The hottest team in Major League Soccer heads to the Midwest this weekend as Philadelphia Union visit Sporting Kansas City. The Union are on a 10 game unbeaten run in league play while Sporting just picked up a huge victory over LAFC. In the first half of the season this fixture looked like it could decide the Wooden Spoon race, but Philadelphia have firmly removed themselves from that conversation. Kansas City, on the other hand, are rock bottom of MLS.
Match Details
Who: Sporting Kansas City vs. Philadelphia Union
What: MLS Regular Season
Where: Sporting Park, Kansas City, Kansas
When: Saturday September 19, 8:30 PM ET / 5:30 PM PT
Watch: Apple TV
SKC Look To Build On Huge Win
It’s been another season to forget for Sporting Kansas City. After two straight seasons of being a bottom four team in MLS, they’ve taken it a step further in 2026. Sporting currently sit dead last in the league with a measly 18 points from 24 matches. Before last weekend, they were in a seven game winless run with six of those being losses. However, SKC have a chance to change their fortunes.
Last Saturday, Sporting KC faced LAFC at home. Despite the then 25 point gap in the standings and the away side creating more possession, xG, and shots, Sporting found a way to win. New marquee signing André Luiz scored his first goal for the club to open the scoring before Taylor Calheira doubled the advantage. LAFC pulled one back shortly after halftime, but Jacob Bartlett sealed the victory for Kansas City in the 71st minute. Now they have something to build on, but it’ll be a tough task against the most in form team in the league.
Sporting haven’t been able to create much of anything this season, but the signing of Luiz could be the solution to their attacking woes. The Brazilian joined from Olympiacos for a fee of up to $22 million and is finding his feet in MLS. Before that acquisition, Kansas City had scored the fewest goals in the league. They were shut out on his debut but have since scored six goals in two matches. Luiz will have to face one of if not the best left back in MLS history in Kai Wagner this Saturday. It’ll be a good test to see how well he’s adapting to life in the United States.
Unstoppable Union On A Roll
It seems like every week I have more and more great things to say about Philadelphia Union. The club’s turnaround in the second half of the season has truly been remarkable. They’ve gone from last place in all of MLS to a playoff team. The next objective is to break into the top four in the East for home field advantage in the first round.
Interim manager Ryan Richter has gotten a tune out of his side. At the start of his tenure they were narrowly finding ways to get results. Now it’s just straight up dominance. Philadelphia has won their last two matches 5-0 apiece with the game before that ending 2-0. They’re scoring goals for fun while also putting on defensive clinics. The Union have looked like comfortably the best team in MLS over the last few weeks and only seem to get better each game.
At the heart of this remontada is 16 year old Cavan Sullivan. The highly touted teenager has taken a giant leap from the first half of the season now that he’s being trusted with a full time starting spot. Young Sullivan is tied for the most goal contributions in league play since the World Cup break with Lionel Messi. That’s pretty good company. His form has been rewarded by national team manager Mauricio Pochettino, with Sullivan getting called up for this upcoming international break. Fellow homegrowns Neil Pierre (18) and Frankie Westfield (20) were also selected. Philadelphia’s youth movement is now becoming America’s youth movement.
Match Prediction
That win over LAFC was a huge result for Sporting Kansas City, but unfortunately for them they’re running into a buzzsaw here. Philadelphia look unstoppable and it seems like a matter of how much they win by, not if they win. Luiz will get a goal contribution but it won’t be enough as the Union roll to a fifth straight win.
Prediction: Sporting Kansas City 1-4 Philadelphia Union
Braden Hines is a writer and data analyst with a passion for U.S. Soccer. Runs American Ultras Talk on YouTube and X. Works for Carolina Ascent FC and Syracuse Men’s Soccer.
