Thursday, October 1, 2026
79 ° Clear
79 ° Clear
The Philadelphia Union have a huge match tonight as they welcome Inter Miami CF to the banks of the Delaware River! Both teams are hungry for another win, and despite what the standings say, they may be heading in different directions after the World Cup break.
Miami beat Philadelphia in the last game before the World Cup break in a 6-4 thriller. That match ultimately led the Union to make changes in the front office and at head coach. Heading into that World Cup break. At that point, Miami was in the thick of a Supporters' Shield campaign while the Union was in dead last in all of MLS.
Since coming back from the World Cup break, the tables have turned a bit for these teams. The Union has won five of seven across all competitions, while Miami has three wins, a draw, and three losses. The two teams haven't switched places, but the matchup isn't as lopsided as it was at the end of May.
Miami is having a fine season by their standards, but they are not where they want to be. They crashed out of the Concacaf Champions Cup in the Round of 16 after losing on aggregate to Nashville SC, failed to make the quarterfinals of the Leagues Cup, and may be out of the running for the Supporters' Shield with 15 matches still to play in the MLS season.
Miami is on a three-game losing streak, falling in back-to-back Leagues Cup games and in a huge MLS match vs Nashville last weekend. Miami was played off the field in a 4-1 loss and is now five points behind the Shield leaders from Tennessee. Messi and friends will be looking for a bounce-back game against Philadelphia, but tensions are high for the Herons.
On the flip side, the Union has little tension. The team knows its reestablished goal of making the playoffs means earning points one game at a time. This singular focus has helped interim coach Ryan Richter instill freedom in the team that hasn't been seen since Jim Curtin was in charge.
The team is enjoying their play again and using it to come back from adverse situations. In the past two MLS matches, the Union were down 2-0 but came back to win 3-2. The team's toughness and togetherness are making them believe anything is possible. That belief will carry into tonight's match against one of the league's best, with possibly the greatest player ever on the opposite side. Richter's side will need that to best Miami and win a fifth straight.
Philadelphia Union projected Starting XI vs Inter Miami CF
GK: Blake
LB: Wagner CB: Pierre CB: Harriel RB: Westfield
DM: Bueno DM: Danley
The Philadelphia Union have built their four-game MLS win streak thanks to a couple of factors that will be pivotal in their hopes of beating Miami. First is their backline's play. They have not been stellar at keeping teams off the scoresheet, but their ability to pass from the back, join the attack, and be key on set pieces makes them a factor. Wagner, Pierre, Harriel, and Westfield will all have to be at their best to beat Miami.
Second is the Sullivan factor. Both Cavan and Quinn Sullivan are game changers in the attack for Philly. Cavan has been the best one-v-one attacker since Ilsinho for the Union; he creates chances out of nothing down the right flank and has given teammates great chances to score. Quinn has done the same from the left, mostly as a substitute. I have a feeling we will see both from the start against Miami, and that they'll be vital to Iloski and Damiani getting more goals.
The third and final key to the match comes in the center of the pitch for the Union. Danley Jean Jacques and Jesus Bueno will be the partnership that needs to keep Messi and Suarez quiet. Bueno was instrumental in the Union's comeback against NYCFC when he came on for Lukic (who is suspended for tonight's game). The two holding mids will need to track Messi and link up attacks from defense to the Sullivans.
Subaru Park is sold out tonight for the match. If you weren't able to get a ticket to see the action live, make sure to catch the action on Apple TV at 7:30 pm.
