Nine Years of Atlanta United 2: The Pathway That Helped Build a Club
Announced on November 14, 2017, Atlanta United's second team has become an essential part of developing young players. A historic 2026 season and the birthday of former Homegrown Machop Chol offer a chance to look at how that pathway has grown.
On November 14, 2017, Atlanta United announced that it would launch a second professional team to compete in the United Soccer League the following year. The new team would play its home matches at Coolray Field in Gwinnett County, providing another level of competition between the club's Academy and its MLS first team.
Nine years later, it's difficult to imagine Atlanta United's player-development structure without Atlanta United 2.
What began as a way to give young players professional minutes has become one of the most important elements of the club's development process. The names that have passed through the second team tell much of that story: George Bello, Caleb Wiley, Noah Cobb, Efraín Morales and many others who eventually earned Homegrown contracts and opportunities with the first team.
And in 2026, Atlanta United 2 enjoyed its most successful season yet, finishing third in the MLS NEXT Pro Eastern Conference and hosting a playoff match for the first time in club history.
The anniversary of the team's announcement is an opportunity to appreciate not only what Atlanta United 2 has accomplished, but why its role is becoming even more important.
Building the bridge
Atlanta United's player-development ambitions were in place before the club ever played an MLS match.
The Academy began competing in 2016, a year ahead of the first team's debut. The organization wanted to identify and develop talented young players from Atlanta and the surrounding region, creating opportunities for them to eventually represent their hometown club at the professional level.
But establishing an Academy was only the beginning. There was another challenge to solve: what happened when those players outgrew youth soccer but weren't yet ready to compete for regular minutes in MLS?
Atlanta United had already taken steps toward addressing that problem through its partnership with Charleston Battery in the United Soccer League. The relationship began in 2016, allowing Atlanta's early signings to gain professional experience before the first team even began playing. It continued into 2017, with seven Atlanta United players appearing for Charleston that season.
Romario Williams was one of the partnership's success stories, scoring 15 USL goals in 2017. But while the arrangement provided valuable opportunities, Atlanta United wanted to take the next step by bringing that developmental environment inside its own organization.
The November 14, 2017, announcement was the realization of that plan.
"This is a great opportunity for our club's long-term success to be able to bridge the gap between our best in class academy and our First Team," Atlanta United president Darren Eales said at the time.
Eales specifically identified the need to create opportunities for players around 18 or 19 years old who had progressed beyond the Academy but still needed development before competing for an MLS starting position.
The vision was to build a continuous pathway, beginning with players as young as 12 and extending through the professional first team.
Having an independently operated second team also meant Atlanta United could exercise greater control over the environment in which those players developed. Rather than sending them to another organization and working within that club's priorities, Atlanta could align coaching, training and playing opportunities with its own long-term objectives.
That alignment was central to the plans for the new team.
When the ATL UTD 2 name and crest were unveiled in January 2018, technical director Carlos Bocanegra described the team as the fundamental connection between the Academy and first team.
The club envisioned a roster blending Academy prospects, Homegrown players, other young professionals and experienced players who could help provide a competitive environment.
There were benefits for first-team players as well. Those who weren't receiving regular MLS minutes could maintain their match fitness, while players returning from injuries could use second-team matches as part of their progression back toward the first team.
And the connection extended to how the teams would play.
Ahead of the inaugural season, Bocanegra explained that Atlanta United 2 would follow the first team's playing approach, including the aggressive pressing style and tactical systems being used by Tata Martino's MLS side.
That was an important part of the development philosophy. A young player moving between the Academy, second team and first team wouldn't have to start from scratch at every level. The intention was to create continuity in the expectations, training and playing principles throughout the organization.
Martino saw another important benefit: giving players a chance to earn opportunities through competitive performances rather than relying exclusively on what they demonstrated in training.
"It will serve us well to have a place where young players can play consistently," Martino said when the second team's identity was announced.
That consistency matters. Young players need meaningful competition against professionals who may be older, stronger and more experienced. They need to learn to make decisions under pressure, manage difficult moments and adapt to the demands of a full professional season.
Those lessons can't all be replicated in training.
Scott Donnelly, appointed the team's first head coach, made clear that success would be measured by more than results.
His priority was improving players, helping them mature, providing professional match experience and preparing them to contribute to the first team.
That didn't mean winning was unimportant. It meant the second team's results had to be considered alongside its larger responsibility to the organization.
Atlanta United 2 debuted in March 2018 with a 3–1 victory over New York Red Bulls II at Coolray Field. George Bello, one of the club's early Homegrown signings, was part of that inaugural team.
The match marked the beginning of something Atlanta United had been working toward since its earliest days: a professional development structure that could give talented young players more than one route toward the first team.
