The Philadelphia Union began preparations for the 2026 season on Monday, January 12, in Chester after a month-and-a-half long offseason. The team gathered at the WSFS Bank Sportsplex for their first training session of the year following physicals and fitness testing over the weekend.
Defender Nathan Harriel commented on returning to training: “It’s so much fun to be back – we were gone for a long time. We try to stay in contact with people when we’re at home or on vacation, but it’s good to actually be back with everybody on the field and in the building.”
This preseason marks significant changes within the squad due to offseason transfers and a club-record signing. A new addition from IF Brommapojkarna, a 20-year-old player from Ghana, joined his teammates for his first practice since signing with the club in December.
Harriel, now one of the most experienced players on the roster behind Andre Blake, Alejandro Bedoya, and Olivier Mbaizo, described Monday’s session as typical—fast-paced and competitive—with several new faces present.
Indiana Vassilev returned after re-signing before the holidays. Having joined from St. Louis City less than a year ago, this is his first preseason with Philadelphia Union. After training concluded, Vassilev interviewed Harriel about how intense Day 1 felt.
“Day 1 is always competitive. Everyone wants to get back out there, and everyone’s running a thousand miles an hour,” Harriel said to Vassilev. “But it’s just good to get back on the grass. The competitive nature is still there – even the new guys and younger kids, working hard, tackling. That’s what we have to do.”
Monday marked Day 1 of 37 leading up to their opening match against Defence Force in Trinidad and Tobago as part of their Concacaf Champions Cup campaign beginning February 18.
The week ahead includes more training sessions, meetings, Media Day activities, and travel plans for Spain where they will hold their second annual overseas training camp.
Philadelphia Union competes as a professional soccer team in Major League Soccer (MLS), representing Philadelphia through matches held at Subaru Park in Chester and maintaining supporting facilities such as dedicated practice fields (official website). The organization has earned recognition for its performance within MLS—including winning its first Supporters’ Shield in 2020—and continues efforts both competitively and within community programs (official website).
