Philadelphia Union
Season Predictions: Where will the Union finish this season?
The final installment of our season predictions looks at the final count. Exactly how far can the Union go in league play?
Jared Young – 5th in East – Exit in Eastern Semifinal
The Union were the top defense in the league last year, and an all-timer if you remove the seven goal performance against the Whitecaps. But with Glesnes and Wagner gone, there’s too much change to expect a repeat of that performance. I expect goals allowed to increase to the 45 range, and the offense to roughly produce at last year’s rate, which was average. That projects to roughly a 5th place finish in the conference. Given this is the second youngest squad in the league, there’s not much hope for deep tournament runs, but I’d love a surprise. I’ll say the Union go out after a first round win.
Evan Konigsberg – 4th in East – Exit in Eastern Semifinal
I expect the Union to be a contender again this year. However, with so many moving parts, new faces, and CCC congestion, it won’t be an easy one this year. The World Cup break will come at a great time, and I expect some more incomings and outgoings during that window. The Union’s goal should be to earn home field advantage for the first round of the playoffs. From there, they just need to get hot at the right time. I think they need a bit more attacking firepower before I declare this year “the year” but there’s multiple new signings that could make a difference, and more additions that could still come. For now, I think they’ll be just solid enough.
Matt Ralph – 3rd in the East – Exit in Eastern Conference Final
The Union seem to have a way of overachieving when people count them out and while I don’t necessarily think this team is as strong (yet) as previous editions in terms of chemistry, experience and consistency, the league is still what it is and the start-stop nature of the 2026 season is going to reward teams that have a clear philosophy and consistent style of play over teams that mostly throw caution to the wind and ride the waves of the form of their most marquee player. The Union won the Supporters’ Shield in 2025 thanks in part to the way they weathered the storm of an insanely congested May and they won it in 2020 because they were disciplined and clear eyed in the midst of a global pandemic. If they can get through the World Cup at or near the top of the table when Quinn Sullivan returns, watch out.
Owen Boyle – 4th in the East – Exit in the East Semis
Given the players the Union lost and a busier game schedule, it is hard to see them replicating what they did last year and winning the Supporters’ Shield or getting the top seed in the East. However, they have done a good job at adding depth and replacing their big-name departures, albeit with lesser-experienced players. With not many teams around them improving their rosters, the Union should be able to fight for and secure home-field advantage in the first round, thanks to Bradley Carnell’s system and incoming talent. I do think playing in the Concacaf Champions Cup and the Leagues Cup will take a toll on their MLS regular-season form, which it has in past years. The Union still lacks a true game-changer who can single-handedly win them a playoff match, which will hurt them again this year when they have to go on the road in the East semis against Lionel Messi, Evander or Hany Mukhtar.
Evan Cohen – 5-7 in East, First Round Playoff Exit
This team has a high floor, plain and simple. I don’t really see a world where Carnell’s side struggles to compete this season. However, the Eastern Conference is really, really good, and if the Union’s winter signings are anything less than exceptional, earning a top four finish will be extremely difficult. Add in the complex issues of two continental competitions, an unknown situation at left back, and the possibility of players leaving in the summer, and I just don’t see an upper echelon finish for the Union in 2026. I have no doubt that this team will be very fun and very good, but I expect a stronger team to end their season in the early rounds of the postseason.
Matt McClain – Top 4 in East – MLS Cup appearance
This will probably be a massive cold take, but for Alejandro Bedoya’s sake, I’ll predict that they do somehow hop, skip, and jump their way through a chaotic 2026 campaign and land themselves an opportunity to finally get the cup. Carnell sometimes catches some flack for consistently talking about their “game model,” but in a way this philosophy is the club’s secret weapon. They play the way they play, we all know it, and they hardly waver in dramatic ways. So with a jam-packed 2026 season with extended breaks and in-season competitions like the Leagues Cup and Concacaf Champions Cup (both competitions were not on their plate last year), a consistent style of play coupled with a roster full of versatile players could pay off well. I like the depth that the team has attempted to build so far. Unlike Curtin’s final year with the club, they seem to have pivoted to a team–building strategy that allows for at least 2 starter level players per position while also leveraging players’ abilities to play multiple roles. With a left-back potential on the horizon to replace Wagner, they could find themselves competing again for a playoff run. Whether they actually have a playmaker that Bedoya and other veterans throughout previous years have clamored for in order to get over that ultimate hurdle to win, that is to be determined still.
