The Philadelphia Union have no time to rest after their fiery midweek draw with Miami. A cross-country trip to Austin is up next. Philadelphia may have dropped points in MLS for the first time under Ryan Richter against Miami, but they showed a collective grit that can carry them in this hectic race to make the playoffs in 2026. The match at Austin is the next step in that journey.
An altercation breaks out between Philadelphia Union midfielder Cavan Sullivan (6) and Inter Miami CF midfielder Yannick Bright (42) in the second half at Subaru Park.
Kyle Ross-Imagn Images
Philadelphia Union at Austin FC Preview
Both the Union and Austin have had less-than-stellar 2026 seasons. Both are on 20 points after 20 games played, and sit near the bottom of their respective conferences. Philly has a path to the playoffs, being just four points off that pace right now; Austin’s path is a bit more daunting.
Austin is seven points off Portland, which sits in 9th place in the West. They will see this match against the Union as close to a must-win as a game can be. An interconference matchup with points at a premium will make this match intense, but how will the teams on the field actually play?
Danley Jean Jacques (21) scored the first goal of a three goal comeback for the Philadelphia Union vs NYCFC
Image Provided / Philadelphia Union
Austin FC’s 2026 so far
Austin FC has taken only 14 points from their first 15 matches, which is better than their counterparts from Philly, but it hasn’t helped their chances in a Western Conference that has been the better of the two conferences this season. After the World Cup break, they have been up and down in MLS play, winning two and losing three. Their form in Cup competitions was just as up and down.
The Verde and Black crashed out of the US Open Cup in their first game of the competition back in April, losing to USL Championship side Louisville City FC. Fast forward to Leagues Cup this past month, and Austin beat Liga MX sides Tijuana and Puebla, and bested Club América in a PK shootout to make the quarterfinals, which will take place next Wednesday.
The topsy-turvy season for Austin led them to fire their Sporting Director and Coach, just as the Union did. They then hired former Union coach Jim Curtin to take charge of the team in 2027 and tried to bring former Union front-office executive Chris Albright to Austin, but Cincinnati blocked that move. There won’t be any reunions between Union players and their former coach this year, but Philly will see a hungry Austin team that plays a 3-4-3 formation focused on width in attack and a back five in defense. How will Philly stack up?
Austin FC midfielder Joseph Rosales (30) acknowledges the crowd with defender Oleksandr Svatok (5) after scoring a goal against Club Tijuana during the first half of a Leagues Cup Phase One match against Club Tijuana at Q2 Stadium.
Dustin Safranek-Imagn Images
Philadelphia Union’s Tactical approach
The Union is in flying form, and they have shown the true spirit of their city: not backing down from anything, no matter who their opponent is. Add to that the “F*** Around And Find Out” quotient, and this team has an edge that could separate them in adverse circumstances. Ryan Richter has done a great job helping this team return to that mentality; it’s endearing to fans and builds belief on and off the pitch.
Against Austin FC, Philadelphia will need to stay organized and compact to repel their wide attacks. Austin loves to overload the wings to create space in the middle of the field for their attacking players to get chances. If the Union can frustrate Austin’s buildup, they will have space to hit them on the counter and keep Los Verdes from getting into their defensive back-five shape.
For Philly, I’d expect a rotated lineup due to the cross-country trip and the congestion of recent matches. One thing to note, though, is that Cavan Sullivan will be available after his red card vs Miami was recinded.
Philadelphia Union projected starting XI at Austin FC
GK: Blake
LB: Wagner CB: Pierre CB: Sery RB: Harriel
DM: Bueno DM: Lukic
AM: C. Sullivan AM: Vassilev
ST: Iloski ST: Alladoh
Philadelphia Union midfielder Indiana Vassilev (19) reacts with midfielder Cavan Sullivan (6) and forward Milan Iloski (10) after scoring a goal against Inter Miami CF in the first half at Subaru Park.
Kyle Ross-Imagn Images
Can the Union stay unbeaten in six straight MLS matches?
While both of these teams are desperate for a win, this match won’t be an easy one for either. Both teams’ tactics could stifle the other, but Philly and Austin’s finishing issues could make this a frustrating game. Austin may be more desperate for points, which could allow the Union to find cracks and exploit them, but scoring in those moments will prove crucial in who takes points from this game.
The Union is just four points behind the playoff line after most teams ahead of them had poor results midweek. A win, and other teams dropping more points could put Philly just one point behind DC for that final spot. After this match against Austin, the Union has two straight weeks with just one match to play; could this return to a more normal game schedule help in a playoff run? Tune in to Apple TV at 9 pm EST tonight to find out if this is the next step toward achieving that goal!