SSFC Spotlight: Cooper Sanchez emerging in difficult season

Q: What is Cooper Sanchez's role in Atlanta United's 2026 season?

Cooper Sanchez is a key midfielder for Atlanta United, starting in multiple matches and contributing to the team's play despite their challenging season.

Q: How did Cooper Sanchez perform at the U-17 World Cup?

Sanchez played three matches at the U-17 World Cup, including a penalty miss in the Round of 32 against Morocco, showcasing his international experience.

Q: What achievements did Cooper Sanchez have in the Atlanta United academy?

Sanchez led the Under-16 team to a 22-1-1 record and won the 2023 MLS NEXT Cup, becoming the youngest player in club history to appear for the reserves.

Q: What challenges is Atlanta United facing in the 2026 MLS season?

Atlanta United has struggled with only one win in eight MLS matches, placing pressure on young players like Sanchez to perform amid the team's difficulties.

ATLANTA, GEORGIA - MARCH 14: Cooper Sanchez #48 of the Atlanta United passes the ball during a match between Philadelphia Union and Atlanta United FC at Mercedes-Benz Stadium on March 14, 2026 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Andrew J. Clark/ISI Photos/ISI Photos via Getty Images) | ISI Photos via Getty Images Each new season of Major League Soccer brings forth the rise of new potential talents who could make an impact with the United States Men’s National Team. Often, these players will be receiving the opportunity on a club that is underperforming, whether stepping into a gap in the roster or being handed an intentional breakthrough. Cooper Sanchez has been receiving starter minutes in 2026, taking full advantage of his chance and impressing with his play. The 18-year-old Atlanta United midfielder also featured at last year’s U-17 World Cup and should continue to ascend the pyramid. Born in Seattle, Washington, Sanchez joined the Atlanta United academy at the age of 12. He led the Under-16 team to a 22-1-1 regular-season record and the 2023 MLS NEXT Cup, scoring in the 3-1 victory over Strikers FC in the final. That year also included two appearances in MLS NEXT Pro, the youngest player in club history to appear for the reserves and “earning the trust of teammates at every level with skill and game understanding far beyond his years.” “I always played up in an age group or two at times during my academy days, and that’s got me ready for the physical side of the game,” Sanchez his club’s official website. “The training environment’s really good down there [with the 2s]. They push, and ultimately the goal is for everyone to get up here [with the First Team] at some point … When I was so young, to put me on the field and get me through those experiences, that only helped me to where I am today.” During the following , Sanchez was inked to a second-team contract (that would eventually mature into a first-team deal) and played seven times, “development, potential, and versatility in the midfield.” Last year, he made 19 MLS NEXT Pro appearances, adding a goal and two assists while also regularly training with the senior group. The MLS squad him up on four short-term agreements, him on the bench before upgrading him to a full contract ahead of schedule. The midfielder then featured in three fixtures, including a start in a 4-0 defeat to Miami. In 2026, Sanchez has found himself as a key figure for Atlanta United, starting in the opening-day 2-0 loss to . He has made nine total appearances but is dealing with a slump of one MLS win in eight opportunities. According to *AUFTV*, the midfielder has as a “vital component in getting the ball forward on the right-hand side of the final third” and provides quality service. “He’s someone who helps us press very well, whether it’s man-to-man or covering the spaces that we need to cover in those moments,” Atlanta manager Tata Martino. “He’s a very technical player, so it’s normal that at his young age he’s giving [way] some of the older players in terms of being a protagonist on the field, but we think he has the abilities and the technique to be able to take on more of a protagonist role in our midfield. We felt that he’s been working very well. He’s a young player. He’s very dynamic. He has good technique, and we felt that he was ready to play.” At the international level, Sanchez received his first call-up to the United States program at the Under-15 level. He played the full 90 minutes in two victories over the U.S. Virgin Islands (22-0) and Cuba (2-0) during the group stage at the 2025 CONCACAF U-17 qualifying, followed by three starts at the ensuing World Cup, which included failing to convert his penalty in the Round of 32 loss to Morocco. His most recent duty came with the Under-18 team in March, featuring against Morocco (1-2) and Portugal (1-1). Standing at a five feet, nine inches tall, Sanchez is a and versatile right-footed center midfielder who “prefers to play the eight but is usable anywhere on the field.” He displays with “above-average field awareness, passing, and an understanding for the flow of the game that surpasses what you expect for a player his age.” His to “make quick adjustments” renders him an asset in high-pressing systems, darting to the ball and snuffing out potential attacks, but his sometimes static defensive output could more impactful. “He is a versatile midfielder with strong fundamentals,” Grey Gowder for *Scarves and Spikes*. “If you focus on him during a match, you will see a lot of the quiet and efficiently methodical work [that] a central midfielder needs to do to keep the entire formation stable. He can play either role in a double pivot and will likely be the ball handler, the more advanced connector, and the deeper-lying defender. He is not a flashy player, but he does a lot of things right that build highlight reels for the flashy players around him.” Being a young professional is a challenging and sometimes frustrating journey that involves fighting for every inch and dealing with the ups and downs while teams balance development and picking up points. Sanchez is receiving an excellent run with Atlanta, a side that is sinking thus far in 2026, which will only provide him with more opportunities as next year eventually becomes the focus. He has time to grow and improve, but the early indications are that his future may lead to Europe and perhaps a run with the .