After wrapping up their Opening Round Best-of-three Series against Chicago Fire back on Nov. 1, the Philadelphia Union finally know the date, time, and opponent of their Eastern Conference Semifinal clash set to take place immediately following the upcoming International Break.
Following their First Round sweep of the Chicago Fire, the Supporters' Shield-winning Philadelphia Union will face off against No. 5-seed NYCFC at Subaru Park on Sunday, Nov. 23, at 7:30 p.m. EST.
After finishing the 2025 regular season with a record of 17W-5D-12L, NYCFC locked in the No. 5 seed in the Eastern Conference and earned a matchup against No. 4 Charlotte FC in the Opening Round Best of Three Series.
NYCFC took Game One on the road thanks to the lone goal by Alonso Martínez in the 34th minute down in North Carolina. Charlotte FC would snag a PK win on the road themselves in Game Two to tie the series up and force a decisive Game Three, where Alonso Martinez's second goal of the series and Nicolás Fernández's brace helped push NYCFC through to the MLS Cup Eastern Conference Semifinals, where they'll face off against Philadelphia Union.
As the Supporters' Shield winners, the Philadelphia Union entered the 2025 MLS Cup Playoffs with the No. 1 overall seed, and the road to lifting the trophy was set to run through Subaru Park.
After letting a late two-goal lead against the Chicago Fire slip away, Andre Blake and the Union got it done on Penalty Kicks to secure a victory in Game One at Subaru Park in the Opening Round Best of Three series. The Union completed the sweep against the Fire on the back of three first-half goals by Tai Baribo and Bruno Damiani in Game Two to secure their spot in the Eastern Conference Semifinals.
During the 2025 season, the Union and NYCFC split the regular season series, with each team earning three points at home. Back in early April, Alonso Martinez's goal in the 55th minute was enough to beat a Union team with young Andrew Rick between the posts.
Fast forward to late October in Chester, where Mikael Uhre's loan goal in the 40th minute of the game not only secured the Blue and Gold 3 points against a regional rival but also cemented the 2025 team's name in history by winning the 2025 MLS Supporters' Shield in front of a sold-out Subaru Park.
Over the years, Union and NYCFC have met in the MLS Cup Playoffs a total of three times, with the Cityzens having the slight advantage.
Union fans will, of course, remember the 2021 "Covid Game", where an 88th-minute Talles Magno goal against a depleted Philadelphia Union squad earned NYCFC a spot in the MLS Cup Final.
The following season, the Union would get their revenge on NYCFC when three unanswered goals in the final 25 minutes by Julian Carranza, Daniel Gazdag, and Cory Burke secured the Union the Eastern Conference trophy and punched their ticket to the MLS Cup Final for the first time in club history.
Both teams will be looking to earn their spot in the Eastern Conference Finals, where they’ll face off against the winner of Inter Miami and FC Cincinnati.
When: Sunday, Nov. 23, at 7:30 p.m.
Where: Subaru Park - Chester, PA
How To Watch: MLS Season Pass via Apple TV, FS1, Fox Deportes.
