Philadelphia Union is back at Subaru Park on Saturday, April 18th for the first time this month, taking on D.C. United at 7:30pm.
After two games on the road following the final international window before the FIFA World Cup, the team’s return to their home pitch is a welcome one for players, staff, and fans alike – purchase tickets to watch the action live on the riverfront, or follow along on Apple TV.
Last weekend’s Saturday matinee in Montreal marked the team’s first Major League Soccer win of 2026, a crucial result following a strugglesome start to the season. The team traveled back to Philadelphia with three points in tow, eager to build on that momentum in another important Eastern Conference match against D.C. United.
Saturday’s outing is the team’s first rematch of the year, having opened their season with a 1-0 loss in the nation's capital in February. The result marked the first of what would become six straight matches without a point – a unfavorable streak the team was relieved to snap across the Northern Border, when Japhet Sery Larsen and Jesus Bueno each scored second-half goals to erase a 1-0 deficit for a 2-1 final score in Montreal’s home opener.
While D.C. United got the best of Philly on Matchday 1 thanks to a goal from former Union striker Tai Baribo, who’s scored three of his team’s four goals this year, they’ve also had an unfavorable start to the season, winning just two of their first seven matches. With a pair of wins, four losses, and a draw so far this year, they sit at ninth in the conference with seven points.
Most recently, D.C. United competed in Open Cup, taking on One Knoxville SC in a midweek matchup that ended in favor of the USL League One side after the match went to penalty kicks. With the loss, D.C was eliminated in the Round of 32 – a historically uncommon fate for MLS sides participating in the tournament.
Baribo didn’t participate in the match, sitting out for his second straight after missing the team’s 1-0 loss to New England with a thigh issue on Matchday 7. Should he make his return to action on Saturday, it will mark his first appearance at Subaru Park since departing from the club in the offseason.
“We always want to face the best opponents, and a D.C. United with Tai Baribo is certainly a force to be reckoned with,” Head Coach Bradley Carnell said in his Thursday press conference.
“We are preparing and planning accordingly, but we cannot control what we cannot control. Whether he’s in the building, traveling or not, that’s a narrative we cannot drive and control, so we’re only focused on us and the team that we think will play.”
In addition to his assessment of the matchup ahead, Carnell provided insight on team injuries, sharing that Danley Jean Jacques is back training with the group while managing his knee, while Agustin Anello's status is to be determined as he continues his recovery from an injury sustained against Atlanta United on March 14th.
As for the group as a whole, Saturday’s 80-and-sunny matchday brings about another chance for the Union to add to their total and continue the climb from the bottom of the Eastern Conference table – something that Jesus Bueno says has been a persistent topic of conversation around the facility.
“We have been struggling to find the wins, but you have to start somewhere. We have to take advantage of these three away points, and utilize as motivation for this home game,” Bueno said.
“I believe we are in debt with our fans, and we talked about using this win as motivation, for what’s to come, and to keep summing up points, because they will be needed to get into a playoff spot and keep our fans happy.”
