The Philadelphia Union is the worst team in MLS after four weeks of the 2026 season. They have no semblance of a coherent attack. Their midfield feels disjointed and is always chasing the ball. Add in a defense that has let up seven goals from four games, and a coach who has played a different starting XI in all four matches, and this team is on the verge of collapse just a month into 2026. This was epitomized in their 3-1 loss to Atlanta over the weekend.
It was a battle of two clubs that had not won a game to start the MLS season, and the Union was either not prepared for Atlanta or played off the pitch in transition moments. In a rare afternoon 3:15 pm kickoff, all MLS fans' eyes were fixed on this matchup of two struggling teams. What they saw was one team that could use moments on the break to create chances, and another team frustrated from the first kick. Let's take a look back at how the Union created some history with their first-ever 0-0-4 start in club history.
In their midweek narrow home loss to Club America, it looked like the Philadelphia Union used a 4-2-3-1 formation to create more width in their attack and stability in defense. While the team did not win, it looked like something to build off of moving forward. That was not the case, as Philly went back to their 4-2-2-2 against Atlanta. It was also the fourth different starting XI head coach Bradley Carnell called upon through the first four games. Here's a look at how Philly lined up.
GK: Blake
LB: Ndinga CB Harriel CB: Makhanya RB Westfield
DM: Lukic DM: Jacques
AM: Vassilev AM Iloski
ST: Damiani ST: Korzeniowski
The Union played with two target forwards, creating a redundancy, and two attacking midfielders who needed to know when to press, when to get wide, and when to make a lung-busting run to help with defensive cover. This group did not create much of anything in terms of combination, service, or shots on target. The normal defensive midfield tandem was stuck in no man's land, not knowing when to step forward or back to help against counterattacks. The back four was made up of good attacking fullbacks, one true center back, and an outside back whose versatility makes him a centerback option while new signings still adjust to MLS. This group all played in front of captain Andre Blake, who would've had to be Superman in goal to get his team a result.
The first 15 minutes of the game saw Philly utilize their high press to some success. They created turnovers high up the pitch, but the chances they created were either tame or nonexistent. The attackers' body language was clear when they missed passes that could have created chances. Atlanta was patient and waited until Philly committed too many numbers forward to hit them on the counter. The hosts did just that after winning a free kick and launching it long quickly. Miguel Almirón got on the ball and saw a streaking Emmanuel Latte Lath running through the heart of the Union's defense. He was played in on goal, and the striker scored his first of the season, beating an outstretched Blake just under the half-hour mark.
For the next 10 minutes, the Union tried to turn up the intensity, but their final-third play was extremely lacking. So many entry passes and crosses were blocked or missed their intended target; however, Philly had a lifeline in the 40th minute when they were awarded a PK. After a lengthy stoppage, Milan Iloski stepped up and fired a shot that beat goalkeeper Lucas Hoyos but smashed off the post and ricocheted out of play. The Union player's body language was one of defeat in that moment; it was as if the match could have ended there. A one-goal deficit was taken by the hosts into halftime, a feat that seemed almost insurmountable for last season's Supporters' Shield winners.
If the body language going into halftime was bad for Philly, what was seen just after the break was even worse. Before the ball was even kicked. There were players bickering about things. It could have been about defensive shape or attacking acumen, because both were atrocious, but nevertheless, Philly was in trouble. Then the whistle blew. Atlanta won a free kick not a minute into the second half and turned it into their second goal. Almirón found space to cross into the Union's box again. This time, Latte Lath missed the chance as the ball squeaked under his boot and went through the box. However, Atlanta outside back Tomas Jacob made a late unmarked run into Philly's box. He got on the ball and fired it past Blake. It was 2-0 at minute 47, essentially the game-ending play two minutes into half number two.
The match turned chippy after the 2-0 scoreline. This is a familiar state for when Philadelphia and Atlanta meet, but something strange happened. Philly did not grow into the match after it turned more physical. That used to be the calling card of the Union; they'd play physical and get to create chances and goals after their opponents were frustrated or made mistakes. Instead, it was the visitors who grew increasingly flustered, down two goals, and now involved in a more stop-start match. The Union tried to make subs to get back into the game, but the players that came on did little to change what had already been done. Almirón continued to wreak havoc, getting his second assist in the 70th minute after he found Aleksey Miranchuk to make it 3-0.
With 20 minutes still to play and down 3-0, Philly threw caution to the wind and kept their fullbacks high with and without the ball. After a few turnovers in the middle of the field, the Union would work the ball out to Westfield on the left, and Bedoya, who came in to play a more wide right midfielder. With just three minutes left in the match, one of these instances produced Philly's first goal from open play this season. Bedoya played a ball into the box that narrowly missed his intended target. It skidded out left, where Westfield fired it back into the box. Anello was first to react to the ball and hammered it home to make it 3-1.
It was definitely a consolation goal at that point in the game, but it was the only positive for Philly from the match. They saw that good wide play, good service, and being first to react to a cross can lead to goals. They will need to do that more in the coming games if they want to break this awful start to the 2026 season. Once again, a formation change that would allow for more structure and creative wide play would do wonders for this team. For now, Philly will have to deal with being last in MLS for the time being.
The Union cannot dwell on its poor start. They can't listen to their fans, who feel like the sky is falling after just four MLS matches. The team has to pick itself up by its bootstraps and get ready for another congested week. Once again, it's one that could be the start of a turnaround of their early 2026 season. Philly travels to Mexico for leg two against Club América on Wednesday night. They then head home to take on the Chicago Fire in the Marquee MLS "Walmart Saturday Showdown."
Philly will need to do something against Club América that they have not done in 2026 against any team not named Defence Force. The only chance Philly has at advancing in CCC play is getting a multi-goal performance while keeping América off the board. It's far-fetched and goes against logic and how things usually go in MLS-Liga MX matchups in this tournament, but it would be so-Union to find a way to pull this off. Philadelphia then ends the month of March at home against Chicago. Can they get their first MLS win after a midweek matchup in Mexico? Let's tune in to find out. Is this a total dumpster fire, or will we see the start of a crazy turnaround from the team that was at the top of MLS a year ago?
