Power rankings high on Atlanta United ahead of 2025 season

It's previews season, y'all. Predictions are flying off the shelves, as media around the country try to forecast the 2025 MLS campaign. And after an offseason for the history books, Atlanta United is shooting up power rankings.

Under the direction of CEO and President Garth Lagerway and Chief Soccer Officer and Sporting Director Chris Henderson, the club made key designated player signings like Miguel Almirón and Emmanuel Latte Lath. New head coach Ronny Deila brings an attacking-minded style to the table. More than just up front, Mateusz Klich brings experience to the midfield, and homegrown signings like Will Reilly should contribute as well. The 5-Stripes are looking to be better equipped for the long haul of the season than in 2024.

"Real buzz and real momentum [is] building," Lagerway said Wednesday at Latte Lath's introductory press conference, "both inside our locker room and out in the city of Atlanta."

Here are some of the best and brightest media outlets and their thoughts on how the 5-Stripes will shape up this season. We'll be keeping these as receipts come season's end:

MLSSoccer.com: 6th in Power Rankings

From the league itself, the writers at MLS Soccer dot com came together to put together power rankings before the new season starts. Atlanta United came in at sixth, behind just two other Eastern Conference teams in FC Cincinnati and Inter Miami.

• "The Five Stripes had an all-timer of an MLS offseason ... If 'Atlanta United are back' isn’t true this time, it may never be."

Sports Illustrated: 1st (❗) in Power Rankings

That's right, SI is high on the 5-Stripes. They were also complimentary of the moves Atlanta United has made since the end of last season, placing faith in Deila and the squad to be a favorite in the Supporters' Shield race.

• "Atlanta has arguably had the best offseason of any MLS team, both on and off the pitch ... All in all, 2025 promises to be a good year for the 2018 MLS champions."

Give Me Sport (Tom Bogert): 5th in Eastern Conference

MLS insider Tom Bogert's take on Atlanta United is less fiery, slotting them in at 5th in the Eastern Conference for the 2025 season. He sees New York Red Bulls, Charlotte FC, Inter Miami and FC Cincinnati finishing ahead of the 5-Stripes. Even still, this would be four places of improvement for Atlanta United from last season, a target Deila has set for his team.

Goal.com: 2nd in Power Rankings

Here's another outlet that really believes in Atlanta United this season. As is becoming theme, they were fans of what Lagerway, Henderson and Deila did this offseason in recruiting talent.

• "Call it bold, call it brave, but Atlanta is the offseason winner in MLS in 2025. Not one team has been as ambitious in the transfer market as them ... They've done everything right ahead of the upcoming campaign -- now it's just seeing how all the puzzle pieces fit."

Matthew Doyle: Tied for 5th based on an estimated points over/under total

Matthew Doyle, in collaboration with AmericanSoccerAnalysis, put together a list of projected point totals for every MLS team in the 2025 season. Atlanta United tied for fifth in those rankings with an over/under of 54.5 total points. That total, in relation to the rest of the projections, would put the 5-Stripes in third place in the Eastern Conference behind Inter Miami and FC Cincinnati and tied with Columbus Crew.

ESPN: Success if silverware

ESPN's preview didn't dare to put numerical rankings, but they did set their expectations for each MLS club. For Atlanta United, they said it's silverware or bust.

• "The end of the 2024 campaign provided fans with some highs when eliminating Miami in the first round of the playoffs, but the team can and must do more. With the right lineup and under Deila's new management, Atlanta United should aim for silverware only."

We will see if Atlanta United can get off on the right foot in their home opener at 7:30 p.m. ET Saturday Feb. 22 at Mercedes-Benz Stadium.