The Philadelphia Union has felt the sting of a historically bad start to its Supporters' Shield defense, losing its first six games of the 2026 season. A trip to Montreal last week helped Philly get its first win in a gritty comeback fashion. The victory could be the tipping point to get this team back on the right track as they return home to face a DC United team that's only four points ahead of them in the standings.
Another iteration of Philly-DC comes at a time when the clubs are the closest they've been in a while. In recent memory, the Union has dominated this rivalry, losing just two of the last 18 matches against United. Then came the start of the 2026 season, and DC secured its first win over Philly since a 2019 US Open Cup win, where Wayne Rooney scored the winner. Both teams are in the lower half of the Eastern Conference, seven matches into the season, with DC in ninth place on seven points and Philadelphia in 14th place on three points.
This matchup ends the 2026 regular season "series" between these clubs. It's curious that this is happening so early in the 2026 season, but MLS loves to keep everyone on their toes. Rivalry games are always heated, even if they come at the beginning of the season, as these ones have fallen. The points from these games could go a long way to deciding where both land in the standings at the end of the season. Can Philly split the points, or will DC United take the majority against the Union for the first time in the 2020s?
Back in late February, the vibes surrounding DC were not high, as usual for this team, unfortunately. However, an opening-weekend win against the Shield-holding Union, with new signing Tai Baribo getting the lone goal, had some United fans thinking this year might be different. Oh, the optimism new seasons and early wins can give.
Since the first game, DC has won just once, drawn once, and lost four times in MLS play. In that time, they have failed to find cohesion at the back, conceding nine goals in six games while scoring only three times. To add insult to injury, United just crashed out of the US Open Cup this past Wednesday, losing to USL League One side One Knoxville SC after a thrilling 3-3 game and PK shootout. DC is faltering on the playoff line, sitting in ninth place, and hasn't won in over a month.
As they prepare for another tough game in Philadelphia, DC is also dealing with an injury bug. Defenders Sean Nealis and Hakim Karamoko are both out for this match, while strikers Tai Baribo and Louis Munteanu are questionable; that's 11 million dollars' worth of attackers who may miss this game. Can Philly take advantage of this and get a second consecutive win?
The Union looked like the Union for the first time in 2026 last weekend in Montreal, but only in the second half. The team fought together and scored two goals to pull off a comeback win. Will that be the tipping point to get them back on track for the season? Bradley Carnell will surely hope so, and he will need his team raring to go from the start this time to ensure it.
Carnell has shown through seven games that he still doesn't have his best XI players as locked-in starters. While that is a good indicator of the team's depth, it also suggests a lack of cohesion on the field. Over the last two games, we have seen the same back four, and I expect that will be the case for this game. Defensive midfield has been the least controversial, with Lukic and Jean Jacques the penciled-in starters; Bueno comes in for either of them when injuries have kept either out. The front four is another story.
At the beginning of the season, Carnell tried to activate record signings Damiani and Alladoh, but both of them play a similar game as target forwards. On top of that, Iloski has been used as an attacking midfielder, even though he's better as a second striker. Then there's the Cavan Sullivan conundrum, who has just one start in MLS (on the Union's kids' day loss to Chicago Fire). At some point, Carnell will have to turn to the kid. Maybe this game is the point where he does that and finds the right combination of the front four.
Union Projected (aka Hopeful) Starting XI vs DC United
GK: Blake
The Union is at a pivotal point in its 2026 season. That may seem dire as this is just their eighth game of the season, but it's true. Look at last week: the club said its match against Montreal was a must-win game. They got the job done, secured their first points of the season, and, in the process, may have saved Bradley Carnell's job. This week, they have the chance to get three more points, but if there's another loss, any confidence will be lost.
The vibes have not been good in 2026, but there's hope that the win at Montreal sparks good results and a return to what makes the Union the Union. If the players on the pitch give everything for the badge on the shirt and find more ways to create goals, then they could just stack some points and get right back into the thick of things in the East. They are just four points behind the playoff line, a spot DC currently holds.
All that being said, if Philly loses that momentum they built last week, and the club suffers a fourth home loss to a shorthanded DC side, then things will go back to being bleak. I'd expect the club to scramble under the pressure, and maybe even face some fan protests. While last week's game was announced publicly as a must-win, I bet this one is a must-win internally for the club. Get the three points at home, and rise within a point of a playoff place to right the ship.
MORE: MLS Matchday 8 Preview: Tai Baribo returns to Philly, Miami continues on without Mascherano
