Philadelphia Union facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
Philadelphia Union

Full name	Philadelphia Union
Nickname(s)	The Union The U Zolos The Onion
Founded	February 28, 2008; 17 years ago (2008-02-28)
Stadium	Subaru Park
Stadium capacity	18,500
Owner	Jay Sugarman
Sporting director	Ernst Tanner
Head coach	Bradley Carnell
League	Major League Soccer
2024	Eastern Conference: 12th Overall: 23rd Playoffs: Did not qualify
Home colors Away colors

The Philadelphia Union is a professional soccer team from the Philadelphia area. They play in Major League Soccer (MLS) as part of the Eastern Conference. The club started on February 28, 2008, and began playing in 2010 as a new team. Their home stadium is Subaru Park, which is a special soccer-specific stadium in Chester, Pennsylvania, right by the Delaware River.

Keystone Sports & Entertainment owns the Union, with Jay Sugarman as the main owner. Famous basketball player Kevin Durant is also a part-owner. The Union has been a runner-up in the U.S. Open Cup three times (2014, 2015, 2018) and reached the MLS Cup final in 2022. In 2020, the team won the Supporters' Shield for the first time, which means they were the best team in the regular season.

Team History

How the Union Started

Even though Philadelphia is a big city, it didn't have an MLS team when the league began in 1996. Before that, Philadelphia had other soccer teams like the Philadelphia Atoms (1973–76) and Philadelphia Fury (1978–80). The Atoms even won a championship in their first year, 1973.

People tried for years to bring a top-level soccer team back to the area. In 2001, there was a plan for a team in Trenton, New Jersey, called "Union FC." Later, in 2006, there was a plan for a stadium at Rowan University in New Jersey. Both plans didn't work out.

A group of passionate fans called the Sons of Ben formed in 2007. They worked hard to show MLS that Philadelphia really wanted a team. Their efforts helped convince the league.

Major League Soccer finally added Philadelphia as its 16th team on February 28, 2008. This happened after local leaders and the governor approved a plan for a new stadium and city improvements.

National Soccer Hall of Famer Walter Bahr and then-Vice President Joe Biden at a Philadelphia Union match in 2010.

In December 2009, the Union partnered with a youth soccer group, Reading Rage, which became "Reading United AC." In the 2010 MLS SuperDraft, the Union picked Danny Mwanga as their first overall player. They also signed agreements with other teams like the Harrisburg City Islanders and Deportivo Saprissa from Costa Rica.

First Season and Early Years

The Union played their first game on March 25, 2010, losing to Seattle Sounders FC. Their first home game was on April 10, 2010, at Lincoln Financial Field, where Sébastien Le Toux scored the team's first goal in a 3-2 win against D.C. United.

The team officially opened Subaru Park on June 27, 2010, with a 3-1 victory over Seattle Sounders FC. Le Toux scored the first goal at the new stadium from a penalty kick. All 12,000 season tickets for 2010 were sold before this game. In their first season, the Union finished 7th in the Eastern Conference.

The Piotr Nowak Era (2010–2012)

In 2011, the Union signed a jersey sponsorship deal with Bimbo Bakeries USA. They also brought in new players like Colombians Faryd Mondragón and Carlos Valdés, and US international Freddy Adu.

The team improved a lot in 2011, finishing 3rd in the Eastern Conference. This was the first time the Philadelphia Union made it to the MLS Cup Playoffs. They had a great start to the season, winning four of their first six games. In the playoffs, they lost to the Houston Dynamo in the Eastern Conference semi-finals.

Sébastien Le Toux scored the Union's first-ever goal.

Changes in Coaching (2012–2014)

John Hackworth became the Union's coach in June 2012. The team finished 8th in the Eastern Conference in 2012. Subaru Park, then called PPL Park, hosted the 2012 MLS All-Star Game where MLS All-Stars beat Chelsea F.C. 3-2. The Union also reached the semifinals of the 2012 U.S. Open Cup.

In 2014, the Union picked goalkeeper Andre Blake as the first overall draft pick. They also added players like Maurice Edu, Vincent Nogueira, and Cristian Maidana. Despite these new players, the team struggled, winning only two of their first 14 games. John Hackworth's time as coach ended in June 2014.

Jim Curtin Takes Over (2014–2024)

Even though they didn't make the playoffs, the Union reached the 2014 U.S. Open Cup finals for the first time. They added new players like C. J. Sapong and Fernando Aristeguieta. In 2015, they made it to the Open Cup final again, playing against Sporting Kansas City at Subaru Park.

In 2016, the Union brought in players like Chris Pontius, Roland Alberg, Ilsinho, and Alejandro Bedoya. Goalkeeper Andre Blake had a fantastic season and won the 2016 MLS Goalkeeper of the Year Award. The Union made the playoffs for only the second time but lost to Toronto FC.

