jtansey90.bsky.social
@jtansey90.bsky.social
Welcome to Year 4 of Union Soccer Blog!

I had no idea if this journey would be successful when I started this independently in 2023.

Thanks to your continue support for making this possible. Let’s have a great 2026 season.

unionsoccerblog.substack.com/p/welcome-to...
Welcome To Year 4 of Union Soccer Blog!
Welcome to Year 4 of Union Soccer Blog!
unionsoccerblog.substack.com
February 10, 2026 at 10:43 PM
The Union, for lack of a better term, trust their transfer process.

It’s worked for years and it’s brought in two vital players this offseason for the club’s success in 2026.

“I would say that our process gives us confidence.”

unionsoccerblog.substack.com/p/how-the-un...
How the Union Trust Their Transfer Process
The combination of data and in-person scouting brought the Union plenty of transfer success over the last few years.
unionsoccerblog.substack.com
January 26, 2026 at 3:14 PM
Japhet Sery Larsen consulted with Mikael Uhre, Anders Dreyer and Evander about his move to MLS.

The positives from those chats plus what the Union presented to him made it an easy fit.

Sery Larsen talked about his move this afternoon:

unionsoccerblog.substack.com/p/with-help-...
With Help from Mikael Uhre and Former Teammates, Japhet Sery Larsen Felt Comfortable With MLS Move
The 25-year-old center back relied on conversations with Mikael Uhre and others to feel confident the move to the Philadelphia Union was best for him.
unionsoccerblog.substack.com
January 22, 2026 at 7:58 PM
Reposted
Cavan Sullivan is excited to push for an expanded role with the Union in 2026.

“It’s a big year for me. I’m going to work my balls off trying to earn my spot.”

unionsoccerblog.substack.com/p/cavan-sull...
Cavan Sullivan Excited to Push For Expanded Philadelphia Union Role in 2026
The 16-year-old spoke about his expectations for his second full season in Major League Soccer.
unionsoccerblog.substack.com
January 20, 2026 at 2:49 PM
Cavan Sullivan is excited to push for an expanded role with the Union in 2026.

“It’s a big year for me. I’m going to work my balls off trying to earn my spot.”

unionsoccerblog.substack.com/p/cavan-sull...
Cavan Sullivan Excited to Push For Expanded Philadelphia Union Role in 2026
The 16-year-old spoke about his expectations for his second full season in Major League Soccer.
unionsoccerblog.substack.com
January 20, 2026 at 2:49 PM
What’s driving Alejandro Bedoya at age 38?

“I really fucking want that MLS Cup.”

A conversation with Bedoya on playing in 2026 and what he wants to deliver for the Union:

unionsoccerblog.substack.com/p/alejandro-...
Alejandro Bedoya Driven to Deliver More Success for Philadelphia Union in 2026
CHESTER — Alejandro Bedoya had a feeling before the 2025 Philadelphia Union season concluded that he wanted to return for another year as a player.
unionsoccerblog.substack.com
January 15, 2026 at 6:14 PM
Reposted
Kai Wagner’s sale to Birmingham City closed the door on Union 3.0.

The club’s most successful era is over and now Union 4.0 has a remarkably high standard to live up to.

My latest Union Soccer Blog column:
unionsoccerblog.substack.com/p/kai-wagner...
Kai Wagner Sale to Birmingham City Marks End of Philadelphia Union Era
Wagner's sale to the English Championship side was the latest in a set of transformational moves made this offseason by the Union.
unionsoccerblog.substack.com
January 5, 2026 at 2:42 PM
Kai Wagner’s sale to Birmingham City closed the door on Union 3.0.

The club’s most successful era is over and now Union 4.0 has a remarkably high standard to live up to.

My latest Union Soccer Blog column:
unionsoccerblog.substack.com/p/kai-wagner...
Kai Wagner Sale to Birmingham City Marks End of Philadelphia Union Era
Wagner's sale to the English Championship side was the latest in a set of transformational moves made this offseason by the Union.
unionsoccerblog.substack.com
January 5, 2026 at 2:42 PM
The Union’s 2025 season felt different than others until it didn’t.

The same old Union delivered another disappointing performance in a big game.

Match Thoughts:

unionsoccerblog.substack.com/p/philadelph...
Philadelphia Union's 2025 Season Comes to End in Eastern Conference Semifinal
The Union looked like a shell of themselves in the 1-0 loss to New York City FC.
unionsoccerblog.substack.com
November 24, 2025 at 3:36 PM
MLS put its international aspirations ahead of its domestic audience with its schedule change.

The move better work because there’s no turning back.

Free column for everyone to read at Union Soccer Blog:

open.substack.com/pub/unionsoc...
MLS Puts International Aspirations In Front of Domestic Audience With Schedule Change
Last week's announcement of a calendar change allows MLS to focus more on a newer, wider market of international fans.
open.substack.com
November 17, 2025 at 4:56 PM
The Union acted like the top seed in Saturday’s series clincher against Chicago.

The three-week layoff is what it is, but the Union did their part to earn it.

unionsoccerblog.substack.com/p/philadelph...
Philadelphia Union Acted Like Top Seed In Completion of First-Round Series Sweep
The Union played like a top seed should in Saturday's Game 2 win over the Chicago Fire.
unionsoccerblog.substack.com
November 3, 2025 at 3:13 PM
Reposted
The Union survived Game 1 of Round 1

Match Thoughts at Union Soccer Blog:

unionsoccerblog.substack.com/p/match-thou...
Match Thoughts: Philadelphia Union Survive to Win Game 1 Against Chicago Fire
The Union relied on a handful of big performances to take a 1-0 series lead on Sunday night.
unionsoccerblog.substack.com
October 27, 2025 at 11:09 PM
The Union survived Game 1 of Round 1

Match Thoughts at Union Soccer Blog:

unionsoccerblog.substack.com/p/match-thou...
Match Thoughts: Philadelphia Union Survive to Win Game 1 Against Chicago Fire
The Union relied on a handful of big performances to take a 1-0 series lead on Sunday night.
unionsoccerblog.substack.com
October 27, 2025 at 11:09 PM
The Union have four potential opponents for their first-round playoff series.

