Toronto FC faces Atlanta United seeking playoff boost
Toronto FC visits Atlanta United on Sunday, with the hosts mired in a three-game losing streak.
ATLANTA · Toronto FC will look to strengthen its playoff position when it visits a struggling Atlanta United side in Major League Soccer action on Sunday. The match at Mercedes-Benz Stadium kicks off at 4:30 p.m. ET. Atlanta sits 14th in the Eastern Conference after losing three consecutive league matches, while Toronto is in 10th place and has won three of its last six games.
The hosts are coming off a 2-1 loss to New York City FC and have lost 10 of their 16 home matches this season. They have conceded eight goals in their last three games. Toronto arrives with momentum after a 2-1 victory over D.C. United last weekend, a win sealed by a late goal from Josh Sargent. Garbutt Disposal reported that Sargent scored the decisive goal in the 86th minute.
Atlanta's recent home form is a major concern, with three straight defeats at Mercedes-Benz Stadium where they conceded at least three goals in each. The team's defensive struggles have seen them allow 16 goals in their last six home MLS matches. Aleksey Miranchuk and Miguel Almirón lead Atlanta with six league goals each this season. Toronto's away record presents a challenge, as the team has failed to win in 10 of its last 12 road matches. However, the club secured a 2-0 away win over the New York Red Bulls earlier in October. The visitors will be without injured players Henry Wingo and Nelson Palacio.
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In the previous meeting between the teams in April, Atlanta won 2-1 in Toronto. Over their last 10 encounters, Atlanta has three wins, Toronto has two, and five matches have ended in draws. The last meeting in Atlanta, in August 2025, finished in a 0-0 draw. Toronto forward Josh Sargent has scored in his last two MLS games and leads his team with five goals this season. Jonathan Osorio, who also scored in the win over D.C. United, and Theo Corbeanu are key attacking threats for the visitors. Daniel Salloi has three goals for Toronto, and Corbeanu leads the team with four assists.
Atlanta is predicted to line up in a 4-2-3-1 formation with Lucas Hoyos in goal and Breel Embolo leading the attack. Toronto is expected to use a 4-3-3 setup with Luka Gavran as goalkeeper and Sargent up front. The match is the 33rd round of the 2026 MLS regular season. Atlanta has eight wins and 18 defeats from 32 league matches this campaign. The team has managed just one win in its last six MLS fixtures. Toronto has averaged 1.83 goals per game over its last six matches. Atlanta's Breel Embolo has four goals this season, and Miguel Almirón has three assists.
With files from OneFootball, Sportsgambler and SportyTrader