Jakob Glesnes wearing the club's light blue away uniform in May 2021.

The team didn't make the playoffs in 2017, but Jim Curtin remained as head coach. In September 2018, the team introduced their snake mascot, Phang. Before the 2019 season, Curtin signed a new contract. By July 2019, the Union was in first place in the Eastern Conference, having their best start to a season ever.

First Big Wins

The 2020 season was the most successful for the Union. Even with challenges from the COVID-19 pandemic, the Union won their first trophy, the Supporters' Shield. This meant they finished at the top of the league standings. Coach Jim Curtin won the Sigi Schmid Coach of the Year Award for the team's great performance. Winning the Supporters' Shield also allowed the Union to play in the CONCACAF Champions League for the first time. They got their first international win against Deportivo Saprissa, which was also Curtin's 100th win as coach.

In 2021, just before their first-ever conference final match, 11 players, including six starters, had to follow the league's COVID-19 rules. Philadelphia lost to New York City FC 2-1.

On July 8, 2022, the Philadelphia Union beat D.C. United 7-0, setting a club record for their biggest win. The 2022 season was very special. Philadelphia finished first in the Eastern Conference with 67 points. They beat FC Cincinnati and then defending champions New York City FC to reach their first-ever MLS Cup final.

In the MLS Cup, the Union tied the game twice, with Jack Elliott scoring two goals. But in the end, LAFC won the Cup in a penalty shootout.

Team Colors and Badge

Join, or Die, a famous cartoon by Benjamin Franklin that inspired the Union's logo.

The Bethlehem Steel F.C. (shown before the 1915 U.S. Open Cup) was a very successful early American soccer team.

On May 11, 2009, the Philadelphia Union announced their name, logo, and colors. The name "Union" refers to the joining of the Thirteen Colonies and Philadelphia's role in the labor movement. Fans voted for the name.

The Union's colors are navy blue and gold, like the uniforms of the Continental Army during the American Revolutionary War. The team's round logo stands for unity. It has thirteen gold stars for the original Thirteen Colonies. The shape of the shield comes from Philadelphia's coat of arms.

The rattlesnake on the logo is a nod to the "Join, or Die" cartoon by Benjamin Franklin. This cartoon was in the Pennsylvania Gazette in 1754. The light blue in the middle of the logo honors the Sons of Ben fan group and comes from the city flag of Philadelphia. The team's colors also match the state flags of Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and Delaware.

The Union's second logo is a simpler blue shield with the rattlesnake and a gold border. It has the Latin motto "jungite aut perite," which means "join or die."

In February 2013, the team wore a special third uniform to honor Bethlehem Steel F.C., a very successful early American soccer club.

Team Sponsors

On January 11, 2011, the Philadelphia Union announced that Bimbo Bakeries USA would be their official jersey sponsor. Bimbo's U.S. headquarters is near Philadelphia. This partnership helps both the team and the company.

In January 2023, Bimbo Bakeries USA and the Union renewed their partnership. Now, Bimbo's brand, Thomas', is also a sponsor for the team's other jerseys.

In November 2014, Dogfish Head Brewery became the Union's official beer sponsor. They even created a beer garden at Subaru Park.

Stadium and Training

• Subaru Park; Chester, Pennsylvania (2010–present)
• Lincoln Financial Field; Philadelphia (2010)

A view of Subaru Park from the River End, where many fans stand.

The Union plays most of its games at Subaru Park. This stadium has 18,500 seats and is designed just for soccer. It's located in Chester, Pennsylvania, near the Commodore Barry Bridge. The stadium offers clear views of the Delaware River for many fans. It's a key part of Chester's plan to improve the city. For the 2025 season, Subaru Park got new sound systems and better seating and food options to make games more fun for fans.

Sometimes, the Union plays games at Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia. This is the home stadium for the NFL's Philadelphia Eagles. The Union played their first home game there in 2010 because Subaru Park wasn't finished yet. Lincoln Financial Field is still used for big games or special events, like when the Union played against Manchester United in 2010.

Training Facilities

The Philadelphia Union has training fields right next to Subaru Park in Chester. These fields were built in 2014. Before that, the team practiced at a local park or inside Subaru Park.

In 2016, the Union opened a large training facility and offices in a renovated building.

In February 2023, the club announced a new $55 million indoor and outdoor training facility called WSFS Bank Sportsplex. This huge complex, set to open in 2024, includes an indoor soccer field and two artificial turf fields. It also has a performance center and will be the permanent home for the Philadelphia Union Academy and Philadelphia Union II. This facility is one of the biggest investments in an MLS training center and will be used all year for both professional and youth player development.

