The Free Kick

Maryland's #1 Philadelphia Union podcast! Hosted by @ItsAToddLife & @JoserNunez91

[Evan Konigsberg @evanknowsball]

Philly-based soccer fans: your ultimate guide to watch parties, fan festivals, bars, and pubs for the 2026 World Cup is here!!! Read below for everything you need to know about watching the World Cup in Philadelphia! @phlsoccernow https://t.co/ypgkn342D9

[José Roberto Nuñez @JoserNunez91]

How Telemundo, which is bringing on @AleBedoya17 as part of its broadcast team during the tournament, is handling hydration breaks:

“We’re going to be staying on the match feed,” said Miguel Lorenzo, Telemundo Enterprises’ senior VP/sports content.

“Fans are going to be able to watch the players and the coach interactions.

We’ll be having important match replays. Our commentators will be analyzing the moments. None of that will be interrupted in any way. Our goal is to create an authentic World Cup viewing experience.

We think we can do that in a lot of ways, and one of the most impactful ways is by never leaving the pitch once the clock starts running.”

Read the full story here by @AustinKarp of the @SBJ and consider subscribing to support their work:
https://t.co/0qrpVbVSG1

#doop #mls #worldcup #fifa #fifaworldcup

[Todd Lewis @ItsAToddLife]

Just announced: Philadelphia Union announced that Côte d’Ivoire Men’s National Team will play a friendly match against Union II at Subaru Park on Monday, June 8, at 7 p.m. ET.

There will also be a separate community training session that the public can view at Subaru Park as Côte d’Ivoire prepares for the World Cup, with the training session taking place on Friday, June 12, at 6:30 p.m. ET.

Both events will be free for the public, but a ticket will be required for entry.

🎟️ Tickets can be found here: https://t.co/PcYn4SXopS

📸 Côte d’Ivoire
#Doop

[Todd Lewis @ItsAToddLife]

With the World Cup starting in just nine days, Philadelphia Union fans will certainly pay attention to the opening match between Mexico and South Africa, with Olwethu Makhanya potentially playing a role.

As we look ahead to the rest of the tournament, 44 active MLS players have been named to FIFA World Cup rosters. MLS has the most players of any league in the Western Hemisphere and the second most outside of the top five European leagues.

Overall, 103 players at the tournament have spent time with an MLS club.

🇭🇹 Danley Jean Jacques and Haiti open their group stage play against Scotland on Saturday, June 13 at 9:00 PM at Gillette Stadium.

🇿🇦 Olwethu Makhanya and South Africa open against Mexico in the opening game on Thursday, June 11 at 3:00 PM at Estadio Azteca.

📸 MLS

#doop

[Todd Lewis @ItsAToddLife]

Scheer & Sugarman Own Disastrous 2026 Start as New Era Begins in Chester

In a Candid Press Conference, Sugarman and Scheer Admit Major Roster Mistakes and Outline Their Plan to Salvage the Season.

🔗 https://t.co/P6QsxZz9pQ

📸 Philadelphia Union
#Doop

[Todd Lewis @ItsAToddLife]

I've seen some fans on social media wondering exactly what recently announced Sporting Director Jon Scheer's involvement was during the last transfer window.

We know that once Ernst Tanner was placed on administrative leave in November, Scheer was still holding the title of "Director of Academy and Professional Development." In January, it was announced that former head coach Bradley Carnell, Scheer, and Assistant Sporting Director Matt Ratajczak made up the Sporting Collective.

Here's what Scheer had to say about his involvement with the players brought in during the last transfer window.

“I was part of the sporting leadership group, but while I was still at the academy and holding that responsibility, it’s different when you’re in the building supporting the process rather than being a key stakeholder or the decision maker,” said Scheer.

“But with that said, whenever there’s scouting and you approach transfer windows, that process goes months in advance. Clubs that approach it the right way, like we have over a period of years, are not only planning for one window but also future planning beyond that. So I can say that the group we’re tracking a lot of players they brought in. They were looking at those players over a long period of time, and the strategy was set forth months in advance prior to that window.”

