Atlanta United returns to Birmingham for preseason game

 In what is becoming a preseason tradition, Atlanta United of MLS will play a game in Birmingham against the Legion.

The game is scheduled for Sunday, February 20th. The Legion announcement states that kickoff time is to be determined later, but the Atlanta announcement says it will be at 3pm EST. The Legion announcement also states that this will be the first soccer game ever played at Protective Stadium, and the headline on the club website reads that the Legion will open the 2022 season with this game. Presumably that means there are no other preseason games planned before that date, at least against other clubs.

This will be the third year in a row that United have come to Birmingham for a preseason game. This year, it will be the final game of their preseason; they open their own regular season February 27th against Sporting Kansas City. Prior to the game in Birmingham Atlanta has two games in Georgia against lower division clubs before heading to Guadalajara, Mexico to play semi-pro team Celaya FC and then the mighty Chivas of Liga MX a week before coming here.

Atlanta United will have something of a new look this year. Possibly literally, as they are scheduled to have a new away kit this season (rumored to be “clear mint” in color with dark green accents). More importantly, this will be their first full season under new head coach Gonzalo Pineda, formerly an assistant with the Seattle Sounders. New to the player roster are two major names: Thiago Almada of Argentina (who hasn’t even joined the club yet) and long-time MLS veteran Ozzie Alonso. Ezequiel Barco may be on his way out, either being sold or on loan, in order to make room for Almada under MLS roster rules. Note also that Legion newcomer Macky Diop was with Atlanta United 2 last season.

As in previous years, tickets for this game will be included with all season ticket packages, so there’s even more incentive to buy them now.