Q&A | Walk and Talk with Frankie Westfield

2026 marks Year 2 on the Major League Soccer stage for Homegrown defender Frankie Westfield. 

The 20-year-old outside back's debut season was an outstanding one, featuring milestones that every Philadelphia Union Academy product dreams of, from his debut and first start, to goals and assists, 22 under 22 honors, and even his first major trophy with the club. After a month and a half of time off to reflect on his first year to remember, he's eager to reach new heights in the season to come. 

During the team's training camp trip to Marbella, Spain, Westfield and Senior Digital Club Reporter Sage Hurley caught up Puerto Banus, a marina shopping hotspot, to talk team travel, season preparations, and what's to come for he and his team in 2026.

Frankie Westfield, welcome to year two of training camp in Marbella, Spain. How does it feel to be back here with the guys after a little bit of time off?

Yeah, it's always great being back with the guys, especially here in Marbella. Marbella is a great spot, especially with Marbella Football Center. They treat us well so I'm super excited to be back and looking forward to a great season ahead.

Between the Philadelphia Union and your time getting called up with the USYNT, you've gotten to travel quite a bit. What's your favorite part of long team trips abroad like this?

I think my favorite part is just being with the guys and enjoying these moments away from soccer. I think coming here to Marbella, there's great sightseeing spots, great stores, great coffee shops, and stuff like that. Getting away from the pitch and getting to know the guys off the field as well, I think, is just as important as on the pitch.

Of all the places soccer has taken you, do you have a favorite so far?

Definitely here in Marbella, but I think also in Chile. The trip to South America last year for the U-20 World Cup was pretty special.

When you come to a new place, are you more of a guy that sticks to what you know or do you try new foods and seek out new experiences?

I like to try new foods, no matter what it is. Whether it's meat or pasta or whatever it is, I like to try new things, especially especially by the ocean. I like fish, so I definitely like to try new types of fish.

This time last year, you were coming into camp and you had an opportunity to show what you could do front of a brand new coaching staff.  What do you think about how far you've come since then?

I think last year, I didn't really expect to start right away or to make an impact the way that I did, but I'm very thankful that I did. 

That being said, How does your mindset this year coming into camp change from how it was last year?

For me, I don't think it does. I think taking every single day like it's my last and just going out there and giving everything I have on the field, doing whatever I can to help my team win and succeed, that's how I entered last year, and I think nothing's going to change going into this year.

Last year was your debut MLS season, but I think it's safe to say you learned a lot. You earned a big role really quickly. Even though you're just 20 years old, is there any wisdom you gained that you can impart on some of the younger guys coming into camp this year?

 I think just the biggest thing I learned is, like, I just said, taking every every single day, like it's your last.  Not everybody gets to wake up and be a professional soccer player, and I think that's the greatest part about it. We get to wake up, go out there, have fun, enjoy our lives, and play soccer. 

It's the thing that we grow up loving, and I think that's the blessing that we have, and to just to do that every single day and bestow that upon them is wonderful.

I think union fans would agree that when they watch you, they can see that you play with a lot of joy. Is gratitude where that stems from?

Yeah, I think so. Even in the locker room before the game, I think I'm a guy that likes to kind of forget about the moment, and just go out there and have fun, dance around, and realize that I'm here playing soccer, and this is what I love to do. Why not go out there and do it with a smile?

You had a whole lot of firsts throughout your first season. You earned your debut, first start, first goal, first assist. Got to play in Subaru park in front of a packed house crowd for the very first time. A very significant year for you. What are your goals for year two in MLS?

Definitely to surpass my assist count. I think my MLS assists, counting the second assists, I had five. So I think getting past that would be great. Then obviously, contributing to more goals.

But overall, I think just for me, my goal is just to go out there, give everything that I have, and truly fight for my team and help them succeed in the best way possible. Also, just to win trophies again, like the Supporters' Shield or MLS Cup. I'll give whatever it takes to just to go out there and help my team win.