Match Preview - Philadelphia Union
Game Info
Kickoff: 8:10pm CT
Watch: Apple TV
Location: Q2 Stadium - Austin, TX
All-Time H2H Record
Austin FC has a 0W-1D-0L all-time record against Philadelphia Union.
The lone meeting between these two clubs came back in March 2024, a 2-2 draw that saw ATX net both of their goals, scored by Diego Rubio (his first with Austin FC) and Jon Gallagher, two minutes apart.
Philadelphia Union Recent Form
Entering MLS as an expansion side in the 2010 season, the Philadelphia Union have experienced the majority of their league success in the last seven seasons. After missing the playoffs in six of their first nine campaigns, they’ve qualified for the postseason in six of the last seven.
During that time, the Union have won the Supporter’s Shield twice (2020 and 2025) and were the MLS Cup runners-up in 2022, falling in penalties to LAFC. The early years of the club weren’t completely without excitement for Philly fans, as the team did also finish as runners-up in the U.S. Open Cup three times (2014, 2015 and 2018).
The greatest success of this franchise has to be their academy. The Union have graduated talents like Quinn and Cavan Sullivan (the latter of which is signed by Manchester City and scheduled to cross the Atlantic to join them in his age 18 season), Brenden and Paxten Aaronson, Mark McKenzie, Auston Trusty, Jack McGlynn and Matt Freese, just to name a few. The team’s ability to develop youth talent has buoyed their recent league success, as the Union’s ownership group is notoriously cheap.
They’ve also been struggling mightily this year after winning the Shield last season, thanks to offseason departures from a number of key players including Kai Wagner (the club’s all-time assists leader), Jakob Glesnes (former DPOY & two-time Best XI), Mikael Uhre (third on the club’s all-time scoring list) and Tai Baribo (led the club in scoring last season).
Philly’s front office made a handful of hopeful acquisitions coming into the season in an attempt to offset those key losses. They signed striker Ezekiel Alladoh to a U22 Initiative deal for a club record $4.5 million fee (a good example of how cheap Union ownership has historically been), but he hasn’t been an impact player in 2026. Nor have TAM acquisitions in attacking option Augustin Anello and centerback Japhet Sery Larsen, who have both been limited to 11 appearances this season.
The Union fired head coach Bradley Carnell after the slow start, elevating second team head coach Ryan Richter to interim for the remainder of this year. They’ve also been active in the current transfer window, losing top centerback Olwethu Makhanya after he forced his way out, along with bringing back Kai Wagner as a designated player after his six-month European tour with Birmingham City in the EFL Championship.
This team has been scorching hot in league play since MLS resumed following this summer’s World Cup, winning four of their five games (against NYCFC, Atlanta United, Seattle Sounders and NYRB) and playing Lionel Messi and Inter Miami to a 2-2 draw on Wednesday night. In a significant blow to the overall talent in the Union midfield, Cavan Sullivan was sent off in second half stoppage time and is suspended for Saturday’s match against Austin (edit: Sullivan’s red card was rescinded by the league on Friday afternoon, we will be available for selection).
With the recent run, Philly has climbed out of the wooden spoon position, now sitting on an identical 20 points alongside Austin FC with a five point buffer over Sporting KC holding the spoon.
Saturday’s match is a key fixture in each club’s quest to not only avoid the embarrassment of a last place finish, but potentially make a late-season run to a wild card berth. The winner of this one will at least not be insane for thinking they can complete the latter, while the loser will be that much closer to the shame of a wooden spoon season.
Austin FC Recent Form
What a welcome Wednesday surprise! Well, at least once the dust settled on matchday 20, because the mood amongst the fan base when Austin FC posted their heavily rotated starting lineup prior to kickoff was one of resignation.
The team, like any other, has employed heavy rotation at times of extreme fixture congestion both this season and in years past. From what I can remember, it has never gone well, especially on the road. One doesn’t have to look very far, just back to May 13 against San Diego FC, to recall just how painful these types of games have been for the Verde and their fans.
This lineup was even more extreme, slotting in guys like CJ Fodrey at wingback and Jayden Nelson at attacking mid with Jorge Alastuey behind him in the defensive midfield. Even with the Sounders extremely shorthanded, hopes were not high.
But that’s why they play the game, right? Austin FC pulled off a 2-1 victory at Lumen Field, the team’s first road win of the season and the last club to record an away win in the league this year. It was an inspiring performance, even accounting for the diminished opponent, capped off by Guilherme Biro’s wonder goal that won the league’s “goal of the week” honor.
The heavy rotation in the midweek including leaving five key players back in Austin, all of whom have been playing heavy minutes with the team’s busy schedule. Myrto Uzuni, Christian Ramirez, Oleksandr Svatok, Joseph Rosales and Jon Gallagher all stayed behind, indicating that they will all get back into the starting lineup against Philadelphia.
Despite dropping last Sunday’s Copa Tejas match against FC Dallas, the Verde and Black are currently in the midst of their best five-game run of form in 2026. But no matter what section of the season you want to examine, most of the limited success for ATX this year has come at Q2 Stadium.
With eight of the team’s final 14 regular season games set to take place in central Texas, Austin FC will have plenty of chances to stave off the dreaded wooden spoon. The team has an opportunity to earn another important three points in league play before all eyes turn towards Wednesday’s Leagues Cup quarterfinal match against Toluca FC in New Jersey.
Injury Report
ATX:
Owen Wolff (Out - Ankle)
PHI:
None listed
Philadelphia Union Players to Watch
Milan Iloski - Originally a homegrown signing of Real Salt Lake, Iloski made a giant splash at the USL level, scoring 38 goals in just 64 appearances for Orange County SC. He was loaned to expansion side San Diego FC from FC Nordsjælland in Denmark last season and continued his incredible output, netting 10 goals in just 479 minutes. After his loan expired in the summer, Nordsjælland transferred him to the Union where he’s picked up right where he left off, scoring 12 goals across his 29 appearances with Philadelphia so far. Across his more than 10,000 career professional minutes, Iloski is averaging 0.6 goals per 90 minutes.
Kai Wagner - We’ve talked about Wagner on the show over the last few weeks as the Union brought him back as a DP this transfer window after selling him for less just six months prior. Jabs about the roster mismanagement aside, Wagner has immediately elevated the Union on both sides of the ball. The club’s leading all-time leader in assists has already racked up four more in his first five appearances in league play in his return. If you think Austin’s Žan Kolmanič is dangerous with his left-footed service, just wait until you watch Wagner go to work this Saturday.
Austin FC Keys to the Game
Be Present - With the midweek rotation, it’s clear that the club wasn’t only just needing to rest some of its key players out of sheer exhaustion, it was also done with an eye towards the upcoming quarterfinal against Toluca on Wednesday. It will be a challenge to not overlook Saturday’s match against the Union given what looms ahead, but if Austin FC is able to be present and put full focus on earning a second straight league victory, it could be just the vibes boost needed to propel this team to a massive week. One step at a time, take care of business at home this weekend.
Predictions
ZG - 3-1 Austin FC
E - 2-1 Austin FC
