Match Preview - D.C. United vs. the Philadelphia Union on Saturday, February 21 

Match Preview - D.C. United vs. the Philadelphia Union on Saturday, February 21

D.C. United kicks off the 2026 MLS season this Saturday with a rivalry matchup against the Philadelphia Union at Audi Field. Kickoff is set for 7:30 p.m. ET. It's a new-look Black-and-Red side and there's no better way to open the year than under the lights at home. Get your tickets at https://www.dcunited.com/tickets/. 

Head Coach René Weiler enters his first full season in charge after being appointed in July 2025. Weiler and Managing Director of Soccer Operations Dr. Erkut Sogut have been busy this offseason, overhauling the roster with the goal of bringing playoff soccer back to Audi Field for the first time since 2019. 

D.C. United made a splash up top by acquiring forward Tai Baribo from Saturday's opponents, the Philadelphia Union, in a deal worth up to $4.6 million, signing the Israeli international and former MLS All-Star as a Designated Player. Romanian international Louis Munteanu joins on a club-record transfer from CFR Cluj after winning the Romanian SuperLiga Golden Boot with 23 goals last campaign. On the defensive end, the club brought in center back Sean Nealis from the New York Red Bulls, Swiss defender Silvan Hefti from Hamburger SV, and Japanese left back Keisuke Kurokawa from Gamba Osaka to shore up a backline that conceded 66 goals in 2025.  In addition to strengthening the backline, D.C. United brought in MLS veteran and U.S. International goalkeeper Sean Johnson who signed as a free agent.  Johnson has 431 MLS starts and 109 clean sheets in 16 seasons. 

Black-and-Red fans can also look forward to the return of familiar faces. Gabriel Pirani recorded eight goals and four assists across all competitions last season and should be a key part of the attack again in 2026. Homegrown midfielder Jackson Hopkins set a career-high with three goals in 2025 and has grown into a regular in the starting XI. Veterans Aaron Herrera, Lucas Bartlett, and Brandon Servania all return. 

D.C. United traveled to Los Angeles and Palm Springs for preseason camp and went undefeated across three matches at the Coachella Valley Invitational: a 0-0 draw with the Portland Timbers and a 0-0 draw with Minnesota United FC. The Black-and-Red will look to take this defensive momentum into the home opener against Philadelphia. 

The Union won the 2025 Supporters' Shield under Bradley Carnell but enters 2026 looking like a different team. Their leading scorer from last year, Baribo, now suits up for D.C. United. MLS Best XI defenders Jakob Glesnes and Kai Wagner have both departed, and forward Mikael Uhre's contract expired. Philadelphia is working in new players while also managing a CONCACAF Champions Cup schedule, where they played their opening round match in Trinidad and Tobago earlier this week before making the trip to D.C. 

With Baribo set to face his former club, Munteanu making his competitive debut, and an Audi Field crowd ready for a fresh start, Saturday night has all the makings of a special home opener for the Black-and-Red. 

By the Numbers

• D.C. United will look for its 10th all-time regular season with against the Philadelphia Union. 

• Before joining the Black-and-Red, Tai Baribo was Philadelphia’s attacking catalyst, leading the Philadelphia Union with 19 goals across all competitions. 

• Louis Munteanu scored 23 goals to win the Romanian SuperLiga Golden Boot before joining D.C. United in a club-record deal. 

• MAKE PHILLY STAT 

• Philadelphia lost their leading scorer (Baribo), all-time assists leader (Kai Wagner), and two-time MLS Best XI center back Jakob Glesnes this offseason. 

• Goalkeeper Andre Blake has registered 9 clean sheets in 21 games played for Philadelphia Union last season. 

• D.C. United added four defenders this winter: Sean Nealis, Silvan Hefti, Keisuke Kurokawa, and Nikola Marković.

Last Match Against the Philadelphia Union | September 27, 2025 @ Audi Field 

In their last meeting on September 27, 2025, D.C. United fell 6-0 to Philadelphia Union at Audi Field. Gabriel Pirani was a bright spot for the Black-and-Red, creating a game-high five chances, as well as Jared Stroud getting close, striking the uprights twice in the first half. With a completely revamped roster and new system in place, D.C. United look to rewrite the script against their rivals. 

How to Watch 

D.C. United fans can catch all the action of their favorite team on Apple TV. With this, you can watch every D.C. United match live, whether it’s home or away, along with exclusive pre- and post-match coverage. Simply open the Apple TV app, navigate to MLS Season Pass, and enjoy the entire 2026 season. Whether you're at home or on the go, you'll have access to every match, ensuring you never miss a moment of D.C. United's season. Enjoy seamless streaming on your Apple TV, iPhone, iPad, and more! 

Radio broadcasts will be available live on 1190 iHeart Sports DC, 101.1 HD2, and the iHeartRadio App. Legendary broadcaster Dave Johnson, who has called matches for D.C. United since the club’s inception in 1996 will return to the booth alongside Bruce Murray, former United States National Team player (1985-1993, 85 caps and 21 goals) and Class of 2011 National Soccer Hall of Fame inductee. The pair have partnered on radio calls since 2023 to deliver high-quality and passionate radio calls for fans. Supporters watching D.C. United MLS Regular Season matches on MLS Season Pass can opt to listen to Dave Johnson and Bruce Murray calling the match on the MLS Local Radio Broadcast channel.