Preview | Union return to MLS play against NYCFC at Yankee Stadium

Philadelphia Union’s Leagues Cup campaign has come to a close, and on Sunday evening they’ll resume MLS play with a match on the road against New York City FC at Yankee Stadium. To watch the Boys in Blue continue their climb, tune in on Apple TV.

As it stands

Sunday's match is the second meeting between Philadelphia Union and New York City this year, but alot has changed for both sides since then. Since Ryan Richter, former Union player turned academy coach, first team assistant, and most recently Union II Head Coach, took over as the first team’s interim, the Boys in Blue have built a three-match win streak in MLS play, securing nine points to move out of the Eastern Conference basement.

The team now sits at 13th place with 16 points – seven away from the playoff line. After a Leagues Cup campaign that ended in Phase One, the team will shift their focus toward continuing their climb up the standings during a strenuous end-of-summer schedule starting with three matches in a week’s time.

Scouting New York City

New York City had a strong start to the MLS season, and it continued that way after the league's two-month break following the 2026 FIFA World Cup. Since returning to MLS play, they secured two wins and a draw, placing them at 5th in the East with 26 points.

Just like Philly, Sunday's hosts will be three days removed from their last Leagues Cup match -- they fell 2-1 to Necaxa on Thursday night.

Nicolás Fernández, the team's 26-year-old Argentinian Designated Player top-scorer, is out for Sunday's game due to yellow card accumulation after a booking for delaying a restart against Toronto FC. He's currently tied for first in Major League Soccer's Golden Boot race, scoring in all three of NYC's matches since returning from the World Cup break.

Players to watch

Philadelphia Union Homegrown turned NYCFC goalkeeper Matt Freese is expected to start between the posts, continuing an unforgettable summer of soccer in which he suited up in the stars and stripes for the USMNT's run to the FIFA World Cup Round of 16. The 27-year-old from Wayne played for Philly until 2023, when he signed with NYCFC. He's since penned an extension through 2030.

Agustin Ojeda and Hannes Wolf each have five goals on the season. Ojeda, a 22-year-old Argentinian forward, has also tallied five assists, while Wolf, the team's 27-year--old Austrian midfielder, has two.