United’s 2022 schedule released by MLS

Out of team’s 34 games, 15 will be nationally televised.

Atlanta United’s 2022 schedule, released by MLS on Wednesday, features 15 nationally televised games, starting with Sporting KC on Feb. 27 at home at Mercedes-benz Stadium and ending on Decision Day at home against defending champ NYCFC on Oct. 9.

There currently are three games planned in which Mercedes-benz Stadium will be open to full capacity: the opener, Austin on July 9 and Seattle, manager Gonzalo Pineda’s former team, on Aug. 6.

The 34-game schedule includes eight games against teams from the Western Conference: vs. KC, at Colorado, at Nashville, vs. Austin, vs. Real Salt Lake, at L.A. Galaxy, vs. Seattle and at Portland.

The longest stretch of consecutive road games is three, coming near the end of June at Toronto, at the Red Bulls and at NYCFC. The team will have a stretch where it plays four out of five games on the road in April at D.C. United, at Charlotte in the second meeting against the expansion team, at home against Cincinnati, and then at Miami and at Montreal.

The longest stretch of consecutive home games is three, coming in July, against Austin, Real Salt Lake and Orlando. The toughest stretch may be the final four games, all against teams that made the playoffs: at Orlando, vs. Philadelphia, at New England, the Supporters’ Shield winners, and the finale against NYCFC.

MLS reduced the number of mid-week games to five next seasons. Atlanta United’s five will be:

■ June 30 at New York Red Bulls, between games at Toronto on June 25 and at NYCFC on July 3;

■ July 13 at home against Real Salt Lake, sandwiched between home games against Austin on July 9 and Orlando on July 17;

■ Aug. 17 at home vs. Red Bulls, between games at Cincinnati on Aug. 13 and at Columbus on Aug. 21;

■ Aug. 31 at Philadelphia, between a home game against D.C. United on Aug. 28 and a road game at Portland on Sept. 4.

■ Sept. 14 at Orlando, between a home game against Toronto on Sept. 10 and a home against Philadelphia on Sept. 17.

JASON GETZ FOR THE ATLANTA JOURNAL-CONSTITUTION Left: An Atlanta United fan holds a photograph of forward Josef Martinez in September. The longest stretch of consecutive home games for United is three, coming in July.

EDUARDO MUNOZ ALVAREZ/AP Above: New York City FC forward Valentin Castellanos and United defender Miles Robinson (12) battle in November. United will face defending champ NYCFC in Atlanta in the Oct. 9 finale.