It’s home sweet home for the Philadelphia Union this weekend at last! On Sunday, March 1st, the Boys in Blue will host Eastern Conference rival New York City FC at Subaru Park for their 2026 Major League Soccer home opener.
Score last minute tickets for the match by clicking here or tune in to watch coverage of the action on Apple TV starting at 4:30PM.
The Sunday afternoon showdown comes just over a week after Philly's official start to the MLS season on the road against D.C. United. While the Boys in Blue left the nation’s capital emptyhanded after a 1-0 match highlighted by a goal from former Union striker Tai Baribo, the focus has shifted toward New York City FC, who began their 2026 campaign with a 1-1 draw against LA Galaxy.Â
Another MLS season means another chapter of the storied rivalry between New York City FC and the Philadelphia Union, and there was no shortage of intense competition between the pair last year, as they split their regular season series with a win each.
The first, on the road at Citi Field, finished in favor of the hosts, while the latter was one Philly fans won't soon forget, as the Philadelphia Union clinched the Supporters' Shield at home with a 1-0 victory in front of a packed Subaru Park crowd.Â
While Philly finished first in the East in 2025 and New York City fifth, Pascal Jansen's side ultimately knocked the regular season champs from the playoffs in the semifinals. Their postseason run didn’t last much longer, though, concluding in Eastern Conference Finals with a 5-1 loss to Inter Miami, the eventual 2025 MLS Cup Champions.
Jansen and Carnell are both beginning their second campaign with their respective clubs, and while there's coaching continuity on both sides, the teams will look different on the pitch on Sunday.
"It's a new season. It's a new team. They've had challenges. We've had challenges. We stack it up very early in the season and go against each other in a really nice, competitive match," Carnell said.
"I'm excited about the matchup. It's a good team, and it's a nice test for us."
Just like Philly, New York City saw significant inbound and outbound transfers over recent months. The team signed 24-year-old Kai Trewin through the City group pipeline from Melbourne City FC, but parted ways with Justin Haak during free agency. One of their most impactful players remains former Union homegrown goalkeeper Matt Freese, who’s become one of the league’s most promising players between the posts. Throughout his standout 2025 season, Freese earned himself major minutes with the USMNT team and impressed, positioning himself for a potential spot on the country’s 2026 FIFA World Cup roster.
Philly's MLS is Back match may have ended in a loss, but the Philadelphia Union enters Sunday's home opener with a recent injection of confidence, advancing to the Concacaf Champions Cup Round of 16 with a 7-0 win on Thursday night against Defence Force. After scoring his first pair of senior team goals, 16-year-old midfielder Cavan Sullivan said this about the team's upcoming MLS matchup:Â
"I hope the fans show out. It's a big game. Revenge game from last year. Obviously, derby games mean a little bit more, but we'll have the same mentality, same fight, that you know from the Union on Sunday."
