Philadelphia Union look to finish busy month of May unbeaten at FC Dallas on Saturday night

After scoring twice in the final moments of a mid-week match to grab their 10th win of the season on the road against Toronto on Wednesday night, the Philadelphia Union head to Frisco, Texas, this weekend. There, they’ll hope to finish off a busy month of May unbeaten in 9 games across all competitions.

Philadelphia comes into Saturday’s clash with the West’s FC Dallas sitting atop the Eastern Conference and Supporters Shield standings with a record of 10W-3D-3L and 33 points. They are looking to build on that lead as they cross the mid-way mark of the 2025 season—Matchday 17 against FC Dallas.

“I think the energy you can see, when Kai gets the deflected goal, just the whole group, when Nate scores the goal in the 86th, just the energy from the sidelines, the energy from within the 11 guys that’s on the field, it’s just pretty cool, this journey, and we just want to prolong this fire for as long as possible and we’re in a good way right now”

Union, MLS — Image Credit: Philadelphia Union

How to watch Union vs FC Dallas

When: Wednesday, May 31st @ 8:30 pm
Where: Toyota Stadium – Frisco, TX
Where to Watch: MLS Season Pass, Apple TV+

Philadelphia Union vs FC Dallas Betting Odds

Philadelphia Union: +145
FC Dallas: +160
Draw: +245

Preview By The Numbers

*Current Form – Last 5 MLS Games*	Philadelphia Union: D, W, W, D, W	FC Dallas: L, D, L, L, D
*Expected Goals:*	Philadelphia: 31.92 xG (4th best)	FC Dallas: 19.65 xG (26th best)
*Total Goals Scored:*	Philadelphia Union: 32 goals scored (2nd best)	FC Dallas: 18 goals scored (T-6th worst)
*Expected Conceded Goals:*	Philadelphia: 17.7 xGA (4th best)	FC Dallas: 20.4 xGA (8th best)
*Goals Conceded:*	Philadelphia Union: 18 goals conceded (T-3rd best)	FC Dallas: 26 goals conceded (T-5th worst)
*Top Goal-Scorers:*	Philadelphia: Baribo – 13 Damiani, Danley, Lukić, Uhre, Sullivan, Harriel – 2 Vassilev, Glesnes, Westfield, Glavinovich, Wagner – 1	FC Dallas: Musa, Julio – 4 Acosta – 3 Martins – 2
*Top Assists Leaders:*	Philadelphia Union: Sullivan, Wagner – 7 Uhre – 4 Jean-Jacques, Westfield, Vassilev – 3	FC Dallas: Musa, Martins – 3 Julio, Moore, Urhoghide, Farrington, Delgado, Benetti, Lletget – 1

Head To Head

Saturday’s cross-conference showdown between the Philadelphia Union and FC Dallas will be the 17th time the two have ever met. In the previous 16 meetings, the Union has a record of 3W-5D-8L and has been outscored 29 to 19. They haven’t beaten FC Dallas since 2019.

After going 0W-4D-3L in their first seven games against FC Dallas, all 3 of the Union’s wins against the Western Conference club have come in the previous nine. Of their three wins against Dallas, the Union have only won on the road once, a Penalty Shootout win in the 2014 US Open Cup. The Union hopes to lock down their first win on the road against Dallas in MLS play Saturday night.

FC Dallas’ Season So Far

After acquiring Lucho Acosta from FC Cincinnati in the off-season, many had high hopes for FC Dallas in the 2025 season. Still, a lack of consistency from Eric Quill’s side has them coming into Saturday’s match against the Union, the midway mark of the campaign, in 11th place in the Western Conference with a record of 4W-5D-6L and just 17 points.

Dallas has won consecutive games just once this season, back-to-back wins against Real Salt Lake and Sporting Kansas City in late March. Since then, Dallas has just one win in their previous nine MLS matches and was knocked out in the Round of 16 in the US Open Cup by the New York Red Bulls.

In their last five MLS games, Dallas’s record is 0W-2D-3L, and they have been outscored 12 to 5 during that span.

“With a new coach coming in and different ideas and different sequences, they have some real weapons and some real tools to inflict harm and damage, they rallied back against Cincinnati, they’re very good in transition even if [Anderson] Julio plays or does not play, they really have some attacking fire power and then Musa coming back now after missing a couple games.

“I think they’re starting to find their feet, I think Acosta always is an influential player in and around the box and 20 yards from our goal, just floating around, picking up pieces, and if we don’t do a good job of keep it tight and keep spaces compact, he could have a field day, so it’s going to be a team effort again.”

Union’s Season So Far

Bradley Carnell has the Philadelphia Union absolutely flying. They’re off to the best start in club history with a record of 10W-3D-3L and sit top of the Eastern Conference and Supporters Shield standings heading into Matchday 17, the midway mark of the 2025 season.

During May, the busiest stretch of the season, the Union have a record of 6W-2D-0L across all competitions and have punched their ticket to the US Open Cup Quarterfinals, where they’ll face off against their rivals, the New York Red Bulls. The Union has gotten through the May Madness unbeaten thus far with just two proper center backs on the roster while Ian Glavinovich rehabs from injury, which Bradley Carnell says comes down to the “next man up” mentality within the squad and in Nate Harriel in particular.

“I think they’ve been excellent, to go unbeaten through the month of May so far, we hope that journey continues tomorrow but I think you answer your own question when you just need to look at the results and see the way these guys are performing week in and week out and to have the “next man up” mentality and to embrace it, and to accept it. We’ve used Nate [Harriel] in different positions, and he’s embraced it and accepted it, and he’s really shone, and that’s the only way you can start shining is if you commit to something that’s massive.”

Union Predicted Starting XI

Saturday’s clash against FC Dallas will be the Union’s ninth game during May and the second road game in three days, with 1,300+ miles of travel in between. This means there’s a chance we’ll see some rotation within the squad and someone we didn’t expect to get the start.

Union Starting XI Formation: 4-2-2-2

GK: Blake
RB: Westfield, CB: Glesnes, CB: Makhanya, LB: Wagner
CDM: Danley, CDM: Lukic
CAM: Q. Sullivan, CAM: Vassilev
ST: Uhre, ST: Baribo

Luckily for Bradley Carnell, he should have everyone he’d expected to, with just Ian Glavinovich and Neil Pierre being the only names listed on Major League Soccer’s Availability Report.

“Doing OK, we’ve still got a couple of hours before the next match so we can only make those final observations, I know Bruno took a contusion to the quad, but we’re hoping he’ll be alright and turned up okay, there’s one or two guys with question marks but I don’t want to rule anyone out until tomorrow morning.”

MLS Availability Report:

Philadelphia Union
Ian Glavinovich – Knee (Out)
Neil Pierre – Knee (Out)

FC Dallas
Léo Chú – Knee (Out)
Paxton Pomykal – Knee Bruise (Out)
Osaze Urhoghide – Upper Leg (Out)