#doop

[Todd Lewis @ItsAToddLife]

Thank you to everyone who tuned in live and interacted last night with me and @JoserNunez91 on @FreeKickPod!

Lots of great conversations on what was an extremely busy last couple days for the Philadelphia Union with a plethora of changes in the organization.

If you haven’t listened / watched the latest podcast yet, you can do so here on Twitter, YouTube or wherever you get your podcasts!

📺 https://t.co/0476bzrRfb
📸 @carlgulbishpho1

#doop

[José Roberto Nuñez @JoserNunez91]

Last year was a record year in spending for the Philadelphia Union (up to you to decide if the standard is appropriate). However, things did not pan out as they had hoped.

Here is Jay Sugarman on whether he and ownership are committed to matching or exceeding that spending this summer to bring Philadelphia back into a playoff spot:

“As I said, we came into this year thinking this was a really important year, and we allocated a record amount of money and said, ‘Let’s be a top team again.’ This is a year we really wanted to have the Union and Philadelphia on the front foot.

So it was disappointing. We didn’t spend that money. It’s available to John in this next window. We’re looking for impact. It’s really never been a case where we felt like we didn’t have a team that could win.

But this is a year in particular where we really upped the ante and said, ‘Let’s make sure we get the best we can.’ And this next window is going to be really important to do that.”

#doop #MLS #usymnt #usmnt
📹: Philadelphia Union PR

[José Roberto Nuñez @JoserNunez91]

Episode 417 - Philadelphia Union Fire Bradley Carnell, Name Jon Scheer As Sporting Director #doop #mls https://t.co/9rSFmOz34y

[José Roberto Nuñez @JoserNunez91]

Jay Sugarman, earlier today, with a status update on Ernst Tanner, who has been suspended without pay since March 16, 2026:

“​Ernst, right now, is still in the restorative process.

We’re going to wait to see how that plays out. The reports we’ve gotten so far is he’s taking it incredibly seriously.

I think he was always planning to step back and go back to Germany at the end of his contract year. We’re running out of time as it is.

We’re going to have conversations with him once we get all the information from the league and the specialists that are working with him.”

#doop #MLS #GERMANY
📷: Philadelphia Union

[Todd Lewis @ItsAToddLife]

Philadelphia Union Sporting Director Jon Scheer admitted that they got it wrong in terms of getting rid of too many veteran players and bringing in younger players this past transfer window.

"When Jay and I talk, or different members of the ownership group talk, they're not asking about who we are selling, who we are selling, who we are selling. That was a decision the group made, ultimately. We all want to win, and that's first and foremost from our ownership group all the way down through.

We got the balance wrong. I think that's clear. We still are convinced, though, that winning comes out of effective player development. So this doesn't mean that now we'll go to just a different extreme for the next five windows. That has helped us have sustainable success.

But you have to make sure that, again, the process of how you get to the decisions of who you bring in, who you keep, and how you develop. These are things that we have to be really aligned on as a staff moving forward. And I have no doubt that we'll be able to have the most flexibility and optionality going into the summer window than we've ever had before."

As of February when MLS released the amount of GAM available for each team, the Philadelphia Union have $4,393,417 available to spend this summer.
#doop

[Todd Lewis @ItsAToddLife]

Philadelphia Union Principal Owner Jay Sugarman said it was a collaborative effort to move on from Bradley Carnell.

Also admitted that they knew bringing in a lot of new players this offseason that it would take time to gel, but they don't believe they saw that gelling.

"Well, as you know, we work collaboratively and try to make sure we're taking as much information as we can before we make tough decisions. So this was a consensus decision that we needed to move in a different direction.

We certainly hoped throughout the entire first half of the season that we'd see the progress we wanted to see. We knew coming in that we had a lot of new players and that it would take time to gel. We just didn't see that gelling happen between the players, and we saw a bit of a loss of confidence. That's a hard thing to turn around."