Youth Development

Second Team

On August 19, 2015, the Union announced they would have a reserve team in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania. This team, called Bethlehem Steel FC, started playing in the United Soccer League (USL) in 2016. The name "Steel FC" honored the historic Bethlehem Steel F.C. soccer club. In December 2019, the team changed its name to Philadelphia Union II. In December 2021, Union II joined the new MLS Next Pro league.

Philadelphia Union Academy

Former academy player Derrick Jones also played for Philadelphia Union II.

The Philadelphia Union has a special youth Academy program for players from Under-9 to Under-17. After the Academy, players can move up to Union II, the team's second squad.

The Union Academy teams play in MLS Next, a top youth soccer league run by Major League Soccer. Younger age groups play in other regional leagues. The Academy teams train in Wayne and Chester, Pennsylvania. Many young players from the Academy also play for Union II. The Union Academy is known as one of the best youth academies linked to an MLS club.

The Academy finds talented players from its own Junior Academy and other local programs. Some families even move to Pennsylvania so their children can join the Union Academy and attend YSC Academy, a special school for soccer players.

The Philadelphia Union Academy has helped many players become professionals for the Union, Union II, or other teams around the world. Quinn Sullivan made club history by being the first Homegrown player to play 100 MLS games. He joined the Union in 2020 and had a great 2024 season, becoming the youngest Union player to get 10 goals and 10 assists in one season. Other Academy graduates like Brenden Aaronson and Mark McKenzie have gone on to play in top European leagues and for the U.S. Men’s National Team.

UPSL and NPSL Teams

In late 2022, the Union started a team called Philadelphia Union UDS (Union Development Squad) in the United Premier Soccer League. They had a great season, finishing 9-0-3. In February 2023, the Union Development Squad joined the National Premier Soccer League.

YSC Academy

About 70 to 80 players from the Philadelphia Union Academy attend [YSC Academy]. This is a private school started in September 2013 by Union investor Richie Graham. It's a unique school just for talented soccer players in grades 7 through 12. The school is located at the Union's training complex in Chester. It helps student-athletes who dream of playing professional soccer. Many graduates from YSC Academy have become professional players, while others have gone to college.

Club Culture

Supporters

Fan support was very important in creating the Philadelphia Union and building Subaru Park. This support came from a fan group called the Sons of Ben, which started in January 2007. They asked Major League Soccer to bring a team to Philadelphia until the official announcement was made in 2008. The group is named after Benjamin Franklin, a famous person from Philadelphia.

The Sons of Ben have four main rules: be loud, be proud, be smart, and be passionate. They want fans to be fully involved and create an exciting atmosphere for opponents, but always in a respectful way.

While the Sons of Ben are the main fan group, there are other smaller groups too. These include the Tammany Saints, the IllegitimateS, the Corner Creeps, the Bridge Crew, La Union Latina, The Keystone State Ultras, and the Chester Soccer Casuals.

The fan culture has grown a lot since the team started. The Sons of Ben had over 4,000 members by 2023. They are known for their amazing tifo displays, like a huge 20,000 square foot display for the 2023 MLS Cup Eastern Conference Final. The different fan groups work together on game day activities, charity events, and their yearly 'Help Kick Hunger' fundraiser, which has raised over $100,000 for food programs in Chester.

Rivalries

The Philadelphia Union's main rivals are the New York Red Bulls and New York City FC. These rivalries exist because the cities are close to each other and have a history of competition in other sports.

Many Union fans see the New York Red Bulls as a rival because their stadium is the closest to the Union's. This means many fans travel to watch these games. They have played many important games, including the Union's first playoff win. However, some Red Bulls fans see NYCFC and D.C. United as their main rivals.

In recent years, the Union's biggest rivalry has been with New York City FC. This rivalry became more intense after New York City controversially beat the Union in the 2021 Eastern Conference Final. The Union had 11 players, including six starters, out due to COVID-19 rules. The Union got their revenge in the 2022 Eastern Conference final, beating NYCFC 3-1 at home to reach their first-ever MLS Cup final.

The Union also has other smaller rivalries. An early rivalry with D.C. United formed because they are geographically close. Other teams like the New England Revolution and Atlanta United FC have also been rivals due to intense games and controversial moments. The Union has also had rivalries with the Seattle Sounders and LAFC, even though they are in different conferences.

FC Cincinnati is another rivalry that has grown recently. This is because several important people and players have moved from Philadelphia to Cincinnati. For example, former Union assistant coach Pat Noonan became Cincinnati's head coach in 2022, and Chris Albright from Philadelphia's front office became Cincinnati's general manager. This has made games between these teams very competitive.

Broadcasting

Until the 2022 season, WPHL-TV and WPVI-TV were the main English TV channels for Union games not shown by Major League Soccer's national partners. JP Dellacamera was the play-by-play announcer.

Since 2023, every Union game is available on MLS Season Pass through the Apple TV app. This Apple TV package means fans can watch games anywhere without blackout restrictions if they have a subscription. Union season ticket holders even get free access to this package.

