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Wednesday's match
When: 7:25 p.m. Wednesday
Where: Isotopes Park, 1601 Avenida Cesar Chavez SE
Radio: 101.7-FM (it’s not on TV or streaming)
The series: First meeting
New Mexico, meet Mexico — once again.
United is hosting another team from south of the border for an international friendly on Wednesday. This time, Mexico City’s Atlante FC will be the one to determine whether United is keen on playing gracious host on the pitch or more willing to show some American sportsman hospitality.
Here are some things to note:
Free kicks
1. SOME MORE INTERNATIONAL FLAIR: United is no stranger to hosting a foreign club. After all, this will be the fifth international friendly New Mexico has hosted since its first season in 2019.
And the results? Well, they’ve been mixed.
United tied Welsh club Cardiff City 1-1 in 2019 and then lost to English side Sunderland FC 3-2 in 2023. Both teams were members of the EFL Championship, the UK’s second soccer tier, during their respective visits.
New Mexico then hosted Liga MX’s FC Juarez in 2024 and 2025. United lost the first matchup 4-2 and won the second 1-0.
Each of the four friendlies have taken place in the middle of New Mexico’s season and served as a preseason match for the visitors.
It’s no different for Atlante FC, which is also a member of Liga MX (more on that below). The contest against United is its lone announced preseason date.
2. WELCOME BACK, WELCOME BACK: Not Atlante visiting Albuquerque. That is a first-time thing for a friendly. Instead, this refers to Atlante’s place in Mexico’s top soccer league.
Atlante spent the last 12 years in the country’s second flight — Liga de Expansión MX — where it placed eighth in the regular-season standings last season. But Mexico suspended promotion and relegation to/from Liga MX in 2020.
So, how did Atlante end up back in Liga MX? Good question.
Essentially, through purchasing power. It acquired Mazatlán’s place in the league. Mazatlán folded April 25, a little more than a month before the sixth anniversary of its founding.
But Atlante does have a history in Mexico’s top division and being successful. Founded 110 years ago, it’s won the league three times (1946-47, ’92-’93 and 2007) to go along with its three Liga de Expansión MX titles (2021, ’22 and ’24) and two CONCACAF Champions Cup/Champions League championships (1983 and 2008-09).
Atlante begins Liga MX play against Club Necaxa on July 16.
3. BREAKING FROM THE BREAK: United last played on June 20 — an away USL Championship match at Sacramento Republic FC. New Mexico won 1-0.
There will have been 11 days between that game and the matchup against Atlante FC thanks to a mandated bye. The USL Championship requires its clubs to take a mental health break before starting the second half of the season. For United, that begins Saturday against Oakland Roots SC.
New Mexico closed its first half with a five-match unbeaten streak — if one includes USL Cup competitions — and moved itself up to fifth on the Western Conference table.
Wednesday’s friendly can be viewed through a 50-50 lens. There are some benefits to the match, and some drawbacks.
It could help United get into a rhythm for Saturday after its layoff. It can also take away prep time and some more rest heading into the Oakland matchup.
Forward Niall Reid-Stephen, forward/defender Jake LaCava and midfielder Valentin Noël each missed time before the break with leg injuries.
4. PLENTY OF TIME, SOME TIME OR NO TIME: It won’t matter much if United loses to Atlante. It will if New Mexico does to Oakland.
And with a two-match week on the schedule, it will be interesting to see how United manager Dennis Sanchez will go about arranging his starting lineups and substitutions.
Sanchez has shown in the past that he’ll lean more on the club’s backups in inconsequential midweek matches. Some starters still earned minutes, but not as many as they usually would. It’s a strategy the manager used during the U.S. Open Cup against Cruizers FC and El Paso Locomotives FC, and in the second match of the USL Cup group stage at Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC.
For the record, New Mexico won the first of those matchups implementing that strategy and lost the second two. Both losses were 4-0.
Key matchup
United forward/defender Jake LaCava vs. Atlante midfielder Hardy Meza
Whether LaCava plays remains to be seen, but if he does, it will be a good reentry point for potentially some quality minutes. Meza, should he play, tied for the Atlante lead last season with nine goals.
