Report: Atlanta United “tenatively scheduled” to open 2019 at D.C. United

While we won’t know the full MLS schedule until early next month, it looks like one piece of the puzzle is in place for Atlanta United.

According to a report by the Washington Post’s Steven Goff, Atlanta are set to open its MLS Cup title defense at Audi Field against D.C. United. Per Goff, the matchup is “tentative” and may happen on either March 2 or 3. However, we should learn specifics in short order.

Atlanta United are 2-4-0 against D.C. United but have yet to win in the nation’s capital. After going 0-3 against D.C. last season, Atlanta won a pair of 3-1 matchups in March and July at Mercedes-Benz Stadium, but fell by the same score on September 2 at Audi Field.

From a bigger picture standpoint, there could be changes in store for the 2019 season, including an expanded, 14-team playoff (with FC Cincinnati entering the league and two more clubs coming on board in 2020 and 2021), a compressed schedule, and more. We’ll see how those matters shake out after the Board of Govenors meeting this month.