The Philadelphia Union (No. 1) look to build on their Supporters' Shield-winning campaign when they host Chicago Fire FC (No. 8) Sunday in Game 1 of their Eastern Conference Round One Best-of-3 Series.
How to watch & stream
- MLS Season Pass, Apple TV
- FS1, FOX Deportes
When
- Sunday, Oct. 26 | 5:30 pm ET/2:30 pm PT
Where
- Subaru Park | Chester, Pennsylvania
This Round One series winner will face Charlotte FC (No. 4) or New York City FC (No. 5) in the Eastern Conference Semifinals, held Nov. 22-23.
To get there, Philadelphia or Chicago must win two matches across this series opener, Game 2 (Nov. 1) and Game 3 (Nov. 8).
No extra time will be played if a Round One match is tied after regulation time (90 minutes). Instead, a penalty kick shootout will determine the winner.
- Standings: Eastern Conference No. 1
- Regular season: 66 points (20W-8L-6D)
The Union defied all expectations this year, winning the Supporters' Shield in head coach Bradley Carnell's first season at the helm, just one year removed from missing the playoffs for the first time since 2017.
Now, Philadelphia are back and better than ever, boasting the second-highest point total in club history, thanks in large part to their sensational defense. The Union allowed a league-low 35 goals this season, with center backs Jakob Glesnes and Olwethu Makhanya playing a key role.
Elsewhere, Kai Wagner has put together an MLS Best XI-caliber season, while Jovan Lukic, Indiana Vassilev and Danley Jean Jacques have been indispensable across midfield. Up top, Israel international and All-Star Tai Baribo leads the line.
With a roster filled with top-to-bottom talent and a Sigi Schmid MLS Coach of the Year nominee in charge, will this be the season Philly hoist their first-ever MLS Cup?
- Standings: Eastern Conference No. 8
- Regular season: 53 points (15W-11L-8D)
Chicago are back in the postseason for the first time since 2017, and couldn’t be in much better form under first-year head coach Gregg Berhalter.
The Fire were unbeaten in their last five regular-season games (3W-0L-2D), and kept that form going Wednesday night with a 3-1 home victory over Orlando City in the Eastern Conference Wild Card game, their first playoff win since 2009.
Berhalter’s side leans on the potent attacking duo of striker Hugo Cuypers and MLS Newcomer of the Year contender Philip Zinckernagel. The pair will be crucial for Chicago's chances of securing a Round One upset over the Union, who got the better of them twice during the regular season. Those two, plus hometown hero Brian Gutiérrez, lead a frontline that finished second in goals scored this season (68).
While they've found their attacking touch, the Fire’s defense will be tested against the Union’s top attackers, having allowed 60 goals against in the regular season, the most of any playoff team.
