Playing on artificial turf, air travel, and games at altitude make Major League Soccer a unique and challenging league for away teams compared to the rest of the world. The sheer size of the country virtually ensures away sides will face long flights at some point in the season. Scheduling quirks in MLS include playing midweek games several times a year which forces teams to rotate players. All of this has helped the league develop a reputation for being difficult for foreign players and coaches to adjust to.
The upcoming games for Atlanta United will pose a new challenge for the team.