they can know these players and help each other to help the player grow.”

For Atlanta United 2 this season, it’s the same message as the first team: Be A Protagonist.

“Dominate the opponent through the ball and through creating chances. And when we don't have it, being aggressive with a high press in the opponent's half so we can recover the ball as soon as possible,” Silva said when asked what it means to be a protagonist. “Make the opponents feel like this is not going to be an easy day for you.”

Atlanta United 2 is built as a pathway. Players are expected to understand the system and carry that first-team DNA with them.

But make no mistake, there’s some Silva Ball in there too.

Togetherness will be a key for Atlanta United 2 in 2026. (photo: Sofia Cupertino)

He wants his team on the front foot, pressing high, winning the ball back quickly, and making sure anyone watching knows exactly who they are. And in many ways, Silva Ball has been creating protagonists all along.

And that brings the 2’s faithful and us here at SDH to Sunday, as Atlanta United 2 opens the 2026 season on the road against New England Revolution II.

These early matches are always the trickiest. You don’t know much about the opponent because you haven’t seen them play. You can only guess. But Silva’s message is clear: play your game.

“Soccer is eleven versus eleven. The most important thing, and I tell the players every day, is identity,” Silva said. “The identity as a team, our identity of the group, is going to take us through the good moments and through the bad moments. If we don't buy into that idea, that the group will help the individuals to show up, we are going to be in trouble. If we don't have a strong identity where players can be themselves but know they're going to have cover behind them because everyone is doing their role, it's the only way players can grow to a higher level.”

“I think we wanna be resilient, but also smart,” Butts added. “Things are gonna go wrong in a game, and the best teams figure out how to solve problems on the fly. We have a lot of quality. That’s not gonna be an issue. We’re gonna show our quality. We’re gonna create chances. But what’s gonna define our team is when things go wrong and how we react to those things.

“If we can prove we have each other's backs all the time and show it in real time, then I think we're gonna have a very fun and successful year.”

I’ll be on the mic as Atlanta United 2 kicks off the 2026 season at 7:30 p.m. You can listen live at soccerdownhere.net/listen.