#doop

[Todd Lewis @ItsAToddLife]

BREAKING NEWS:

Olwethu Makhanya has MADE South Africa’s 26-Man Roster for the 2026 World Cup!

South Africa will face:

🇲🇽 Mexico on June 11th @ 3:00 PM est
🇨🇿 Czechia on June 18th @ 12:00 PM est
🇰🇷 South Korea on June 24th @ 9:00 PM est

South Africa will play Mexico in Mexico City, Czechia in Atlanta and South Korea in Guadalajara, Mexico.

Huge honor and congrats to Olwethu!

📸 Philadelphia Union
#doop

[Philadelphia Union @PhilaUnion]

4 former Homegrowns are heading to the World Cup! 🥹🇺🇸

#DOOP

[José Roberto Nuñez @JoserNunez91]

Episode 416 - Yet Again The Union Collapse on The Road in 6-4 Loss To Inter Miami #doop #mls #intermiami https://t.co/U6uzjuX69o

[José Roberto Nuñez @JoserNunez91]

Preparing for a Memorial Day weekend episode of @FreeKickPod with @ItsAToddLife later tonight (9 p.m.), the evolution of Frankie Westfield is becoming increasingly obvious as he continues to make some incredible passes in open play.

Case in point: this beauty around the eighth minute that led to the penalty kick in the first half.

He and Cavan Sullivan have been among the few bright spots of this first half of the season.

Join us live at: https://t.co/7YDMXdfWZs

#doop #usymnt #usmnt #MLS
📹: APPLE|MLS

[Todd Lewis @ItsAToddLife]

Philadelphia Union Head Coach Bradley Carnell Frustrated With Lack of Depth in 6-4 Loss to Inter Miami.

Carnell Deserves Time to Turn It Around After Delivering Supporters’ Shield — But Depth Issues Must Be Addressed.

📸 Philadelphia Union
🔗 https://t.co/ZYyTZZZKXW

#doop

[José Roberto Nuñez @JoserNunez91]

Carnell, once again, speaking about announcements and potential changes coming during the break.

I assume this is related to June 1 and Ernst Tanner’s possible return to the club, should he be eligible:

“Regarding where we are currently, I’m sure there will be some information in due course and some plan of action.

When you do give up certain pieces and a little bit of the experience, a whole age gap from the guys who have been around the block once or twice and can guide and nurture the younger ones. I think that’s kind of what Nate is (broadcaster) getting at.

But yeah, I think we’re excited for the break. I can tell you that much.”

#doop #MLS #union
📹: Philadelphia Union

[Todd Lewis @ItsAToddLife]

Really clear message sent by Bradley Carnell in his opening statement after the game talking about the lack of depth in this Philadelphia Union squad.

"I don't think anyone was expecting a tennis scoreline here tonight, in the way we started the game. I thought we were excellent, and it shows what we can do within the principles and within the philosophy, really frustrate them and show the good side of our game model.

And then, unfortunately, we [had] to flip the script and show exactly where the struggles are this season, in terms of our depth, in terms of our quality, in the final stages of the game. We kind of just fell off. The guys dug deep in the first half, battled their way through, and I thought we took our goals [well].

But you can never shut them down. They've shown that the games have been wild. I just wish we could have kept it tighter in certain moments, but everyone dug deep. I'm just sorry for the way the end of the game went. The guys didn't deserve that.

Yeah, we expect more to close out the game. Everyone [dug] deep and we lacked the depth and the quality at the end of the game."

Remember Jim Curtin, Andre Blake, Alejandro Bedoya and Kai Wagner have all talked about the lack of depth during their times in Philadelphia.

#doop

[The Free Kick @FreeKickPod]

90+3' | Goal Rodrigo De Paul

Jovan Lukic makes a mess of it with an attempted header to Jeremy Rafanello. Union get counter attacked and nothing Andre Blake can do here.

Miami 6-4 Philadelphia
#doop