- Team form: Philadelphia are in form with W-W-W-W-D in all competitions, including back-to-back 5-0 wins.
- Recent run: Charlotte are unbeaten in their last five (W-D-D-W-D) but have been drawing a lot of games.
- Players to watch: Cavan Sullivan is in great form for the Union.
Miles to go before Union reach the top
Philadelphia Union will be eager to get out to a quick start against Charlotte FC, who they've traded blows with in a new MLS rivalry since the North Carolina club joined the league. The Crown won 2-1 in the clash between the sides in April 2026, but could only manage a 0-0 draw on Memorial Day after a fast start to the season.
Ryan Richter has since got the best out of his young Union side, who have taken off in recent weeks, winning their last four games in back-to-back 5-0 statement victories. But Dean Smith has brought discipline and structure to Charlotte that makes them really tough to beat, so Saturday's match at Subaru Park should be a tight game.
Cavan’s can-do attitude
Union formation and Sullivan
The Union have 4-2-3-1 or 4-4-2-diamond with the midfield diamond as the pivot. The change has come about because of the impact Cavan Sullivan has made in his breakthrough 2026 campaign and the club's need to get their USMNT-record breaker in October scoring again.
Philadelphia's new formation is built around Sullivan's can-do nature and his ability to make things happen in tight spaces. The Union are designed to win the ball back high up the field and run at their opponents.
Charlotte's pragmatic setup
Charlotte, on the other hand, are more of a pragmatic 4-3-3/4-2-3-1 hybrid that can sit compact and spring runners on the break. Karol Świderski remains their top option in congested games and Kristijan Kahlina has kept them very compact, making them very hard to break down in the central areas of the field.
Tight clash in the east
Charlotte are unbeaten in their last five, but they have drawn three of those games, which suggests there is a bit of grinding in this side.
- Philadelphia are the slight favorites at 1.54 here, but we feel the draw makes more appeal at 4.65 with Charlotte at 4.9 a bit of a surprise to us.
- We're taking Under 2.5 goals here at 3.1 as the likeliest outcome of a cagey affair that could be decided by one big moment or a set play.
- There is some value in a Union win because the home side and Frankie Westfield have been in superb form from wing-back on the right, stretching play and creating chances for Philadelphia.
- But Charlotte can grind out a point and with two Eastern Conference sides around the 43- and 39-point marks, we think the safer bet is to stay on the unders with a likely 1-1 score.
