What’s wrong with the Philadelphia Union?

The Philadelphia Union’s difficult start to the 2026 MLS season has taken many by surprise; however, this is more than just bad form that will eventually fix itself. It is the product of deeper issues involving recruitment, roster construction, and tactics. For years, Philadelphia has been one of the smartest clubs in MLS when it comes to finding talent. This is the organization that identified Kai Wagner in Germany’s third division and developed him into one of the best fullbacks in the league. That reputation has not disappeared; however, this season is slowly putting a stain on what has been virtually flawless roster-building since 2018. 

Recruitment

Several of the 2026 signings have shown promising qualities, but many have looked uncomfortable within the current system. Japhet Sery Larsen has struggled in important defensive duels, while Ezekiel Alladoh has not replicated the relentless off-ball movement and pressing presence that Tai Baribo provided. On top of that, other signings such as Geiner Martinez and Phillipe Ndinga remain raw defensively, though both possess the athletic tools to succeed at this level. 

To make matters worse, the established core has done little to ease the transition for those newcomers. Defensive mistakes have been a team-wide issue, and the attack continues to lack a true playmaker capable of linking the back line to the front line. So far, recruitment has proven to be a case of square pegs in round holes, with some areas not having enough pegs at all. Even with Kai Wagner, there were many times when fans were asking where the attacking output was going to come from. This season, losing him has become a reality, and now the fragility has shown. A recent report was released highlighting the amount each MLS team spends on salaries. The Philadelphia Union ranked in last place. For a squad that was already tight on their spending, they took it up another level this year and opted not to replace what was lost. Salaries aren’t the telltale sign of success in MLS, but there is some correlation between how much you pay a player and his ability. This is why it wouldn’t be crazy to think that even if the new signings did come out strong, the Union would still be much worse off than many other teams in the East. 

D.C. United is a great example of this changing landscape in MLS. This season, they’ve shown a lot of progress in becoming a hard-to-beat squad, something that you could not say about them in recent history. A lot of this is down to successful roster decisions. Right back Silvan Hefti has brought stability to a once fragile backline, bringing experience from strong leagues in Europe like France’s Ligue 1 and Italy’s Serie A. His resale upside is way less than a younger player, but he is going to bring you guaranteed, proven stability. There is no right or wrong answer when it comes to a club’s decision on recruitment; however, a balance must be struck to function at a sufficient level. For most MLS clubs, that level is right around the playoff line, giving fans the excitement and opportunity of achieving further success. At the end of the day, fans make a club what it is. Why is it fair that the Union’s ownership can seek its own version of success without keeping the fans in mind? The 2026 season has been nothing but a business strategy failure that has excluded the general fans’ feelings, while simultaneously disconnecting them from the club. 

Tactics

These roster shortcomings have shaped how the team performs tactically. Philadelphia has played in a very narrow structure, often concentrating almost all of its attacking play through the center of the pitch. With Sullivan injured, Anello still adjusting to MLS, and no natural left-footed option on the left side, the Union have become predictable in possession. When the ball is turned over, that narrow shape leaves the team exposed. Without Baribo’s energy leading the press, the first line of pressure often arrives a moment too late. That brief delay is enough for opponents to bypass the press and attack the wide channels, where Philadelphia is left vulnerable. Even when they do defend in a settled shape, the Union remains compact and narrow, attempting to force opponents into central traps. Most teams in the Eastern Conference now recognize this pattern and avoid it altogether by playing directly into the open spaces out wide.

The Columbus Crew illustrated this perfectly in their recent matchup. Rather than trying to build through Philadelphia’s pressure, they repeatedly played into the channels and allowed Max Arfsten and Hugo Picard to exploit the available space. It was not a one-off tactic, but part of a pattern that has defined much of the Union’s season.

Carnell’s Verdict

It is difficult to say whether the current struggles can be placed solely on Bradley Carnell or not. While the struggles aren’t entirely his fault, he must still accept part of the responsibility. Of course, though, many of the underlying problems are structural and have been developing over time (recruitment decisions, roster planning, and the failure to adequately replace key players).

What he can control, though, is the tactics. Opponents are consistently exploiting the wide areas, and the attack has become too predictable. Continuing to force play through the center is not enough. Philadelphia needs to find new ways to create chances and score goals. The departure of Kai Wagner has made these problems even more obvious. For years, he was Philadelphia’s most important creative outlet, especially from the left side. The club knew his exit was coming, yet there appears to have been no true replacement lined up. As a result, the Union still looks like a team built to benefit from Wagner’s crossing and chance creation, despite no longer having a natural left-footed player capable of providing it. Circumstances like this really blur the lines on who is to blame for the awful start. If Bradley Carnell truly did have a majority stake in who was brought through the door, then perhaps his role going forward should be questioned. If these were the players and cards dealt to him, and he had little to no say, then ownership needs to take more responsibility. That responsibility needs to come in the form of increased investment over the summer in order to give the team everything it is lacking. Once again, the fans should not be feeling the weight of a failed business strategy. They should be enjoying the progress of a squad that won the MLS Supporters’ Shield under a manager in his first season with the club.