Union

Union Captain Alejandro Bedoya Announces Retirement

By Kevin Kinkead

Published: Nov 2nd, 2026 · 1:16 PM EST

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CHESTER, Pa. (November 2, 2026) –  Philadelphia Union midfielder and longtime captain Alejandro Bedoya announced today that he will retire from professional soccer following the conclusion of the club’s 2026 season, bringing an end to a distinguished 17-year professional career. Since joining Philadelphia in 2016, Bedoya has been a key figure in the club’s success, serving as captain since 2017 and helping lead the Union to two Supporters’ Shield titles, an Eastern Conference Championship, and the first MLS Cup Final appearance in club history.

“Alejandro’s impact on the Philadelphia Union extends far beyond what he accomplished on the field,” said Union Principal Owner Jay Sugarman. “For more than a decade, he has been an integral part of this club’s growth and evolution, helping establish the standard for what the Philadelphia Union represents today. As a captain, leader, and competitor, he set an example for those around him and played an important role in shaping our identity. Alejandro has left an indelible mark on this organization and on soccer in Philadelphia. We are incredibly grateful for his commitment to this club and everything he has contributed over the last 10 years, and we congratulate him on an outstanding career.”

Bedoya, 39, joined the Union as a Designated Player from FC Nantes in August 2016 and became one of the most influential players in club history. In 2020, he captained Philadelphia to their first Supporters’ Shield, the club’s first major trophy, before helping lead the Union to the 2022 Eastern Conference Championship and their first MLS Cup Final. He was also part of the club’s second Supporters’ Shield-winning team in 2025. During his tenure, Bedoya helped Philadelphia reach the Concacaf Champions League Semifinals in 2021 and 2023, as well as the 2018 U.S. Open Cup Final. He also scored in the Union’s first MLS Cup Playoffs victory in 2019.

Beyond his accomplishments on the field, Bedoya has been a leader in the locker room and throughout the Philadelphia community. Recognized for his leadership, professionalism, and commitment to social causes, he was named the 2022 MLS WORKS Humanitarian of the Year for his efforts off the field. In 2024, Bedoya began serving as a Player Development and Front Office Specialist with the Union while continuing his playing career, further contributing to the club’s growth and development.

“When I look back on my time in Philadelphia, so many moments come to mind, from the big wins and incredible matches to the challenges we faced along the way,” said Bedoya. “However, what stands out most is everything beyond the game. I came here because I believed in what the club was building and wanted to be part of that vision. Over time, Philadelphia became so much more than the place I came to play soccer. It’s where my family put down roots and where we built a life together. I especially want to thank my family, because without their love and support, I wouldn’t have been able to pursue this dream. I’ll miss this city and this club tremendously, but I take comfort in knowing I’ve given everything I had on the pitch. Philadelphia and this club have given me more than I ever could have imagined when I first arrived, and I’ll always be grateful for that.”

Bedoya entered his 11th season with Philadelphia in 2026, having established himself among the club’s all-time leaders in appearances. In 2025, he became the second player in Union history to reach 300 appearances across all competitions and is one of only three players in club history to record at least 25 goals and 25 assists. His leadership and contributions on and off the pitch have helped shape the Union’s identity and establish the club as a consistent contender in Major League Soccer.

Internationally, Bedoya earned 66 caps and scored two goals for the U.S. Men’s National Team. He represented the United States at the 2014 FIFA World Cup, appearing in all four matches, and was a two-time Concacaf Gold Cup champion in 2013 and 2017.

Wonderful career for Ale Bedoya. Great ambassador the Philadelphia Union and Major League Soccer. He’s a fantastic person as well and was open and honest with fans and media from the very beginning. Sometimes these veteran captain types can be boring and diplomatic, but Bedoya is one of those guys who I think is incapable of bullshitting, like it does not genetically exist within his DNA. He has that rare trait of being able to tell it how it is without saying too much or stepping on toes or causing too many problems. And if he did, it didn’t matter anyway, because the guy had the resume and the playing experience to stand on.

In addition to all of the accolades listed in the press release, Bedoya was a malleable and willing player during his Union tenure. If I recall correctly, they wanted him in the summer of 2015, but didn’t end up landing him until 2016, then he came in and joined a midfield that had Tranquillo Barnetta at the #10 spot. There were questions of whether Bedoya was still a winger at this point or a #8 in Jim Curtin’s 4-2-3-1 system. After Barnetta left, Bedoya played some CAM in 2017, noted that it wasn’t his best position, and then slid back to the 8 in 2018. He did a ton of dirty running on those teams, playing next to Haris Medunjanin, who had the best left foot in Major League Soccer but operated like a traffic cone in defense. So Alejandro was there to put out all of the transitional defensive fires.

He went over to the right side of the midfield when the Union switched to the 4-4-2 diamond the following season, and really excelled over there as a box-to-box engine. He really was perfect for that system, and it’s no surprise the U played some of their best soccer in that shape, with Bedoya playing a pure two-way game defined by responsible defensive tracking and incisive flank exploiting. There was nobody better at getting through the attacking channel and hitting that cutback across the 6 or the 18. And he was really good on set pieces too, killing teams year after year with near post flicks on corners especially.

Bedoya segued into a bench role in his later years, but it’s funny to think about all of it in hindsight, just how flexible the guy was on the field. In his mid-30s, you could have thrown him into 4-5 positions that he would have handled just fine. You don’t often think of Designated Players as being utility guys, but that’s exactly what he was before they shifted into the diamond and won their first trophy and became a legitimate MLS contender.