I did the Decision Day math for the Nos. 8 & 9 seeds and looked at the preferred matchup for the Union:

unionsoccerblog.substack.com/p/the-math-a...
The Math Around the Union's Potential Eastern Conference Playoff Opponents
The Union will play the wild-card game winner, but the Nos. 8 and 9 seeds have yet to be determined.
unionsoccerblog.substack.com
October 15, 2025 at 3:32 PM
The Union’s Supporters’ Shield triumph was built by a foundation forged in preseason.

Column on Saturday’s match:

unionsoccerblog.substack.com/p/philadelph...
Philadelphia Union's Supporters' Shield Triumph Forged By Togetherness
Union players credited a tight bond formed in preseason as one of the key driving factors to the best MLS regular-season point total in 2025.
unionsoccerblog.substack.com
October 6, 2025 at 3:20 PM
The Union lead the Supporters’ Shield race with three games left, but there’s plenty of work left to be done.

A detailed look at the Union’s Shield competition with less than a month left in the MLS regular season.

unionsoccerblog.substack.com/p/breaking-d...
Breaking Down the Philadelphia Union and the Supporters' Shield Challengers
A look at what the Union and their closest competitors for the Supporters' Shield have left in the regular season.
unionsoccerblog.substack.com
September 23, 2025 at 1:01 PM
The 2025 iteration of the Union keeps proving they have “it” and that “it” is what is driving belief that another addition to the trophy case is coming.

Column on the Union’s trophy-winning credentials:

open.substack.com/pub/unionsoc...
Philadelphia Union Prove They Are Trophy Worthy in 2025 With Road Win over FC Cincinnati
The Union played like a title-winning side in the 1-0 road triumph.
open.substack.com
September 1, 2025 at 2:55 PM
“I’ve seen a lot of good games this year and I think this is amongst the best games I’ve seen not just this year but as a coach in general.” - Bradley Carnell.

Match Thoughts on Union-Fire:

unionsoccerblog.substack.com/p/match-thou...
Match Thoughts: Philadelphia Union 4, Chicago Fire 0
“If you keep the zero and score goals, you’re going to win the game." - Kai Wagner
unionsoccerblog.substack.com
August 25, 2025 at 7:00 PM
Milan Iloski wanted to stay in MLS.

He saw the Philadelphia Union as an ideal fit.

A detailed conversation with Iloski about his move to the Union and what he’ll add on the field:

unionsoccerblog.substack.com/p/milan-ilos...
Milan Iloski Details Move to Philadelphia Union
The 26-year-old forward spoke with reporters on Thursday about joining the Union.
unionsoccerblog.substack.com
August 7, 2025 at 10:38 PM
The Union have made a rare statement of intent with the Milan Iloski signing.

My Union Soccer Blog column on what the move means in the short and long term:

unionsoccerblog.substack.com/p/milan-ilos...
Milan Iloski Signing Shows Rare Statement of Intent for Philadelphia Union
The former on-loan San Diego FC striker signed for the Union from FC Nordsjaelland.
unionsoccerblog.substack.com
August 5, 2025 at 2:13 PM
Mikael Uhre’s two goals on Saturday night came at an important juncture of the Union’s 2025 season & his time in Chester.

On Uhre’s return & the impact it can have down the stretch:

unionsoccerblog.substack.com/p/mikael-uhr...
Mikael Uhre Nets Brace In Biggest Game Since Injury Return
Uhre scored his first goals since May in the Union's 3-1 win over Colorado.
unionsoccerblog.substack.com
July 27, 2025 at 2:45 PM
The Union recalibrated in their win over the Red Bulls.

Match Thoughts:

unionsoccerblog.substack.com/p/philadelph...
Philadelphia Union Recalibrate In Win Over New York Red Bulls
Match thoughts on a comprehensive 2-0 victory.
unionsoccerblog.substack.com
July 14, 2025 at 6:11 PM
Bradley Carnell is excited for his first Union-Red Bulls rivalry game on the Union side.

USOC QF Match Preview:

open.substack.com/pub/unionsoc...
USOC Match Preview: Philadelphia Union vs. New York Red Bulls
“We just have to have this Philly chip on the shoulder that has to come out in all forms."
open.substack.com
July 9, 2025 at 2:25 PM
A bunch of familiar errors reared their head in the Union’s loss on Saturday.

Match Thoughts on Union-Nashville:

unionsoccerblog.substack.com/p/familiar-e...
Familiar Errors Come About In Philadelphia Union's Loss to Nashville SC
There’s nothing really new to learn from the Philadelphia Union’s 1-0 loss to Nashville SC.
unionsoccerblog.substack.com
July 7, 2025 at 4:10 PM
Tai Baribo is safely out of Israel, plus all the Union injury updates from Bradley Carnell ahead of Wednesday’s game in Chicago.

unionsoccerblog.substack.com/p/tai-baribo...
Tai Baribo Safely Out of Israel, Plus Injury Updates
The Union's leading goal scorer safely landed out of Israel on Monday afternoon.
unionsoccerblog.substack.com
June 23, 2025 at 5:25 PM