Nine years after the original announcement, that underlying purpose remains central to the club's future.
The players who came through
The value of Atlanta United 2 becomes much clearer when looking at the players who have moved through the organization.
There isn't one development path that works for everyone. Some players spend only a short time with the second team before breaking into MLS. Others need several seasons of professional competition. Some leave for college and return. And others move between the first and second teams as they continue developing.
Atlanta United has examples of all of them.
George Bello was one of the first players to demonstrate what the pathway could produce.
The Douglasville product joined Atlanta United's inaugural Academy in 2016 and signed a Homegrown contract at just 15 years old. He began the 2018 season with Atlanta United 2, getting professional experience before making his MLS debut that September.
By 2020, Bello had established himself as Atlanta United's regular left back. A year later, he was an MLS All-Star and a member of the United States team that won the Concacaf Gold Cup, starting the final against Mexico.
In January 2022, Atlanta transferred Bello to German Bundesliga club Arminia Bielefeld.
From the Academy to the second team, the MLS first team, the national team and eventually Europe, Bello became an early example of what Atlanta United had envisioned when it established its development structure.
Caleb Wiley followed a similar route, but accumulated even more professional experience with Atlanta United 2 before making his MLS breakthrough.
Wiley joined the Academy at 11 years old as part of its inaugural U-12 group. He made his professional debut with Atlanta United 2 in July 2020, becoming the youngest player in the team's history at the time, just 15 years and 206 days old.
Over the next two seasons, Wiley made 33 USL Championship appearances, starting every match and accumulating 2,787 minutes.
That's a remarkable amount of professional experience for a player who was still a teenager.
When Wiley made his MLS debut in February 2022, he scored in Atlanta United's season-opening victory over Sporting Kansas City. He went on to establish himself as a first-team regular, earn a senior United States national team call-up and represent his country at the 2024 Olympics.
Atlanta transferred him to Chelsea in July 2024.
Wiley's progression illustrates something important about the second team's role. By the time he arrived in MLS, he had already spent two seasons competing against professional players, dealing with the physical demands of the game and learning what was required to perform consistently.
For other players, the process has taken longer.
Noah Cobb joined Atlanta United's Academy at the U-12 level and made his professional debut with Atlanta United 2 in July 2021, when he was just 15.
The following season, he made 26 USL Championship appearances, including 23 starts, and played 2,042 minutes. That was the second-highest total among the team's outfield players.
Cobb continued to develop with the second team in 2023, starting 18 MLS NEXT Pro matches while also beginning to earn first-team opportunities.
By 2024, he had moved into a more significant MLS role, making 19 regular-season appearances and starting 16.
Cobb's progression wasn't built around one breakthrough moment. It came through years of regular competition, increasing responsibility and the gradual transition from Academy prospect to professional center back.
Efraín Morales provides another example of that longer developmental process.
A member of Atlanta United's inaugural U-12 Academy team, Morales became the first player from that group to sign a Homegrown contract in 2020.
He made his professional debut with Atlanta United 2 that August and scored against Charleston Battery.
But his development wasn't uninterrupted. Injuries limited his opportunities in 2021, when he made only six USL Championship appearances.
The following year, he played 24 matches for the second team, starting 17 and accumulating more than 1,500 minutes.
In 2023, Morales started another 20 matches in MLS NEXT Pro. He completed 91.4 percent of his passes and won 69.2 percent of his aerial duels, demonstrating the technical and physical qualities he was developing as a central defender.
Morales eventually made his MLS debut in April 2024, starting against Chicago Fire. He also earned opportunities with Bolivia's national-team program.
His journey illustrates why patience matters in player development. A player can have significant potential at 16 or 17 without being ready to contribute regularly in MLS. The second team provides a place to continue improving while remaining connected to the first-team environment.
The pathway has also accommodated players who leave Atlanta United to pursue college soccer.
Matt Edwards joined the Academy in 2019 and captained its U-19 team. He made eight appearances for Atlanta United 2 in 2020 before spending three seasons at the University of North Carolina.
When Edwards returned to Atlanta ahead of the 2024 season, he signed with the second team and became its captain.
His performances earned him a Homegrown contract in June, after he had already made his first-team debut in the U.S. Open Cup.
Edwards subsequently made his MLS debut in July and became a more regular first-team contributor in 2025, starting 14 of his 20 league appearances.
His story demonstrates that college soccer and Atlanta United 2 don't have to represent competing development paths. They can complement each other, allowing a player to gain different experiences before returning to compete for a professional opportunity.
Ajani Fortune represents another important part of the club's development history.
After joining the Academy in 2018, Fortune made his professional debut with Atlanta United 2 in 2020 and became a regular in midfield over the following seasons.