Player of the match
United’s substitutions
Why not go ambiguous? There are plenty of players to choose from in a manner of speaking. The backups will play against Atlante. It’s just a matter of how early and how much. But it will be interesting to see who plays well if Sanchez’s strategy stays the same.
By the numbers
59: The number of goals Atlante scored last season. It was good for second in Liga de Expansión MX, as was the club’s goals per match (1.8).
2: United has never scored more than two goals in any of its international friendlies. It hit that number against Sunderland and the first Juarez matchup.
12: The number of clean sheets Atlante posted last season in 32 league matches.
1-2-1: United’s record in Wednesday matches this season.
David Glovach covers New Mexico United and other sports for the Journal. Reach him at [email protected] or via X @DavidGlovach.
More New Mexico United reading
*
NM United loans out Vargas for remainder of season
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*
'There's gotta be a specialness': A look at how NM United goes about securing an international friendly
NMU will host Liga MX side Atlante FC in club's latest edition
*
NM United hoping to make most of its break, even if timing isn't ideal
NMU currently on 5-match unbeaten streak to put itself in top half of USL West standings
*
NM United finally gets to enjoy — temporarily — a match in Sacramento
Harris, Jabang, Shakes help NMU win in California capital for 1st time since 2019
*
For Gray family, NM United matches always mean extra father-son time
NMU VP says getting the chance to include his kids in work has been 'awesome'
*
Match day: New Mexico United at Sacramento Republic FC
NMU looks to finally have some good fortune in California capital
*
NM United's Daniel Bruce is embracing America's pastime
Englishman learning to throw a baseball in preparation for 1st pitch at Isotopes game
*
NM United is getting in the July 4 spirit with new kit
Team unveils festive new uniform — the 4th so far this season — for America's 250th birthday
*
NM United's Hurst says he did his part in recent eating contest
Soccer forward was part of trio that completed the Big Texan 72 oz. steak challenge
*
I survived the 72 oz. steak challenge (kind of)
Journal and others compete in Big Texan steak challenge
Continue reading...
When: 7:25 p.m. Wednesday
Where: Isotopes Park, 1601 Avenida Cesar Chavez SE
Radio: 101.7-FM (it’s not on TV or streaming)
The series: First meeting
New Mexico, meet Mexico — once again.
United is hosting another team from south of the border for an international friendly on Wednesday. This time, Mexico City’s Atlante FC will be the one to determine whether United is keen on playing gracious host on the pitch or more willing to show some American sportsman hospitality.
Here are some things to note:
Free kicks
1. SOME MORE INTERNATIONAL FLAIR: United is no stranger to hosting a foreign club. After all, this will be the fifth international friendly New Mexico has hosted since its first season in 2019.
And the results? Well, they’ve been mixed.
United tied Welsh club Cardiff City 1-1 in 2019 and then lost to English side Sunderland FC 3-2 in 2023. Both teams were members of the EFL Championship, the UK’s second soccer tier, during their respective visits.
New Mexico then hosted Liga MX’s FC Juarez in 2024 and 2025. United lost the first matchup 4-2 and won the second 1-0.
Each of the four friendlies have taken place in the middle of New Mexico’s season and served as a preseason match for the visitors.
It’s no different for Atlante FC, which is also a member of Liga MX (more on that below). The contest against United is its lone announced preseason date.
2. WELCOME BACK, WELCOME BACK: Not Atlante visiting Albuquerque. That is a first-time thing for a friendly. Instead, this refers to Atlante’s place in Mexico’s top soccer league.
Atlante spent the last 12 years in the country’s second flight — Liga de Expansión MX — where it placed eighth in the regular-season standings last season. But Mexico suspended promotion and relegation to/from Liga MX in 2020.
So, how did Atlante end up back in Liga MX? Good question.
Essentially, through purchasing power. It acquired Mazatlán’s place in the league. Mazatlán folded April 25, a little more than a month before the sixth anniversary of its founding.
But Atlante does have a history in Mexico’s top division and being successful. Founded 110 years ago, it’s won the league three times (1946-47, ’92-’93 and 2007) to go along with its three Liga de Expansión MX titles (2021, ’22 and ’24) and two CONCACAF Champions Cup/Champions League championships (1983 and 2008-09).
