I’ve been a Philadelphia Union fan as long as I can remember. The club was founded in 2008 — the same year I was born — and played their debut season in Major League Soccer (MLS) in 2010. They’ve since won two MLS Supporters’ Shields for having the best record in the league and made the MLS Cup final in 2022, but lost in a heartbreaking penalty shootout to Los Angeles FC.
The first game I ever went to was in October 2011, when I was three years old. Not that I particularly remember any of it, but the game ended as a draw at one against Toronto FC, which clinched the franchise’s first-ever MLS playoff berth.
Since then, I’ve gone every year with my family, for birthdays, celebrations and just as a way to spend quality time together. I’ve always loved being a fan of the club, and even got to go to see them play here in Chicago this year.
Pre-World Cup
The Union kicked off their 2026 campaign, to be quite frank, horribly. They came off a season where they lifted the Supporters’ Shield before being eliminated in a disappointing manner against New York City FC in the Eastern Conference semifinal.
The offseason saw the departures of veteran defenders Kai Wagner and Jakob Glesnes, both of whom are three-time MLS All-Stars, and the Union’s top goalscorer of 2025 Tai Baribo. Notable arrivals included two largely unproven forwards in Ezekiel Alladoh and Agustín Anello, and defenders Philippe Ndinga and Japhet Sery Larsen.
The Union started the season with six straight losses, scoring four goals and conceding 11. They got their first points almost two months into the season, beating CF Montréal on the road 2-1.
They followed this result with four draws and three losses, being outscored 12-8. The last straw for Head Coach Bradley Carnell came after a 6-4 loss to Lionel Messi’s Inter Miami. The coach was fired just three days after the match, leaving the team sitting dead last in the Eastern Conference with only seven points in 15 games.
World Cup break
After the disastrous first half of the season, the team had two months to regroup while the MLS paused for the World Cup. Ryan Richter, head coach of the Union II reserve team, was appointed as interim manager the same day Carnell was fired.
During this time, Wagner was re-signed in July from Birmingham City FC after being in England for only six months. He registered one goal and three assists in 18 appearances in all competitions during his time overseas.
Post-World Cup
The Union came back from the break, guns blazing. With a new manager at the helm, Wagner returning home and star midfielder Quinn Sullivan making his comeback from a torn ACL suffered late in the 2025 season, the Union won four games on the bounce.
I was at a victory over Atlanta United, an exciting game that saw the Union score three goals all after the 73rd minute to erase a two-goal deficit, winning 3-2.
Draws with Inter Miami and Austin FC preceded an eight-game win streak, putting the Union in an exclusive club of only four teams to have achieved the feat in the MLS post-shootout era — a time when the MLS used to have penalty shootouts to decide regular season games tied at fulltime. They were prevented from tying the all-time consecutive win record when they drew with Charlotte FC Oct. 17.
The run included comebacks from deficits that seemed insurmountable — the Atlanta game, a three goal comeback against New York City FC and overcoming a one-goal deficit at the half to beat Chicago Fire FC 3-1. The most notable comeback came when they went three goals down to Sporting Kansas City at halftime before scoring four unanswered goals within 10 minutes to secure the victory.
The miraculous run came to an end Oct. 25 in a 2-1 loss to New England at home.
With three games to go, they sit in sixth place with 46 points. They need just three points to clinch a spot in the playoffs, a feat that felt impossible 15 games into the season. So what was it that inspired this second wind?
Comeback kids
The average age of the Union’s squad is 25.4 years, the third-youngest in the league. It wasn’t until after the break that the young talent in the team was properly utilized.
Seventeen-year-old midfielder Cavan Sullivan started seven of the 13 league games he appeared in before the break, but has started 13 out of his 14 appearances since. During the unbeaten run, he picked up six goals and six assists. He’s proved a crucial part of Philadelphia’s turnaround.
Nineteen-year-old center back Niel Pierre made his season debut in the first game after the World Cup. He featured as a substitute, playing 35 minutes in the 3-1 win over the New York Red Bulls, and scored his first Union goal just ten minutes after coming on to put the boys in blue in front.
The 6-foot-7 homegrown Pennsylvanian has scored five times this season, all but one of which came in his first seven MLS matches. Since his introduction into the squad, the Union’s only lost one game in all competitions he’s started in.
The 20-year-old right-back Frankie Westfield played a role in last year’s Supporters’ Shield-winning team, but this season he’s hit his stride. He’s started all 26 of his appearances in MLS play and has tallied eight assists — two more than any other defender in the league.
All three players were called up to the U.S. Men’s National Team during the September international break, during which they each made their senior international debuts. Cavan Sullivan scored his first of hopefully many goals for the national team in a 3-0 win against Mexico.
The introduction of youth has proved a crucial change, and in my eyes, the increase in the intensity of the play is noticeable. They’ve stepped up in the big moments and will undoubtedly turn out to be superstars for the Union, the national team and wherever they go after their time in Philly.
Richter’s rule
Richter took over from Carnell in what can only be described as a rut. Following Carnell’s termination, newly appointed Sporting Director Jon Scheer announced he’d lead a global search for a new manager, according to a Union press release. With the form Richter’s delivered, it’s not outrageous to ask whether he’s here to stay in a permanent role.
Personally, I think he’s done more than enough to earn the job. The real deciding factor will be his performance in the playoffs, whether he can propel the team to a deep run or even bring home silverware.
Under Richter’s control, the Union’s gone from averaging 1.2 goals scored and 2 goals conceded per game to scoring 2.75 goals per game and conceding an average of only 1.25.
Given his history as former coach of many of the young players he’s given chances, the emphasis on youth in his lineups has caused a huge change in performances and will develop those players for the future of the club.
So far, Richter’s broken records, giving the franchise its longest ever unbeaten run and became the manager with the longest unbeaten streak to start an MLS managerial career.
A bright future
So, can the Union keep up their form? I certainly think so. With the playoffs right around the corner in November, and homegrown, European-experienced center back Mark MacKenzie set to return for the 2027 season, it’s hard not to be excited for what’s to come.
After years of packing stadiums and cheering on the team, is this the year that the Union can finally deliver the fans a title? An MLS championship would mean the world to me, and soccer fans all over the city. I know me and my family will be tuning in to watch as they compete for the cup, and I strongly suggest readers do the same.