PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad— On Wednesday, the Philadelphia Union kick off their 2026 season as the squad heads to Hasely Crawford Stadium in Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago, to face Defence Force FC in the first leg of the opening round of the Concacaf Champions Cup.
“Yeah, I think we’re always ready,” said Union head coach Bradley Carnell in his pre-match press conference. “We know it’s early in our season, and we know there’s a schedule coming up that’s really tough, so we’ve been working hard over the last couple of weeks to get everybody integrated as best as we could. Everyone’s done a great job of getting everybody here in one piece, and we’re looking forward to the Champions Cup and excited about the game here in Trinidad.”
Defence Force FC in the Opening Round
The Trinidadian side is no stranger to the Champions Cup — formerly the Champions League — having won the competition twice and appearing 11 times overall.
Defence Force won the 1978 Champions’ Cup as part of a three-team championship after an administrative error scratched the final, awarding the title to them, Comunicaciones FC and former Liga MX side Leones Negros UdeG.
They secured their second title in 1985, defeating C.D. Olimpia 3-0 on aggregate in the final. The club also finished as runner-up in 1987 and 1988, falling to Club América and Olimpia.
Currently, the squad sits atop the TT Premier League table through 14 matches, holding a record of 11 wins, three draws and zero losses, scoring an impressive 40 goals during that stretch.
“So, we are coming up against experienced, savvy players,” said Carnell. “There’s a couple on that team that stood out. They’re a very athletic team, very experienced team. They’re defending a deep block, and that’s going to be our first challenge — to make sure that we can try to break down the block. We’re going to have a lot of the ball, I would assume, and make sure we have everything buttoned down when they try to beat us in transition.”
The Union will have their hands full with a squad featuring former MLS attacker Kevin Molino, who has previously played for Orlando City and Minnesota United and has been a staple for the Trinidad and Tobago national team.
“He’s always managed to find space, rotates with his teammates and picks up the ball between the lines. He’s got a very delicate pass to find through balls, whether it’s for Bertrand or St. Hillaire. These are guys that want to receive those types of passes, and they give options off the ball as well,” Carnell said of Molino.
Indiana Vassilev and Milan Iloski have returned to training, while Bruno Damiani has returned from Uruguay after receiving his green card — a reason head coach Bradley Carnell previously cited for his absence from recent preseason lineups.
Defensive midfielder Jovan Lukic is dealing with a rib injury, and his status for tomorrow’s match remains to be determined.
While the match presents challenges regardless of the opponent, Union defender Nathan Harriel — who featured in the club’s 2023 and 2024 Concacaf campaigns — understands what the tournament brings.
“There’s other challenges you face with the travel, sometimes referees, but at the same time you embrace it. Expect the unexpected. Anything can happen. I remember a few years ago in El Salvador, a dog ran onto the field and grabbed the ball. At the same time, you have to enjoy it, because you never know when you’ll be back. You have to respect every opponent in this tournament — everybody has to qualify to be in it,” Harriel said.
2026 Season Thoughts
The MLS regular season also kicks off this weekend, with Philadelphia traveling to the nation’s capital to face D.C. United on Saturday at 7:30 p.m.
With four matches in 11 days to begin the year, Carnell and his staff remain confident in the roster.
While many outlets have shared deep dives into the squad heading into 2026, we also want to share our perspective at The One Team We Agree On.
Yes, the Union enter the season with questions following a Supporters’ Shield-winning 2025 campaign that ended in playoff disappointment, but with adversity comes opportunity for growth.
The Union lost 24 goal contributions from Mikael Uhre and Tai Baribo, but still have Bruno Damiani, who flashed the potential that made him last year’s highest-paid transfer. Add another year of Milan Iloski, along with Agustín Anello, Ezekiel Alladoh and Union II leading scorer Stas Korzenowski, and the attacking depth looks promising — especially early in the season as squads build fitness.
On the back line, Kai Wagner’s departure will be difficult to replace immediately, but it opens the door for players like Frankie Westfield. Nathan Harriel’s versatility allows him to play either side, but Westfield may get the first opportunity on the left.
“It’s definitely different losing Jakob and Kai, but at the same time we’ve spent these last five weeks together getting to know each other even better, on and off the field too.” said Harriel when asked.
“We’re building every single day — a lot of communication on the field and off the field. We all enjoy it. We’re all fighting for one goal, and that’s to get the best out of every single one here. It’s been good. It’s definitely been a little different, but at the same time we’re growing and advancing.”
Philadelphia has also bolstered its center back depth — historically one of the thinner areas of the roster. Along with Harriel, the Union can rely on Finn Sundstrom, Geiner Martinez, Japhet Sery Larsen, and rising star Olwethu Makhanya — providing depth the club has not seen in years.
Cavan Sullivan remains a key midfield piece, while Jesús Bueno supports Jovan Lukic and Danley Jean Jacques in defensive midfield. Veteran Alejandro Bedoya continues to provide leadership and experience when called upon.
In goal, Andre Blake and Andrew Rick give the Union stability regardless of who starts, and Carnell’s staff has shown an ability to develop players throughout the roster.
While the demanding schedule and departures of Tai Baribo, Jakob Glesnes and Kai Wagner will be felt early as the team finds its identity, the Union appear to be building something sustainable — not just for 2026, but for the future.
For the first time, the club is investing and building toward long-term continuity. Maybe 2026 doesn’t meet expectations, but perhaps the shortened 2027 season becomes the payoff.
If the Union can build momentum coming out of the World Cup break, the rest of MLS should take notice of Carnell’s side heading into the playoffs.
Main article photo courtesy of the Philadelphia Union.
The One Team We Agree On 
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