Atlante begins Liga MX play against Club Necaxa on July 16.
3. BREAKING FROM THE BREAK: United last played on June 20 — an away USL Championship match at Sacramento Republic FC. New Mexico won 1-0.
There will have been 11 days between that game and the matchup against Atlante FC thanks to a mandated bye. The USL Championship requires its clubs to take a mental health break before starting the second half of the season. For United, that begins Saturday against Oakland Roots SC.
New Mexico closed its first half with a five-match unbeaten streak — if one includes USL Cup competitions — and moved itself up to fifth on the Western Conference table.
Wednesday’s friendly can be viewed through a 50-50 lens. There are some benefits to the match, and some drawbacks.
It could help United get into a rhythm for Saturday after its layoff. It can also take away prep time and some more rest heading into the Oakland matchup.
Forward Niall Reid-Stephen, forward/defender Jake LaCava and midfielder Valentin Noël each missed time before the break with leg injuries.
4. PLENTY OF TIME, SOME TIME OR NO TIME: It won’t matter much if United loses to Atlante. It will if New Mexico does to Oakland.
And with a two-match week on the schedule, it will be interesting to see how United manager Dennis Sanchez will go about arranging his starting lineups and substitutions.
Sanchez has shown in the past that he’ll lean more on the club’s backups in inconsequential midweek matches. Some starters still earned minutes, but not as many as they usually would. It’s a strategy the manager used during the U.S. Open Cup against Cruizers FC and El Paso Locomotives FC, and in the second match of the USL Cup group stage at Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC.
For the record, New Mexico won the first of those matchups implementing that strategy and lost the second two. Both losses were 4-0.
Key matchup
United forward/defender Jake LaCava vs. Atlante midfielder Hardy Meza
Whether LaCava plays remains to be seen, but if he does, it will be a good reentry point for potentially some quality minutes. Meza, should he play, tied for the Atlante lead last season with nine goals.
Player of the match
United’s substitutions
Why not go ambiguous? There are plenty of players to choose from in a manner of speaking. The backups will play against Atlante. It’s just a matter of how early and how much. But it will be interesting to see who plays well if Sanchez’s strategy stays the same.
By the numbers
59: The number of goals Atlante scored last season. It was good for second in Liga de Expansión MX, as was the club’s goals per match (1.8).
2: United has never scored more than two goals in any of its international friendlies. It hit that number against Sunderland and the first Juarez matchup.
12: The number of clean sheets Atlante posted last season in 32 league matches.
1-2-1: United’s record in Wednesday matches this season.
David Glovach covers New Mexico United and other sports for the Journal. Reach him at [email protected] or via X @DavidGlovach.
More New Mexico United reading
*
NM United loans out Vargas for remainder of season
Midfielder sent to USL League One side Union Omaha
*
'There's gotta be a specialness': A look at how NM United goes about securing an international friendly
NMU will host Liga MX side Atlante FC in club's latest edition
*
NM United hoping to make most of its break, even if timing isn't ideal
NMU currently on 5-match unbeaten streak to put itself in top half of USL West standings
*
NM United finally gets to enjoy — temporarily — a match in Sacramento
Harris, Jabang, Shakes help NMU win in California capital for 1st time since 2019
*
For Gray family, NM United matches always mean extra father-son time
NMU VP says getting the chance to include his kids in work has been 'awesome'
*
Match day: New Mexico United at Sacramento Republic FC
NMU looks to finally have some good fortune in California capital
*
NM United's Daniel Bruce is embracing America's pastime
Englishman learning to throw a baseball in preparation for 1st pitch at Isotopes game
*
NM United is getting in the July 4 spirit with new kit
Team unveils festive new uniform — the 4th so far this season — for America's 250th birthday
*
NM United's Hurst says he did his part in recent eating contest
Soccer forward was part of trio that completed the Big Texan 72 oz. steak challenge
*
I survived the 72 oz. steak challenge (kind of)
Journal and others compete in Big Texan steak challenge
Continue reading...
