It’s the first weekend of Spring, and the Philadelphia Union is still searching for its first win of the 2026 MLS season. At this point, putting any points up on the table would be something to celebrate for fans of the Blue and Gold as their club, which lifted the Supporters’ Shield last October, has started the season with a 0W-0D-4L record, scored just 1 goal from open play, and are currently sitting at the very bottom of the league standings as the only club with 0 points in Major League Soccer.
Bradley Carnell, who has remained positive through a turbulent start to his second season in charge of the Union, will look to get his team back on track on Saturday afternoon as Gregg Berhalter and the Chicago Fire come to Subaru Park in a rematch of last season’s MLS Cup Playoffs Best-of-3 First Round matchup.
Jesus Bueno scored the loan goal for the Philadelphia Union vs Club América from the PK spot
Image Provided / Philadelphia Union
The Fire, who last season qualified for the MLS Cup Playoffs for the first time since 2017, have started 2026 a bit slower than they hoped, with a record of 1W-1D-2L through the first four matches. Chicago’s only win has come against CF Montreal, and recently saw three points slip from their grasp last weekend when DC United scored twice in the final 10 minutes of the game to steal the win from Berhalter’s side in the Windy City.
Hugo Cuypers, Chicago’s club-record signing entering his third season in MLS, leads the line for the Fire with three goals in his first three games played of the new season, with Jonathan Bamba and new signing Robin Lod each contributing a goal of their own.
Former Philadelphia Union SuperDraft pick, Jack Elliott, will not be available for a reunion with his old club Saturday afternoon as the Center Back announced via his Instagram that he’s currently out after dealing with a diagnosis of Sepsis. Jack noted that he’s now home and recovering with his family and should be making a return to the field soon. We wish Jack and his family well.
Union players prepare for a match against the San Jose Earthquakes
Image Provided / Philadelphia Union
Through the first four games of the MLS season, the Philadelphia Union have scored just two goals, and only one has come from open play, a garbage-time goal from Agustin Anello in a 3-1 loss to Atlanta United last weekend.
The Union’s scoring troubles continued on Wednesday night down in Mexico City when the Blue and Gold once again failed to find the back of the net from open play against Club América. Jesús Bueno leveled the game from the PK spot at the start of the second half, putting Union in position to advance to the Quarter Finals of the CONCACAF Champions Cup with a second goal and a win, but Carnell’s side couldn’t manage to test Club América’s backup keeper Rodolfo Cota and missed the net with the few chances they got - most notably Nate Harriel’s in the 60th minute.
This past off-season, the Union saw both Tai Baribo and Mikael Uhre (responsible for 22G and 9A combined in 2025) depart the city of Philadelphia, leaving a big hole to fill on the attacking side of the pitch.
So far in 2026, neither Bruno Damini - who set Union’s transfer record back in 2024 - nor Ezikele Alladoh - who now holds the club’s highest-ever transfer fee - has managed to find the back of the net in MLS play. To make matters worse, Milan Iloski - another name expected to soften the blow felt from Baribo & Uhre’s departure this off-season - has also failed to score through the first 4 games of the MLS season, and missed an important penalty against Atlanta United last weekend.
“I’d be more concerned if we weren’t getting in and around the box and getting goal scoring chances - that would be a major issue and major concern - but I do see us getting in the right areas and the right sports and we’re unable to reward ourselves and seize the moment when those opportunities are provided.” - Philadelphia Union Head Coach, Bradley Carnell
Fans aren’t happy with the Philadelphia Union’s start to the 2026 season, and there really isn't any reason to be. The Union surprised everyone and smashed all expectations by lifting the Supporters’ Shield in Bradley Carnell’s first year in charge and the first season without Jim Curtin in nearly a decade.
Now, fans are starting to question Carnell’s ability to do the job after a slow start to year two in Philadelphia, which looks somewhat reminiscent of his second season in charge in St Louis. After leading Major League Soccer’s newest club to a first-place Western Conference finish in 2023, Carnell’s St Louis side started the following season with three wins through the first 10 games before winning just one of the next 12, which ended STL’s relationship with the South African head coach by the start of July.
The Blue and Gold will look to avoid their fifth consecutive loss and third straight at home to start an MLS season for the first time in club history, and they might have to do it without some big off-season acquisitions. Agustin Anello has been listed as OUT for tomorrow’s match on the MLS availability report with a hamstring issue. Ezekiel Alladoh isn’t listed on the report at all, but Carnell mentioned that he’s working through some personal matters that kept him out of the squad against Club América on Wednesday, and they hope he’s ready to re-join the team "soon".
Despite the lack of goal scoring, failure to collect any points through the first four games of the MLS season, and now being eliminated from the CONCACAF Champions Cup on Wednesday, one place Bradley Carnell and the Philadelphia Union are finding glimpses of positivity to build on is their second-half performances in some games so far this season.
“A lot of our 2nd half performances have been really good, if you think about the push we had against New York City, or San Jose, or 2nd half in Atlanta, so we’ve taken a lot out of that, we’ve spoken a lot about that, but it’s important for us to make sure we start the games in the right way.” -Philadelphia Union Head Coach, Bradley Carnell
Carnell does understand, though, that “positive signs” aren’t enough in this league, and the results need to start coming if he wants to keep his seat from getting warmer.
“I don’t want to be the guy who is just always happy with a performance. We want to make sure we do enough to get results, we want to make sure we do enough to get points on the board, and we do feel like we’re trending in the right way. The group is galvanized, they’re positive…I feel really excited about the game,” - Philadelphia Union Head Coach, Bradley Carnell
