International Soccer
DOOPing Overseas: 5 World Cup transfer targets for the Union
Philadelphia Union fans vividly remember the excitement when the club announced the signing of goalkeeper Rais M’Bolhi, a standout for Algeria at the 2014 World Cup. It was a big move for the Union at the time, capitalizing on the positive impact the tournament had on the average fan in America.
However, Union fans will also vividly remember the anguish of watching the nine games M’Bolhi played for the club. The Union thought they were getting the player who made 11 saves and won Man of the Match in a 2-1 Round of 16 loss to eventual World Cup winners Germany, but they got the opposite. After winning on his debut, despite conceding twice, the Algerian recorded four draws and four losses, conceding 13 goals on 33 shots faced. From World Cup hero to Union zero, M’Bolhi was released 13 months after signing.
The club has come a long way since those days, especially on the international stage this year. Haiti’s Danley Jean Jacques became the first active Union player to play in a World Cup, even starting in a match against Brazil in Philadelphia. Olwethu Makhanya was named to South Africa’s roster, but didn’t feature.
The talk from Union ownership, the front office and fans is how to capitalize on the success of hosting the World Cup in Philadelphia. Whether that is bringing in bigger-name players or attracting new fans, there is pressure on the club to get this right.
“This was an important year for the Philadelphia Union,” said Principal Owner Jay Sugarman in a May press conference. “We’re coming off a six-year period where we had the most points in the league, the best goal differential, and we thought with the World Cup coming, 2026 was a year we could really showcase the Union and Philadelphia in what is obviously a very important historical year.
“Unfortunately, we didn’t get it right. A host of challenges, some expected, a lot unexpected, really have us in a place that was unthinkable six months ago. So we need to fix it and get back to what the Union have been as a club. The decisions we announced and the actions we’ll take in the next window are meant to begin to get us back on the right track.”
They started that process after the conclusion of the first half of the MLS season by firing manager Bradley Carnell and removing the interim tag from Jon Scheer’s sporting director title. After an abysmal start to the season, with just one win in 15 matches, the Union is hoping to jumpstart a new era with front office and coaching changes, along with player additions.
The roster decisions now fall on Scheer, who takes on the sporting director role previously held by Ernst Tanner. The latter has been suspended by MLS since March 16 due to “allegations of inappropriate and insensitive comments.”
“It’s very clear that we need pieces,” said Jon Scheer. “We’ve identified key ingredients that we’re looking for in our additions and signings, whether that be leadership, whether that be weapons off of set pieces, or whether that be a left-footed piece in our backline to give us more versatility in how we build and how we attack.
“We can also say that we feel we need another attacking piece to give us a different look and a different skill set, especially in and around goal, to help complement the pieces we have.”
Sugarman and Scheer still preached the Union motto of developing youth from within and supplementing that with outside talent that won’t break the bank, while sticking to the same style of high-press soccer.
With that in mind, and with the Union’s goal of building on the success of the World Cup, let’s explore five potential World Cup players the club could look to sign during the summer transfer window.
Ime Okon
Position: Center Back
Nation: South Africa
Club: Hannover 96
Age: 22
Transfer Value: $2 Million (FotMob)
While there is no order to this list, center back might be the most topical need for the Union. With reports out of Sky Sports Scotland linking Makhanya to Rangers, the Union could look to bring in an additional central defender. Whether Makhanya goes to Rangers or not, there is a consensus that he is due for a move to Europe sooner rather than later. If the South African departs, the Union would be left with Japhet Sery Larsen and a rather inexperienced trio of Geiner Martinez, Neil Pierre and Finn Sundstrom. The club could look to pivot to another South African center back, Makhanya’s national team teammate, Ime Okon, to bolster that group.
At 22 years old, the 6-foot-2, right-footed defender spent last season playing for Hanover 96 in the second tier of Germany. Just like Makhanya, Okon began his professional career in the South African Premiership. Okon played every minute of South Africa’s four World Cup games, starting alongside Chicago Fire center back Mbekezeli Mbokazi. Okon’s game is highlighted by his speed and strength, but he is also sound with the ball at his feet. The Union would have to compete with the likes of AS Monaco, Lyon and the Columbus Crew for Okon’s signature, but the South African connection could give them a slight advantage.
Patrick Berg
Position: Central Midfielder
Nation: Norway
Club: Bodo/Glimt
Age: 28
Transfer Value: $4.8 Million (FotMob)
The Union have lacked a creator in the midfield since the departure of Jack McGlynn, and relied solely on left back Kai Wagner, who left the team before the start of this season, but is set to return to the club. The Union struggled to create goals (18) without Wagner during the first half of the 2026 campaign. While they preach pressing to create chances, they also love a goal from a set piece. However, the service has been lacking this season. The team will get an added boost with Wagner surprisingly back in the fold, but could use a right-footed weapon who plays higher up the field. 28-year-old Norwegian central midfielder Patrick Berg would fit in seamlessly, offering more of an attacking threat than the other central midfielders on the roster.
