Carnell preaches positional ‘flexibility’ and ‘all-around capabilities’ ahead of busy 2026 schedule

Philadelphia Union head coach, Bradley Carnell, and Director of Academy and Professional Development, Jon Scheer, met with the media on Friday morning for the Union’s preseason press conference, addressing offseason arrivals and departures, player development, and the club’s overall strategy heading into a season that will see the team participate in three major competitions. 

The Union will participate in Major League Soccer’s 34-game 2026 season, is guaranteed at least two games in the Concacaf Champions Cup and three Phase One matches in the Leagues Cup. There is a strong chance the Union will play more than the already guaranteed 39 competitive fixtures, with opportunities to advance in all three competitions. 

The last time the Union participated in those three competitions in a single season was 2024. They played 45 games, but missed the MLS Cup Playoffs. The Union played 41 games last season, only participating in MLS play and the U.S. Open Cup. 

With additional games comes the need for a bigger squad. The Union’s roster currently sits at 25, with an appetite to add more. 

“We want to look at our whole squad in terms of the first team and the second team in a way that we feel we have enough pieces to help us in what will be a busy first half of the season, leading into a World Cup where there is a break,” Jon Scheer said. “As we mentioned, we are not done, we’re gonna be adding, and there will be news here shortly where you’ll start to see some of those pieces come in.”

The club has brought in just two new first-team signings in an offseason where four regulars departed, including the club’s three 2025 MLS All-Star Game representatives. The Union front office brought in 20-year-old striker Ezekiel Alladoh for a club-record $4.1 million, replacing prolific goal scorer Tai Baribo, who was sold to rival DC United for more than $3.5 million. They also signed 25-year-old center back Japhet Sery Larsen to replace 2022 MLS Defender of the Year Jakob Glesnes, who was traded to the LA Galaxy in December. 

The Union also sold left back Kai Wagner to Birmingham City in the English Football League Championship, but has yet to replace him with an external option.

“We are attacking the market,” Scheer said when asked about the plan at left back moving forward. “Certainly, we feel like we’re in a position where this is something we’ve been planning for just in case. It’s really important that Bradley has a lot of tools at his disposal.”

However, positional depth isn’t always provided by additional signings. Carnell mentioned his team has “options” at left back if they had to play a competitive game tomorrow. 

While the messaging from Carnell and Scheer seems to imply the Union will be signing a new starting left back, the former is pleased with the positional versatility his players have shown, not just in the first week of training, but dating back to his first season in charge.

“Now we have close to 30 players on the roster,” Bradley Carnell said. “Even through parts of last year, playing players in different positions. We spoke about all around our capabilities of who we bring in, who we can utilize, and what our current roster is like.”

Whether they are homegrown players or new signings, depth pieces or veterans, most of Carnell’s roster has positional versatility. 

Homegrown defenders Nathan Harriel and Frankie Westfield rotated along the backline last season, with Harriel playing right back and center back and Westfield playing both outside back positions. Carnell even played both defenders in midfield positions at various points during the 2025 campaign, with Westfield playing an attacking midfield role in a playoff game.

When asked about other internal options at left back, Carnell made sure to note that his staff is training midfielder Ben Bender in multiple positions. Typically, an attacking midfielder, Bender re-signed with the Union on Jan. 7, after playing seven MLS matches with the club last season. 

New signing Finn Sundstrom, whose rights were purchased from DC United through North Carolina FC, is perhaps the most intriguing player when talking about versatility. 

“Within the game model, I always speak about our all-around capabilities,” Carnell said. “Finn is very comfortable at center back; he is very comfortable at right back. Because of his attacking qualities as well, he is a very dynamic forward and progressive type of player. I would even go as far as to say he could play a very comfortable role in our holding midfield as a six as well.”

The 19-year-old began his career as an attacking midfield player but transitioned to a defender, playing most of his minutes with North Carolina as a center back. 

Midfielder Indiana Vassilev and attacker Milan Iloski were new additions to last year’s squad, with Vassilev being able to play all around the midfield and Iloski rotating at striker and attacking midfielder. 

“Milan’s flexible,” Carnell said. “He can excel in both positions, and he has done for us. But again, its fuid, but we would also like to continue the development of Sal Olivas and Eddy Davis, and if there is an opportunity to get those guys valuable minutes and grow in our ecosystem, then that takes a lot of priority as well.”

Club captain Alejandro Bedoya signed a contract extension to return for his 11th season in Philadelphia. Willingly, Bedoya filled in at right back on numerous occasions last season after spending most of his tenure at the club in the midfield. 

As fans know, the Union doesn’t have an unlimited budget or unlimited roster spots. Even with potential new signings on the horizon, Carnell will have to rely on his depth and positional flexibility if the Union wants to replicate their 2025 MLS Supporters’ Shield-winning campaign while also making deep runs in the Concacaf Champions Cup and Leagues Cup.