Arif Kovac and Cameron Dunbar Receive 2026 Golden Boot and Playmaker of the Year Awards
MLS NEXT Pro Atlanta United 2

Arif Kovac and Cameron Dunbar Receive 2026 Golden Boot and Playmaker of the Year Awards

Published on September 20, 2026 under MLS NEXT Pro (MLS NEXT Pro)
Atlanta United 2 News Release


ATLANTA - Following the conclusion of the 2026 regular season on Sunday, MLS NEXT Pro announced today that forward Arif Kovac has won the 2026 MLS NEXT Pro Golden Boot Award. Additionally, midfielder Cameron Dunbar became the second-ever winner of the MLS NEXT Pro Playmaker of the Year Award. Kovac, leading the league with 20 goals this season, finished with the joint-second-most goals scored in a single season in MLS NEXT Pro history. Dunbar, who finished his campaign with a league-leading 13 assists and 72 key passes, tallied the joint-most assists in a single season in NEXT Pro history.

Kovac, 20, joined Atlanta United 2 on Jan. 24, 2025, where he went on to appear in three matches as a substitute and score his first professional goal on Sept. 28 against Chicago Fire FC II. In 2026, Kovac made his first professional start on April 10 against Inter Miami CF II, where he scored his first goal of the season. On May 16, Kovac scored an MLS NEXT Pro-record five goals in a single match in a 6-2 victory over Huntsville City FC, earning him the designation of MLS NEXT Pro Player of the Matchweek for Matchweek 11. Over his next 19 appearances, Kovac tallied 13 additional goals en route to securing Atlanta its most prolific goalscoring season from an individual in team history.

Dunbar, 23, joined Atlanta United 2 on Dec. 17, 2025, after previously spending three seasons at USL Championship side Orange County SC. He provided his first two Atlanta United 2 assists on March 15, in a 4-1 victory over Huntsville City FC, before tallying 11 more assists and 9 goals in his remaining 25 matches. On Aug. 28, Dunbar set a new Atlanta United 2 single-match record with eight key passes in a 1-1 draw at Inter Miami CF II before going on to set another team record and lead NEXT Pro with 72 total key passes on the season.

The two players, whose 45 combined goal contributions were statistically the most prolific duo in NEXT Pro, helped Atlanta secure its most wins, points, goals and assists in a single season in team history. Additionally, in the 4-2 victory over Orlando City B on Decision Day, the pair tallied three total goal contributions, with two assists from Dunbar and a goal from Kovac securing Atlanta the No. 3 seed in the Eastern Conference and its first-ever playoff berth.

Atlanta 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 will have the ability to select its opponent from the No. 5-8/9 seeds.

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.

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