Players

Current Roster

No. Position Player 1 GK Oliver Semmle 2 DF Ian Glavinovich (on loan Newell's Old Boys) 4 MF Jovan Lukić 5 DF Jakob Glesnes 6 MF Cavan Sullivan (HG) 7 FW Mikael Uhre (DP) 8 MF Jesús Bueno 9 FW Tai Baribo 11 MF Alejandro Bedoya 12 DF Isaiah LeFlore 14 MF Jeremy Rafanello (HG) 15 DF Olivier Mbaizo 16 MF Ben Bender 18 GK Andre Blake 19 MF Indiana Vassilev

No. Position Player 20 FW Bruno Damiani (DP) 21 MF Danley Jean Jacques 22 MF David Vazquez (HG) 24 MF Nick Pariano (HG) 25 FW Chris Donovan 26 DF Nathan Harriel (HG) 27 DF Kai Wagner 29 DF Olwethu Makhanya 33 MF Quinn Sullivan (HG) Fs player|no=35|nat=USA|pos=FW|name=Markus Anderson}} 39 DF Frankie Westfield (HG) 44 DF Neil Pierre (HG) 55 FW Sal Olivas (HG) 76 GK Andrew Rick (HG) 77 FW Eddy Davis III (HG)

Players on Loan

No. Position Player 17 MF CJ Olney (HG; on loan to Lexington SC)

Reserve Players

Team Management

Current Staff

Position	Staff	Nationality
Head Coach	Bradley Carnell	South Africa
Assistant Coach	Frank Leicht	Germany
Assistant Coach	Mitch Hildebrandt	United States
Director of Goalkeeping	Phil Wheddon	United Kingdom
Video Analyst	Jay Cooney	United States
Head Athletic Trainer	Paul Rushing	United States
Team Coordinator	Josh Gros	United States
Sporting Director	Ernst Tanner	Germany
Academy Director	Jon Scheer	United States

Head Coaches

This list shows all the coaches the club has had since 2010. It includes all competitive games played.

M = Matches played; W = Matches won; D = Matches drawn; L = Matches lost;

Name	Nat	Tenure	M	W	D	L	Win	Notes
Piotr Nowak	Poland	May 28, 2009 – June 13, 2012	78	22	32	24	28.21%	–
John Hackworth	United States	June 13, 2012 – June 10, 2014	77	25	20	32	32.47%	Interim coach through August 30, 2012
Jim Curtin	United States	June 10, 2014 – November 7, 2024	321	137	79	105	42.68%	interim coach through November 7, 2014
Bradley Carnell	South Africa	January 2, 2025 – Present	0	0	0	0	0%	–

Sporting Directors

Name	Nation	Tenure	Notes
Diego Gutierrez	COL	December 2010 – July 1, 2012	As Head of Scouting/Player Development
Nick Sakiewicz	USA	2012 – October 2, 2015	As CEO and Operating Partner supported by Chris Albright as Technical Director
Earnie Stewart	USA	October 26, 2015 – July 31, 2018	Appointed Sporting Director
Ernst Tanner	GER	August 9, 2018 – present	Appointed Sporting Director

Team Ownership

Keystone Sports & Entertainment (S&E) owns the Philadelphia Union. Jay Sugarman is the main leader of this group. Other members include Christopher F. Buccini, Robert Buccini, David B. Pollin, Joseph J. Greco, and David Seltzer. Nick Sakiewicz was a former CEO and investor until October 3, 2015, when Sugarman bought his shares.

On June 15, 2020, it was announced that basketball player Kevin Durant became an investor and community partner for the club. He bought five percent of the club. Through his company, Thirty Five Ventures, Durant has helped make the Union more well-known in the sports world. He also supports youth soccer programs, helping more kids get access to training and facilities. Durant liked the Union's coaches and team ideas, saying he "connected instantly" with their vision.

Team Achievements

Team Records

Most Goals Scored

Rank	Name	Years	Goals
1	Dániel Gazdag	2021–2025	71
2	Sébastien Le Toux	2010–2011 2013–2016	56
3	Julián Carranza	2022–2024	43
4	Kacper Przybyłko	2018–2021	40
5	C.J. Sapong	2015–2019	38
	Mikael Uhre	2022–	38
7	Cory Burke	2018–2022	30
8	Alejandro Bedoya	2016–	29
9	Jack McInerney	2010–2014	28
10	Conor Casey	2013–2015	22
	Ilsinho	2016–2021
	Fafa Picault	2017–2019
	Sergio Santos	2019–2022

Bold means the player is currently on the Union team.

Other Player Records

As of February 22, 2025. These stats are only for MLS regular season games.

See also

In Spanish: Philadelphia Union para niños

• All-time Philadelphia Union roster
• Sports in Philadelphia