Philadelphia Union host Orlando City in key Eastern Conference matchup as both clubs reshape their seasons

By Vancouver Television Sports Desk

The Philadelphia Union host Orlando City on Saturday in a key Eastern Conference match, with both teams arriving after sharp shifts in form since the 2026 FIFA World Cup break.

Philadelphia enters the match on an 11-game unbeaten run after rallying from three goals down to beat Sporting Kansas City 4-3. MLSSoccer.com said the Union are 9W-0L-2D over that stretch.

Cavan Sullivan had a goal and an assist in Kansas City. MLSSoccer.com said Sullivan, 16, is part of a wider breakout for Philadelphia homegrowns that also saw Neil Pierre and Frankie Westfield earn their first U.S. men’s national team call-ups for the September/October international window.

MLSSoccer.com said Philadelphia was at the bottom of the league table with one win when the World Cup break began. Since then, the Union have moved back into the playoff race.

Orlando arrives after a five-game league unbeaten streak ended in a 4-2 loss to the New England Revolution. Iván Angulo and Martín Ojeda scored for the Lions, but Peyton Miller and Carles Gil struck in second-half stoppage time for New England.

Orlando also faces uncertainty around Antoine Griezmann, who MLSSoccer.com said suffered a knock in a U.S. Open Cup semifinal loss to the Columbus Crew. His status for Saturday was uncertain.

Since the World Cup pause, Orlando has gone 6W-3L-2D, according to MLSSoccer.com. The outlet credited part of that turnaround to Griezmann, who has eight goals and three assists in his first 10 MLS matches.

Orlando may also be short-handed elsewhere in attack. MLSSoccer.com said homegrown Justin Ellis has earned his first U.S. men’s national team call-up, while Croatian winger Marco Pašalić is on international duty.

Philadelphia has its own absences. MLSSoccer.com said the Union will be without three U.S.-bound teenagers, along with goalkeeper Andre Blake, who is with Jamaica, and midfielder Danley Jean Jacques, who is with Haiti.

The outlet also listed Philadelphia as a heavy home favourite, with 68% of the market compared with 16% for Orlando as of Thursday, Sept. 24 at 9 a.m. ET.