By the time he signed his Homegrown contract in July 2022, Fortune had already made 48 appearances for the second team. He had also taken on leadership responsibilities, captaining Atlanta United 2 on several occasions.
He made his MLS debut in 2023 and developed into a regular first-team contributor. In August 2026, Atlanta United signed Fortune to a contract extension through the 2028–29 season, with an additional option year.
His development reflects another benefit of the second-team environment: players can grow into leadership roles before they're asked to assume greater responsibilities with the first team.
Luke Brennan offers a more recent example of how the two teams can work together.
The Atlanta native was part of the club's inaugural Academy class and made his professional debut with Atlanta United 2 in 2021.
He played 27 USL Championship matches in 2022 before becoming a regular starter in MLS NEXT Pro the following season. In 2023, Brennan started 25 matches for Atlanta United 2, scoring four goals and adding five assists.
He also made his MLS debut that year, but continued receiving significant playing time with the second team as he worked toward a larger first-team role.
Brennan made his first MLS start in July 2025 and later represented the United States at the FIFA U-20 World Cup.
His progression shows how a player can move between the two teams rather than making a permanent jump at the first opportunity.
That's an important distinction.
The goal isn't simply to move a young player out of Atlanta United 2 as quickly as possible. It's to make sure that player is receiving the right combination of training, competitive minutes and opportunities at each stage of development.
Bello and Wiley eventually moved to Europe. Cobb and Morales needed extended periods of professional competition. Edwards returned from college. Fortune developed into a first-team regular after years with the second team. Brennan moved between the two levels as his opportunities increased.
Each path was different, but Atlanta United 2 played a meaningful role in all of them.
And the value extends beyond the players who eventually sign Homegrown contracts or become first-team regulars.
Not every Academy player will reach MLS. Some will continue their careers elsewhere in professional soccer, while others may find opportunities in college or other leagues. Providing those players with professional experience still matters, both for their individual development and for the broader soccer community.
That's why Atlanta United 2 is more than a reserve team.
It's a place where young players can test themselves against professional competition, where the club can evaluate their progress over time and where development doesn't have to follow one rigid timetable.
As Atlanta United's Academy continues to produce talented players, having that environment available becomes even more important.
A historic 2026 season
The progress of Atlanta United 2 was particularly evident in 2026.
The team finished third in the MLS NEXT Pro Eastern Conference, secured its first playoff appearance and earned the opportunity to host a postseason match for the first time.
Those accomplishments represented a significant step forward for a team whose primary purpose has always been development rather than simply winning matches.
The two objectives aren't mutually exclusive.
Developing young players within a competitive, successful team can create experiences that are difficult to replicate elsewhere. Learning to handle expectations, playing meaningful matches late in a season and dealing with the pressure of postseason competition are all valuable parts of a young professional's education.
The 2026 team also demonstrated how academy prospects and other developing professionals can contribute to a successful collective.
Arif Kovac emerged as one of the league's standout attacking players, winning MLS NEXT Pro's Golden Boot and Most Valuable Player honors. Cameron Dunbar was another important contributor, providing creativity and production in the attack.
The success wasn't limited to individual performances. Atlanta United 2 showed that it could compete near the top of its conference while continuing to serve its developmental purpose.
That's an encouraging combination for the future.
Machop Chol and the different roads through Atlanta United
November 14 also happens to be the birthday of Machop Chol, one of Atlanta United's former Homegrown players.
Chol turns 28 today, and his career offers another example of how the club's development structure can support players who take different routes to the professional game.
Born in Sudan and raised in metro Atlanta, Chol played locally with DDYSC before becoming a member of Atlanta United's inaugural Academy in 2016.
Rather than immediately pursuing a professional contract, he went to Wake Forest, where he spent four seasons and developed into one of the program's important attacking players.
Atlanta United brought him back in January 2021, signing him as the club's 10th Homegrown player.
Chol made his MLS debut that season and also spent time with Atlanta United 2, giving him opportunities for additional professional minutes while remaining part of the first-team picture.
He appeared in five USL Championship matches for the second team across 2021 and 2022, scoring once. With the first team, he made 34 MLS appearances over three seasons, including 19 in 2023, when he scored his first two league goals.
Chol's journey is a reminder that the pathway doesn't have to be a straight line from the Academy to Atlanta United 2 to the first team.
College soccer was an important part of his development. And Atlanta United 2 provided another opportunity to play competitive matches as he worked to establish himself at the MLS level.
After leaving Atlanta, Chol continued his career with San Antonio FC, moved overseas to Lithuania and then South Korea, while also representing South Sudan internationally.
His story is different from Bello's, Wiley's or Cobb's, but all of them illustrate why having multiple development opportunities within a club matters.
