With Kai Wagner, Jakob Glesnes, and Tai Baribo all back from representing their team at the 2025 MLS All-Star Game, the Philadelphia Union will return home to Subaru Park on Saturday night to face the Colorado Rapids.
After a disappointing draw on the road against Jack McGlynn and the Houston Dynamo last weekend, Bradley Carnell’s side will be looking to get back on track and put some separation between them and some other top teams in the Eastern Conference after a few helpful results on Friday night.
With 10 games left in the MLS season and just 1 point off the Supporters’ Shield lead, Saturday’s match at home feels like kicking off the final sprint to the 2025 finish line, where the Philadelphia hope to find themselves adding another trophy to their cabinet.
How to watch Union vs Colorado Rapids
When: Saturday, July 26th @ 7:30 pm
Where: Subaru Park, Chester, PA
Where to Watch: MLS Season Pass, Apple TV+
Philadelphia Union vs Colorado Rapids Betting Odds
Philadelphia Union: -185
Colorado Rapids: +390
Draw: +330
Preview By The Numbers
| Current Form – Last 5 MLS Games | Philadelphia Union: L, L, W, W, D | Colorado Rapids: D, L, L, W, D |
| Expected Goals: | Philadelphia: 44.99 xG (4th best) | Colorado Rapids: 43.44 xG (8th best) |
| Total Goals Scored: | Philadelphia Union: 40 goals scored (T-8th best) | Colorado Rapids: 30 goals scored (T-13th worst) |
| Expected Conceded Goals: | Philadelphia: 26.8 xGA (4th best) | Colorado Rapids: 39.0 xGA (4th worst) |
| Goals Conceded: | Philadelphia Union: 23 goals conceded (1st best) | Colorado Rapids: 36 goals conceded (13 best) |
| Top Goal-Scorers: | Philadelphia: Baribo – 14 Damiani – 4 Q. Sullivan, Harriel, Danley, Vassilev, Lukic, Uhre – 2 | Colorado Rapids: Mihailovic – 9 Navarro – 8 Harris, Yapi – 4 |
| Top Assists Leaders: | Philadelphia Union: Q. Sullivan, Wagner – 8 Uhre, Westfield – 4 Danley, Vassilev – 3 | Colorado Rapids: Mihailovic – 7 Ku-Dipietro, Larraz – 3 Navarro, Yapi, Bassett, Fernandez – 2 |
Head To Head
Since their first meeting in 2010, the Philadelphia Union and Colorado Rapids have met 15 times. The Rapids’ 5W-6D-4L record gives Chris Armas’ side a slight edge over the Blue and Gold all-time. Across those 15 games, the Rapids have outscored the Union by 15GF to 14GA.
After going winless against the Rapids in their first 5 meetings in MLS play, Philly has lost just once in their previous 9 league matches against the Western Conference opponent and has outscored Colorado by a total of 16GF to 11GA during that span.
Colorado got the better of Philadelphia in their previous meeting, edging out the Union in penalties of the League Cup third-place match last season.
Colorado’s Season So Far
The Rapids come into Saturday’s match with an 8W-6D-10L record and 30 points in the bag, good enough to enter the weekend in 7th place in the Western Conference playoff picture.
After losing just twice in their first 10 games of the MLS Season (4W-4D-2L), the Rapids have failed to go 3 consecutive games without a loss in their following 14 matches, putting together a 4W-2D-8L record and being outscored 16GF to 22GA during that span.
The Rapids are winless in their last eight road matches, with a record of 0W-3D-5L. During that run, they have been outscored 10GF to 19GA.
Union’s Season So Far
After their 1-1 draw to Houston, Philadelphia comes into this weekend’s match with a record of 14W-5D-5L and 47 points, just 1 point off both the Eastern Conference and Supporters’ Shield lead.
After going 13 games without a loss across all competitions earlier this season, the Union have hit a rough patch in recent weeks, scraping together a 2W-1D-2L record in their previous 5 games.
Despite the recent bumps in the road, Philly comes into Saturday’s match with the best Goal Differential in Major League Soccer, a +17, and has conceded the fewest goals in all of MLS (23).
Predicted Starting XI
While the Union are starting to trend towards full squad fitness right before the final stretch of the season, Bradley Carnell will still be without several important players against Colorado on Saturday night.
Ian Glavinovich is still out due to injury with no real timetable for a return at the moment. Nate Harriel and Frankie Westfield will miss out on Saturday night due to yellow card suspension, while Cavan Sullivan is across the pond training with Manchester City.
Kai Wagner, Tai Baribo, and Jakob Glesnes all played in the MLS All-Star Game on Wednesday night, but should be ready to go against Colorado on Saturday. Jakob Glesnes played a bit longer than most normally do in the All-Star Game (55 minutes + stoppage time), which could cause a bit of an issue for the Union, who lack CB depth, especially with Nate Harriel out of the lineup. Is it possible for us to see the debut of 17-year-old CB Neil Pierre on Saturday night?
Formation: 4-2-2-2
GK: Blake
RB: Mbaizo, CB: Makhanya, CB: Glesnes, LB: Wagner
CDM: Danley, CDM: Lukic
CAM: Vassilev, CAM: Q. Sullivan
ST: Baribo, ST: Uhre
Supporters’ Shield Watch
Union got some help last night when San Diego beat Nashville by a score of 1-0, and Orlando knocked off Columbus in a 3-1 victory. If Union manages to take home all three points against Colorado at Subaru Park on Saturday night, it could help put some separation between the teams in the standings.
Coming into Saturday’s slate of games, the Union sit just 1 point behind FC Cincinnati in both the Eastern Conference and Supporters’ Shield standings with 10 games left in their season. Just 4 points separate FC Cincinnati, Philadelphia Union, Nashville SC, Vancouver Whitecaps, and Columbus Crew, which should make for an entertaining race to the finish.
| Team | Points | Games Played | Goal Differential |
| FC Cincinnati | 48 | 24 | +8 |
| Philadelphia Union | 47 | 24 | +17 |
| Nashville SC | 47 | 25 | +16 |
| San Diego FC | 46 | 25 | +16 |
| Columbus Crew | 44 | 25 | +5 |
| Vancouver Whitecaps | 42 | 23 | +13 |
| Inter Miami | 41 | 21 | +15 |
Inter Miami is 7 points off the Supporters’ Shield lead with 41 points, but it has only played 21 games, while all the teams above it have played either 24 or 25.
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