Atlanta tops Sporting KC to win third straight

“As a team, we were in a bad moment. We suffered a lot,” Atlanta United captain Miguel Almirón said. “I think we worked really hard to try to get out of it. But we know we still have a lot of room to grow and a lot of things to improve. So, we’re not satisfied where we are. This isn’t the goal. We know we have to continue working.”

Almirón became the club’s all-time leader with 42 assists across all competitions with a pretty pass to Tomás Jacob. The veteran winger put a series of moves on a Kansas City defender to find a streaking Jacob in the 13th minute. It was Jacob’s third goal of the season, two of which were netted in the last week.

Jacob scored his first goal off Almirón in March when the United captain became the franchise all-time assists leader in MLS play.

Almirón also assisted on United’s second goal — both in the first half — as Fafá Picault tapped in a corner pass after getting completely free near the goal line. It was Picault’s third of the season, his second in three matches after the veteran forward scored the late go-ahead goal against the Red Bulls last time at the Benz.

“Miguel, along with Josef (Martínez), in Atlanta United’s short history are the two most important players the club has had,” manager Gerardo Martino said. “Miguel is a player who’s evidently shown he’s still able to provide answers, but he’s also a player who needs the team to accompany him.”

The Five Stripes managed to score on Sunday, but the 28th scoring team in the league just got some help. Atlanta acquired striker Breel Embolo from French Ligue 1 squad Stade Rennais, the team announced before the match.

Embolo most recently represented Switzerland in the 2026 FIFA World Cup, where he recorded two goals and two assists in six tournament matches. Last season, Embolo put up 10 goals and three assists throughout all competitions.

“Breel is a player who’s a presence in the box. He knows how to play. He’s very strong, so he’s someone who can help us,” Martino said. “When the team is building longer sequences, he’s also someone who’s very good at making short diagonal runs. We need a player like that, and we want to spend more time in the opponent’s half of the field.”

It was the biggest transaction of this window for the club and a significant signing in MLS history with a reported $18 million transfer fee, locking him into the team through the 2029-30 season. Last summer, world-class forward Son Heung-min broke the MLS record with $26.5 million.

The move comes after Atlanta loaned striker Emmanuel Latte Lath to German Bundesliga side Union Berlin for the 2026-27 season on Aug. 2. Latte Lath had a disappointing season after leading United in goals in 2025.

The Swiss forward attended the match on Sunday, and the club introduced him at halftime with a promo video teasing his No. 36 kit. Embolo was greeted by a roar from the 17s side-by-side with United chief soccer officer and sporting director Chris Henderson and AMBSE president of soccer Mauricio Culebro.

Another recent addition, Paulo Díaz, got his first start in his third overall appearance for United. For the first time, Atlanta featured a back line of Díaz and Júnior Alonso after signing the veteran centerbacks at the start of the summer transfer window.

The duo conceded a goal by Kansas City forward Stephen Afrifa in the 70th minute. Stian Gregersen subbed on for Díaz shortly after, and even though United looked disjointed for most of the second half, it held on to win.

The hope is for the two veteran signings to carry themselves as leaders anchoring the defense.

“Atlanta for a while now, not just since I’ve been managing here, but for a while, has needed those type of leaders,” Martino said. “It’s not just in the locker room and on the field — it’s both — and there’s certain players who are able to take on those responsibilities, and these two guys are able to do it.”

Meanwhile, since the World Cup break, United has found the net 11 times in seven matches compared to 14 goals in 14 matches to open the season. The addition of Embolo should help United’s current scoring push.

Next, Atlanta concludes the highway series with Charlotte FC this season on Saturday at home. United will be without Elías Báez as he will be suspended for the match after picking up his sixth yellow card on Sunday. Báez has started all 19 of his appearances this season.

Coming into the match, the two sides were competing to stay out of last place in MLS. Kansas City occupied the bottom spot with a 4-13-3 (15 points) record while United sat at 5-12-3 (18 points).

Now at 6-12-3 (21 points), Atlanta is placed No. 12 in the East and is suddenly just three points off the playoff race.

“I think for the fans, it’s recovering the optimism,” Martino said. “... But I said after we won two games that we can’t get carried away. It’s the same now.”