Following the conclusion of the 2026 regular season on Sunday, MLS NEXT Pro announced today that Atlanta United 2’s Arif Kovac has won the 2026 MLS NEXT Pro Golden Boot Award after scoring a League-best 20 goals. Additionally, Kovac’s Atlanta United 2 teammate, Cameron Dunbar, became the second-ever winner of the MLS NEXT Pro Playmaker of the Year Award, after contributing the most assists (13) this year. The pair cemented their award-winning campaign by leading Atlanta United 2 to a 4-2 Decision Day victory over Orlando City B; Dunbar provided two assists in the match, including setting up Kovac’s goal to open the afternoon’s scoring.
Kovac has been a key figure for Atlanta United 2 during the 2026 regular season, contributing 20 goals and three assists to help the club clinch its first-ever postseason berth in MLS NEXT Pro. Kovac’s 23 goal contributions are tied for the most in MLS NEXT Pro during the 2026 season (Kevin Gbamblé (CLB) with 12 goals and 11 assists, and Barnabás Tanyi (CTU), who registered 16 goals and seven assists). The club ended the regular season as the No. 3 Seed (48 points, 14-9-5), propelled by Kovac’s consistency in the attacking third. Kovac earned Player of Matchweek 11 honors as he provided six goal contributions (five goals, one assist) to spark a 6-2 comeback victory against Huntsville City FC, setting a League record for most goals and goal contributions in a single match. The 20-year-old forward also earned Player of the Matchweek honors for Matchweeks 19 and 21. Atlanta United 2 finished the season with the second-highest goals scored (62 goals) in the League.Â
Kovac started 22 of his 26 appearances in 2026, finishing the campaign ahead of fellow contenders Alex Krehl (Chattanooga FC, 18 goals) and Tanyi (CT United FC, 16 goals). Kovac signed with Atlanta United 2 prior to the 2025 season and scored one goal in three appearances in his first season with the club. Kovac’s tally of 20 goals ties the record for second-most goals scored in a single season in MLS NEXT Pro history, drawing level with 2025 Golden Boot winner Jason Shokalook (Chicago Fire FC II); 2022 Golden Boot winner Jacen Russell-Rowe (Columbus Crew 2) set the League record with 21 goals.
Dunbar’s 13 assists solidified him as an essential contributor to Atlanta United 2’s offense during the 2026 season; he added nine goals to his assist count to register 22 goal contributions during the 2026 campaign, the second-most contributions across the League. The 23-year-old outshone his peers in the Playmaker of the Year race, surpassing Columbus Crew 2’s Kevin Gbamblé (11 assists), Crown Legacy FC’s Nathan Richmond (10 assists), Chattanooga FC’s Tate Robertson (9 assists), and St Louis CITY2’s Riley Lynch (9 assists).
Dunbar joined Atlanta United 2 for the 2026 season, after having previously played for MNUFC2 in MLS NEXT Pro (2023), as well as MNUFC (2023) and LA Galaxy (2020-2021) in Major League Soccer. Dunbar’s 13 assist haul ties the record for most assists in a single season in MLS NEXT Pro, originally set by 2025 Playmaker of the Year winner Marcos Dias (New England Revolution II).Â
Atlanta United 2 will select its opponent for the opening round of the 2026 MLS NEXT Pro Playoffs on Wednesday, September 23, as the fan-favorite Pick-Your-Opponent playoff format returns for the fourth consecutive season. As the No. 3 seed, Atlanta United 2 will have the ability to select its opponent from the No. 5-8/9 seeds.Â
The complete schedule and matchups for the first round of the Playoffs will be announced Wednesday, September 23 following the Pick-Your-Opponent Selection Shows – the Eastern Conference higher-seeded teams will choose their opponents live on MLSNEXTPro.com at 1 p.m. ET, with the Western Conference Selection Show following at 4 p.m. ET. The No. 8 and No. 9 seeds in each conference will face off in the League’s first-ever Play-in Round the weekend of October 9-11. The Conference Quarterfinals will then be held the weekend of October 16-18.
All 2026 MLS NEXT Pro Playoff matches and MLS NEXT Pro Cup (November 6-8) will air live on OneFootball and MLSNEXTPro.com. Â
Previous Golden Boot Award WinnersÂ
2025: Jason Shokalook, Chicago Fire FC II (20 goals)
2024: David Poreba, Chicago Fire FC II (18 goals)
2023: Jack Lynn, Orlando City B; Rémi Cabral, Colorado Rapids 2; MD Myers, New York City FC II (19 goals)
2022: Jacen Russell-Rowe, Columbus Crew 2 (21 goals)
Previous Playmaker of the Year Award WinnersÂ
2025: Marcos Dias, New England Revolution II (13 assists)
