The Union used to stink back in the day, but now they’re probably the best team in town, depending on how you compare them in a cross-sport fashion to the Sixers.

They are the only two teams in the region to make the playoffs for four straight seasons, and the Union clinched by virtue of a draw between New York and Atlanta on Wednesday night.

It means they are currently second place in the Eastern Conference, and can secure second with a road win against NYCFC in Sunday’s finale.

Here’s how the table looks:

The Union have the tiebreaker over Nashville because they have more total wins. So if Philly and Nashville both win on Sunday, the U keep second place and would get two home games, assuming they can win their one.


It’s tricky though, because Nashville is home to Red Bull and the Union have to play at NYC, where they’ve struggled over the years. The Yankee Stadium field is “ass,” as the kids say. It’s anti-soccer, with 20 dudes and two goalkeepers stuffed onto a postage-stamp sized pitch with terrible fan sightlines.

The other issue is that if the Union lose, NYC will jump them on the total wins tiebreaker. Depending on what happens with Nashville, Philly could fall all the way to 4th if things go sideways on Sunday. Then they might get Atlanta in a tough game.

It might seem weird to suggest, but there should be pressure on the Union to win their home playoff game(s). They only have one playoff win in club history, and it was in 2019 against NYRB. Previously they lost in 2011 (twice), 2016, 2018, and also were upset in round one last year. They achieved a lot this year by going to the Champion’s League semifinal, but if they can get past the second round of the postseason for the first time ever, it will go down as their second-best season in franchise history, just behind the Supporter’s Shield season.