Charlotte FC v Philadelphia Union: Carnell aiming for ‘historic’ regular-season finish

Philadelphia Union head coach Bradley Carnell wants his team to end the regular-season on a “historic note” against Charlotte FC.

The Union have already clinched the Supporters’ Shield, winning 66 points from their 33 MLS games so far this season.

They face an in-form Charlotte side on decision day, with Dean Smith’s team losing just twice in the league since the start of July.

Fourth-place Charlotte will be eager to get a result against Philadelphia as they could still finish as low as seventh in the Eastern Conference, while the Union have nothing to play for in that sense.

But despite already securing top spot in the East, Carnell wants his players and staff to continue with the same determination they have shown in their previous matches.

“I feel like I would be doing everyone a disservice, and the players as well, if I started preaching from a different narrative now,” said Carnell.

“I spoke about how every game we put our eggs into that basket, and that’s the way I feel going into this game.

“It’s another chance to end the regular-season on a historical note for this club and I think everyone is hungry for that.

“There has been a lot of things go in our favour, and we have earned it and we have driven each other every single day to achieve it.

“Once you get to that point, there’s no use in thinking about a playoff match against someone we don’t know.

“For us now, it’s about making sure we get everyone back healthy from the national team and getting ready to head out to Charlotte.”

PLAYERS TO WATCH

Charlotte FC – Pep Biel

This season, Wilfried Zaha (9 goals, 10 assists) and Pep Biel (10 goals, 12 assists) have become the only players in Charlotte history to record at least eight assists in an MLS season.

There is currently one team in MLS this season with multiple players with double-digit goals and assists – Inter Miami.

Philadelphia Union – Mikael Uhre

Mikael Uhre notched the game-winning goal in the 40th minute in a 1-0 victory over New York City FC in the Union’s last outing, scoring his sixth goal of the season.

It was Uhre’s first goal in the first half this season after his last five goals of the 2024 regular season all came in the first half.

MATCH PREDICTION – DRAW

Philadelphia has won five of their last six games, earning clean sheets in all five of those wins, including three consecutive shutout victories. It’s one game shy of tying the club-record streak for consecutive regular-season shutout wins (four straight March-April 2022).

Charlotte’s 12 home wins are tied for the most in MLS this season with Philadelphia after the hosts had never recorded more than 10 home victories in a single regular season prior to 2025. Last season, the only team to win 13 home games were eventual MLS Cup champion LA Galaxy.

Philadelphia have won three of their seven all-time regular-season meetings with Charlotte (D2 L2) but have never won on the road. The last two league meetings were draws, and neither team have won consecutive MLS matches in the fixture.

In their last six league matches, Charlotte have won four and lost two. Philadelphia, meanwhile, have won five and lost one in their last six.

OPTA WIN PROBABILITY

Charlotte FC – 37.0%

Draw – 26.3%

Philadelphia Union – 36.7%