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After 87 days off, the Philadelphia Union are back in action with their first official match of 2026. They take on Defence Force FC tonight at 6 p.m. in Trinidad & Tobago in a first leg Concacaf Champions Cup tie. Let’s goooooooo!

In the email today:

1. 🇹🇹 Union open 2026 campaign against Defence Force FC

By Brady Ferguson

Philadelphia Union soccer is back! The Boys in Blue return to Concacaf Champions Cup play following a year away, opening their campaign against Defence Force FC. Fresh off capturing the MLS Supporters’ Shield in 2025 to secure their place in the tournament, the Union is in Trinidad and Tobago for the first leg of a two-match series against the leaders of the TT Premier Football League.

The match will be the first for the U against a side from Trinidad and Tobago, so let’s get to know the club that has been taking Caribbean soccer by storm over the last few years. 

Philadelphia Soccer Now connected with Nigel Myers of Soca Warriors Online to discuss the club and their return to the Champions Cup in over two decades. The club qualified for the tournament after finishing third in the 2025 Caribbean Cup and remains unbeaten in the TT Premier Football League this season. Bolstering an 11-3-0 record in 2025-26, Defence Force FC remains a difficult team to crack across the island nation. In 2024-25, the club did not lose in league play, topping the table with 62 points in 22 matches and scoring 81 goals across that span.

Much of this success can be attributed to captain Kevin Molino, who is no stranger to MLS opponents. Molino played 13 seasons in the MLS, featuring for Orlando, Minnesota, and Columbus across his tenure in the United States. The Trinidad and Tobago national returned to his country at 34 to compete for Defence Force, becoming the heartbeat of the club. He is joined in the attack by two-time MLS Cup Champion Joevin Jones, who split his MLS tenure between Chicago, Seattle, and Miami before returning to his home country.

At the back, Defence Force FC is anchored by Sheldon Bateau, a veteran center back who spent much of his career competing in Belgium, Russia, and Turkey. The club thrives on applying waves of pressure, attacking in numbers, and refusing to back down from any opponent. Expect relentless energy and quick, fast-paced attacks, likely unfolding from a 4-2-3-1 formation.

On the other side of the pitch, Philadelphia Union kick off their 2026 campaign with a refreshed lineup. After the departures of key attackers like Tai Baribo and Mikael Uhre, as well as defensive mainstays Jakob Glesnes and Kai Wagner, the reigning MLS Supporters’ Shield winners will lean on a wave of new signings and squad rotations to define this next chapter.

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2. 🇨🇮 Côte d’Ivoire to train in Chester

Côte d’Ivoire is going to be calling Chester, Pa. and Wilmington, Delc. home for FIFA World Cup 2026™ this summer, utilizing the Philadelphia Union’s facilities for training and preparation while staying in Wilmington, Del.

‘Les Éléphants’ will be playing two of their group matches – against Ecuador on June 14 and Curaçao on June 25 – at Lincoln Financial Field in South Philly. They are playing Germany in their other Group E match on June 20 at BMO Field in Toronto, Ontario.

“When one of France’s all-time great defenders and a 1998 FIFA World Cup™ champion in Marcel Desailly says the Côte d’Ivoire (Ivory Coast) has what it takes to reach the last four of this tournament, it’s easy to understand why the Côte d’Ivoire Federation would select such an elite Team Base Camp in the Philadelphia Union’s Stadium,” Meg Kane, Host City Executive/CEO, Philadelphia Soccer 2026, said in a news release.

Côte d’Ivoire, aka Ivory Coast, coming to Chester will be a feather in the cap of the Philadelphia Union as they continue to look for ways to showcase their new expanded facility to the world. WSFS Bank Sportsplex last week played host to the Snow Bowl tournament with several international youth clubs taking part.

“Hosting Côte d’Ivoire on our campus is a tremendous honor for the Philadelphia Union and our entire region,” Union President Tim McDermott said in a news release. “We’ve built one of the most unique sports campuses in North America specifically to support and develop world-class soccer, and there’s no better validation of that vision than welcoming recent African champions to train here. From Chester to Wilmington to Philadelphia, this is an incredible opportunity to showcase the passion, hospitality, and excellence of our facilities and our soccer community on the global stage.”

3.💧Water Cooler: Where Will the Union Finish?

4. 🐕‍🦺 Social Post of the Day: My Dogs

4. 🔗 Link Roundup

• Check out Philadelphia Soccer Now’s season preview coverage at philadelphiasoccernow.com/tag/season-preview.

• Todd Lewis of The Free Kick thinks the current roster might be the deepest yet for the Philadelphia Union.

• Marcelo Balboa has the Union finishing 13th this season. Kaylyn Kyle has them finishing second. Most other MLS commentators are on the higher end of that spectrum.

• Kai Wagner and Brenden Aaronson met in the FA Cup and more in the latest installment of DOOPing Overseas.

• Keep track of summer team roster announcements with the Philadelphia Soccer Now Summer Roster Tracker.

• Keep track of local college soccer signings and transfers with the Philadelphia Soccer Now College Signing Tracker.

• Keep track of local offseason local player movement with the Philadelphia Soccer Now Offseason Transfer Tracker.

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