Audi 2024 MLS Cup Playoffs: About Atlanta United's first-round opponent, the Supporters' Shield champions

Atlanta United's thrilling penalty shootout victory in the Eastern Conference Wild Card game was the third straight victory for the 5-Stripes, and while the team rides the wave of good results, they face the best team in Major League Soccer: Inter Miami CF. Game 1 of the first-round best-of-3 series begins Friday night in Miami.

No. 9 seed Atlanta United will face No. 1 seed Inter Miami CF in the MLS Cup playoffs. Here are a few storylines for the first round of the best-of-3 series between the two Eastern Conference clubs:

Inter Miami CF had a very good season and secured first place in the Eastern Conference. The club won the regular season title and also broke the record for most points scored in the table (74).

The Herons have a talented squad that includes world-class stars:

• Sergio Busquets and Jordi Alba, the pair of experienced Spanish internationals
• Diego Gomez, a midfielder from Paraguay who was ranked No. 1 in the 2024 U22 selection presented by BODYARMOR
• Luis Suárez, the Uruguayan striker who leads the team with 20 goals scored this season (20)
• Lionel Messi, the world champion and Argentine legend. He has 20 goals and 16 assists in 19 MLS games this season.

“It will be difficult. These are the playoffs. That's what it's about. There are no easy games. We have to go down there, it's another quick turnaround for us. We’re going to give it our all,” Atlanta United goalkeeper Brad Guzan said after the Wild Card win.

As a No. 9 seed, Atlanta United will be the underdog when they face the best team in the Eastern Conference, but the team has had its back against the wall in recent weeks and has adopted a must-win mentality .

“This is what you play all season,” center back Derrick Williams said. “If you told me you had a playoff game against Miami, Messi and everyone else, you would bite your hand off and couldn't wait to play it. I look forward to it. We all are.”

Miami only lost four times in the MLS regular season – a big reason they managed 74 points. One of those defeats came at Atlanta United. On May 29, the 5-Stripes traveled to Chase Stadium, the same site of Friday's game, and scored three Miami goals, two from Saba Lobjanidze, to win the 100th regular season game in club history.

The second meeting between these two Eastern Conference teams took place later in the season on September 18th. Saba also scored a goal in this game. Inter Miami held the lead until the final 10 minutes of the game, when Alexey Miranchuk delivered a blast that was voted the AT&T Goal of the Match to level the score at 2-2 at Mercedes-Benz Stadium and tie the game close.

Although Atlanta United had good results against Miami this season, the playoff story is very different. Take the game against Montreal for example. Atlanta United had not beaten Montreal in 2024 and won the Wild Card game against them on Tuesday night.

“To be fair, they’re a thing of the past now,” Williams said of the early games against Miami. “It’s playoffs. Then everything means the most. I don't really think about the past. I’m just thinking about the next game and I know it’s going to be difficult.”

Interim coach Rob Valentino said there was a difference between the first game against Miami in May and the second home game in September. He expects a new fold for the playoff game. The key this time, he emphasized, was efficient ball control.

“We live to fight another day, and here we go again,” Valentino said. “The mentality won’t change for us. All that matters is the inner faith we have, and anything external will not matter.”

In case you missed it, this round of the MLS Cup Playoffs will be played as a best-of-3 series, not a single elimination game. It is the only round of the playoffs that is decided by a series.

The schedule for the series can be found here:

• Friday, October 25th – 8:30 p.m. in Miami
• Saturday, November 2nd – 7:00 p.m. at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta | View tickets
• Saturday, November 9th – 8:00 p.m. in Miami

This best-of-3 series gives the lower seeds a chance to host a playoff game, meaning The 2024 MLS Cup Playoffs are coming to Atlanta. Watching the playoffs in Atlanta, especially if the 5-Stripes can win in Game 1 in Miami, will be a big reason to fill the seats at Mercedes-Benz Stadium.

“The game ahead is what counts,” said Valentino. “I can’t imagine what will happen next time…”Focus on that goal and aim for victory.”

One thing about the best-of-3 series that will remain the same from the Wild Card game: penalty kicks. If a game is tied at the end of regular time, the winner will be determined by penalty shootout. There are no ties or total points in the MLS Cup Playoffs.

“Every game is a knockout game,” Williams said.

Atlanta United plays good football. The group has not lost in its last five away games, starting with a 1-0 win over Charlotte FC at Bank of America Stadium. The team recently won two times in a row away from home. First in Orlando, a win that qualified the team for the playoffs on Decision Day. Then in Montreal a victory that moved them into the first round games.

Atlanta United has had an incredibly demanding turnaround since decision day – a total of three games in six days. There are definitely some tired legs as there are three away games in a row and there is a lot of traveling back and forth.

“There are no excuses,” said Valentino. “This is exactly where we wanted to be and now we’re blessed to be here and we’re going to keep going.”

To advance to the next round, Atlanta United must achieve at least one away win. It's a tall order to get a win against Messi and Co. in Miami, but Atlanta United is relishing the challenge.

“You have to do your best, and sometimes that's not enough, but all you can do is really give it your all,” Williams said. “These are the games you want to play. These are the games I would look forward to. I always wanted to play against the best, play against the best of all time. It's a challenge. Every single one of us is looking forward to this challenge and no one is shying away from it.”