Berg started four of Norway’s six World Cup matches, recording two assists in 444 minutes played. The 28-year-old plays his club ball at Bodo/Glimt in Norway’s Eliteserien, the same league the Union purchased Japhet Sery Larsen and Jakob Glesnes from. In 48 games across three competitions last season, Berg had five goals and 14 assists, including two assists during Bodo/Glimt’s magical run to the UEFA Champions League Round of 32. Berg is in the 95th percentile in chances created and touches and 89th in shot attempts for central midfielders with similar traits and in similar leagues. Going for established players with international experience isn’t necessarily a theme for the Union, but they did sign club captain Alejandro Bedoya at 29 years old. After Berg’s impressive World Cup on a strong Norway team, his services won’t come easy.
Roberto Alvarado
Position: Attacking Midfielder
Nation: Mexico
Club: Chivas
Age: 27
Transfer Value: $6.7 Million (FotMob)
Part of the Union capitalizing on the success of the World Cup will be attempting to bring in new fans. When Liga MX teams come for the Concacaf Champions Cup and Leagues Cup, they pack Subaru Park with their fans. No better example of that is the Union’s home CCC match against Club America earlier this season. The stadium was 90% yellow. There is a large Mexican population in Philadelphia and around Chester, so the club should be looking at ways to attract that hardcore group of supporters. There’d be no better way to do that than by feeding off the success of the Mexican national team at the World Cup and signing one of their top players. While there are plenty of good options, realistically, Chivas attacking midfielder Roberto Alvarado could be the most enticing.
The 27-year-old attacker established himself as one of Mexico’s best players at the World Cup. He started all five of Mexico’s games, notching three assists in 430 minutes. While Alvarado mainly played out wide for Mexico, he plays a more central attacking role with Chivas in Liga MX. Since joining Chivas in 2021, Alvarado has 33 goals and 30 assists in 167 appearances. He recorded four goals and five assists last season, but had nine goals and 11 assists and 11 goals and seven assists in his previous two campaigns. However, the left-footed attacker has spent his entire career in Liga MX, so convincing him to come stateside could prove difficult.
Alex Zendejas
Position: Attacker
Nation: USA
Club: Club America
Age: 28
Transfer Value: $9.4 Million (FotMob)
The Union made a big splash when they brought in Bedoya in 2016. He was in his late 20s and two years removed from playing in a World Cup for the USMNT. It was a major development for the Union, who hadn’t made a signing of that caliber in their six-year history. Bedoya came in and changed the trajectory of the team on the field but also the culture and vibe of the club off the pitch. 10 years later, the Union could look to make an eerily similar marquee signing. When the Union signed Bedoya, most of the USMNT players were in MLS or coming to MLS. Now, they’re either leaving MLS or already established in Europe’s top leagues. So, there aren’t many realistic options that fit the mold of a USMNT player the Union could bring in. One name that stands out, and will be familiar to Union fans given his ties to frequent Liga MX opponent Club America, is Alex Zendejas.
The 28-year-old attacking playmaker is fresh off a World Cup with the USMNT. While only playing 13 minutes, Zendejas made a strong enough impression on the coaching staff to be named to the 26-man squad. A former FC Dallas Academy product and homegrown player, Zendejas played in 10 MLS games before making the switch to Liga MX, where he has been since 2016. The El Paso, Texas, native joined Club America in 2021 and has been one of their best players since. In 190 appearances for the club, Zendejas has 56 goals and 32 assists. He has three seasons with 10 or more goals, including 12 last year, and three seasons with seven or more assists. Zendejas profiles as a versatile attacker who mainly plays as a winger, but can also play as an attacking midfielder. Technically gifted on the ball, the 5-foot-6 attacker’s game is highlighted by his dribbling, one-on-one ability and tantalizing left foot. His defensive work rate and willingness to press would be a perfect fit for the Union’s system. However, the Union would likely have to more than double their club-record transfer fee to make this move happen.
Soufiane Rahimi
Position: Striker
Country: Morocco
Club: Al-Ain
Age: 30
Transfer Value: $4.1 Million (FotMob)
Striker has been a weak spot for the Union this season. The Union traded last season’s top goalscorer, Tai Baribo, to DC United, and signed 20-year-old Ezekiel Alladoh from Sweden’s top flight to pair with second-year forward Bruno Damiani. The pair have just one MLS goal this season. Milan Iloski, who scored goals at an insane clip last season for San Diego FC and the Union, has been asked to play more of an attacking midfield role due to Quinn Sullivan’s absence. After a slow start, Iloski has seven goals in 15 games. Still, the Union would like to see more production out of their two most expensive signings. While the return of Kai Wagner’s production could benefit them, the Union might look to bring in a more veteran striker to take the pressure off the young duo of Alladoh and Damiani. That is where Morocco’s Soufiane Rahimi could help.
The 30-year-old striker was an unsung hero off the bench for Morocco in this summer’s World Cup, scoring twice and assisting once in 157 minutes. Rahimi has 14 goals in 42 caps for his country. For his club, Al-Ain in the United Arab Emirates Pro League, Rahimi is the third all-time leading scorer. The 30-year-old has 78 goals in 161 appearances after registering 36 goals in 102 appearances for Morocco’s Raja Casablanca. While there would be concern about the transition from the level of play in the UAE Pro League to MLS, Rahimi showed he can produce on the world’s biggest stage. This would not be the prototypical Philadelphia Union striker signing given his age and lack of success in the air. However, Rahimi brings smart off-ball movement, blistering pace and clinical finishing.
