Philadelphia Union vs. Seattle Sounders Match Preview | OneFootball

Two teams on opposite sides of the country headed in opposite directions face off on Saturday. Philadelphia Union welcome Seattle Sounders to Subaru Park as they look to put the first half of the season firmly behind them. Seattle on the other hand will want to regain the form they showed early on in 2026.

Match Details

Who: Philadelphia Union vs. Seattle SoundersWhat: MLS Regular SeasonWhere: Subaru Park, Chester, PennsylvaniaWhen: Saturday July 25, 7:30 PM ET / 4:30 PM PTWatch: Apple TV

Union Look To Build On Red Bull Win

I could fill a library with things that went wrong for the Philadelphia Union in the first half of 2026. Managerial mishaps, big names leaving, new additions underperforming, you name it. All of that has led to a bit of a retooling during the break. Manager Bradley Carnell was sacked, replaced by Union II boss Ryan Richter as the interim coach. Club legend Kai Wagner was brought back from Birmingham City on a DP deal. Quinn Sullivan finally returned from his long-term injury. 18 year old center back Neil Pierre is with the first team after a successful loan in Denmark. 

All those changes paid dividends in the Union’s match last Wednesday. On his first team managerial debut, Richter outcoached Michael Bradley as Philly beat rivals Red Bull New York 3-1. Wagner looked like he never left, winning Man of the Match and making the MLS Team of the Matchday. The elder Sullivan came off the bench to huge cheers from the crowd and looked positive. Pierre scored a towering header in his first appearance of the season. Other key players such as Cavan Sullivan and Danley Jean Jacques had their best performances of the year. Everything came together perfectly.

Now it’s about building on that result for Philadelphia. They’re still firmly in last place, sitting nine points back of the playoffs. However, this is a team with many of the same players that just won the Supporters’ Shield last year. With Wagner back and the Sullivan brothers sharing the pitch together every week, don’t count the Union out moving forward. The next step is beating a Seattle team that has been flat out bad recently.

Slumping Sounders In Danger Of Fifth Straight Loss

Seattle started off 2026 on fire. They only lost once in their opening 11 MLS games, even beating then-first place San Jose Earthquakes. Since that win against the Quakes, it’s been all downhill. The Sounders lost their final two matches against the LA teams before the World Cup break. Although the break is now over, no one seems to have informed Seattle. They lost 5-1 at home to their biggest rivals Portland Timbers and then fell 3-1 to Austin, one of the worst teams in the league.

The main issue for the Sounders is their long injury list. USMNT midfielder Cristian Roldan and his brother Alex are both dealing with lower body injuries. Key center back Yeimar just returned from injury to make the bench against Austin. Attackers Jordan Morris and Pedro de la Vega are out. Seattle has been forced to rely on some inexperienced young players from their second team who unfortunately don’t appear to be at the MLS level. To make matters worse, star center back Jackson Ragen was sent off in second half stoppage time against Austin. That means he won’t be available against the Union.

Match Prediction

On paper, a match between the last place team in the league and a perennial playoff team should only end one way. However, the Union look to have turned a corner with their win on Wednesday and the Sounders are in free fall. Give me back to back home victories and an all-important clean sheet for Philadelphia.

Prediction: Philadelphia Union 2-0 Seattle Sounders