Why the next nine years matter
Atlanta United 2 has changed considerably since that original November 2017 announcement.
It began in the USL Championship, playing its inaugural season at Coolray Field. It later moved to Kennesaw and eventually joined MLS NEXT Pro, a competition designed around the development needs of MLS organizations.
The league, venues, coaches and players have changed, but the central purpose remains: providing the next level of competition for young players working toward the first team.
And there's a strong argument that this role is more important now than at any point in the club's history.
Look at what's happening throughout Atlanta United's Academy.
The 2025–26 season was one of the most successful in the Academy's history. A club-record four teams qualified for the MLS NEXT Cup postseason, and the U-13 team won the national championship, defeating LA Galaxy in a penalty shootout in the final.
That championship was particularly meaningful because of where those players started. Seventeen of the 18 players on the U-13 roster had previously participated in Atlanta United's Regional Development School, the entry point into the club's development structure.
The Academy's success wasn't limited to its youngest players.
Atlanta United's U-16 team reached the U-17 MLS NEXT Cup championship match, losing to Orlando City on penalties after a 2–2 draw. It continued an impressive run of results for the older Academy teams, with the club reaching multiple national finals across consecutive seasons.
Those accomplishments suggest that the Academy isn't simply developing an occasional standout player. It's producing competitive teams across several age groups, with talented players progressing through the organization together.
The individual recognition is significant as well.
According to Atlanta United Director of Methodology Javier Pérez, eight players from the U-16 team received international call-ups during the 2025–26 season, along with three U-19 players and others throughout the Academy.
That's an important measure of how the club's talent is being evaluated beyond Atlanta. Players are attracting attention from national-team programs and earning opportunities to test themselves against international competition.
But it also raises an important question.
What happens next?
Winning an MLS NEXT Cup championship at 13 or reaching a national final at 16 is a tremendous accomplishment. Earning a youth national-team call-up is another important step.
Neither guarantees that a player will eventually become an MLS professional.
The transition from youth soccer to the professional game remains one of the most difficult stages in player development. Players who have excelled against others their own age suddenly have to compete against older, stronger and more experienced opponents. The technical and tactical demands increase, and the margin for error becomes smaller.
That's where Atlanta United 2 becomes essential.
As more talented players emerge from the Academy, the club needs meaningful professional opportunities for them. It needs a place where those players can continue learning, where coaches can evaluate their progress and where they can experience the demands of the professional game before being expected to contribute regularly in MLS.
The second team also gives Atlanta United options.
Some players may be ready for professional competition at 15 or 16. Others might benefit from remaining in the Academy longer. Some will progress quickly toward the first team, while others will need several seasons of professional matches to reach that level.
And not every player will follow the same path.
The history of Bello, Wiley, Cobb, Morales, Edwards, Fortune and Brennan demonstrates why that flexibility matters.
There's another example from 2026 that helps connect the Academy's recent achievements with the professional game.
Cooper Sanchez, a member of Atlanta United's 2023 U-16 MLS NEXT Cup championship team, developed into a regular first-team contributor this season. He finished the MLS campaign with 27 appearances, including 22 starts, and earned recognition on the league's 22 Under 22 list.
Those are different accomplishments at different stages of development, but they illustrate what the organization is trying to achieve: turning promising young players into professionals capable of contributing at increasingly demanding levels.
The success of Atlanta United 2 in 2026 adds another dimension.
For the first time, the second team earned the opportunity to host a playoff match. Finishing third in the Eastern Conference showed that Atlanta United 2 could compete near the top of MLS NEXT Pro while continuing to provide opportunities for developing players.
That's an important combination.
The objective isn't to turn the second team into an organization that prioritizes winning at the expense of development. It's to create an environment where young players learn how to compete, contribute and win while continuing their individual progression.
Those experiences become even more valuable as the level of talent entering the professional pathway increases.
The challenge for Atlanta United over the next several years will be turning the Academy's recent success into sustained professional development.
How many of those U-13 national champions will eventually play for Atlanta United 2? How many of the U-16 national finalists will make the jump into professional soccer? How many of the Academy's youth internationals will eventually become first-team contributors, represent their countries at the senior level or pursue careers elsewhere?
We don't know those answers yet.
But Atlanta United has spent the past nine years building an environment designed to give those players opportunities to find out.
That's what makes the November 14, 2017, announcement so significant.
Atlanta United wasn't simply creating another team. It was investing in the infrastructure necessary to develop generations of players.
Nine years later, the Academy is producing championship teams, young players are earning international recognition, and Atlanta United 2 is coming off the most successful season in its history.
The challenge now is to connect those achievements and turn them into sustained success.
And with the next generation already coming through, Atlanta United 2 may be more important to the club's future than ever before.
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