Patrick Vieira and Tata Martino’s teams meet this weekend and they both provide a look at the future of football in the US

When New York City FC host Atlanta United on Sunday at Yankee Stadium, it will mark the first ever meeting between the clubs and an opportunity to show just how much MLS has developed. Two teams, filled with depth, diversity and ambition, are the perfect advertisement for Major League Soccer and if there was ever a fixture that can speak for the face of America, this is it.

Here’s why.

NYC FC have made significant strides since their beginnings in 2015, and in their third season they are a legitimate contender for MLS Cup. Meanwhile there has been strong home support for Atlanta United – last week’s home they broke the MLS attendance record for the first three matches of a season. A combined total of 147,230 fans have attended Bobby Dodd Stadium so far, showing soccer is alive and well in Georgia’s state capital.

On the field, the football from both teams hasn’t been too shabby either. On one side you have Tata Martino’s pressing game and a determined squad built to entertain: Atlanta have already scored 18 goals in eight matches, only Portland Timbers have a better offensive record (20). And then there’s the aesthetically pleasing NYC FC, where possession governs the land and Vieira’s triangular passing and play-from-the-back mentality are the rules to follow, for better or worse.

The real beauty of this fixture, however, and what it can do for the league – both domestically and internationally – is that this is more than just a clash of football philosophies. Essentially, this game also speaks to the American Latino fútbol fan and the manner in which these clubs represent their communities.

MLS is the most diverse sports league in North America, with players from more than 60 countries in the league. In addition, there are more than 110 Hispanic/Latino players who call MLS their home and for NYC FC and Atlanta United, the Latin influence is overwhelming, on and off the field.

In the front office, Claudio Reyna and Carlos Bocanegra (once USMNT team-mates) have been instrumental towards the identity of their clubs and how they speak for their cities. It was Bocanegra himself who made big strides in order to secure Martino’s appointment and the overall makeup of the team, while Reyna – who left his post as US Soccer’s youth technical director to join NYC FC – has been working hard with his youth coaches in order to strengthen the club’s academy program. So far, the work has been paying off – last month NYC FC U16’s won the Generation Adidas Cup in the Premier Division.

Both first-team squads also have a clear Latin American and Hispanic identity. NYC FC, with the 2017 additions of Alexander Callens, Rodney Wallace, Shannon Gómez, Miguel Camargo, Yangel Herrera and Maxi Moralez, have a host of players with a Latin/Hispanic background. Atlanta, meanwhile, have nine, including Greg Garza, Miguel Almirón and the wonderfully gifted Josef Martinez (who won’t play this weekend due to injury.) Not forgetting el jefe, Martino.

To the non-Latino fan, this may seem like a trivial statistic. But for Latinos who live in Atlanta and New York, there is pride that their club reflects their culture. On Sunday, for example, the stadium will hear me loud and clear when the Peruvian Callens’ name is called out.

US soccer is transitioning and as the country becomes more diverse, it’s imperative that the nation’s domestic league stands up for the different faces that inhabit it. This game is a perfect opportunity to cheerlead the beautiful game and how far we have come.