Union strive to keep streaking in clash vs. Charlotte

Several MLS teams have put together terrific runs this season, but the Philadelphia Union's current streak may be the most impressive.

The Union haven't lost since replacing Bradley Carnell with interim coach Ryan Richter before the World Cup break. They've won eight straight and are on the precipice of matching a league record when they host Charlotte FC on Saturday afternoon in Chester, Pa.

Philadelphia is 12-0-2 under Richter, 37, who previously coached the club's MLS Next Pro affiliate. After a sluggish first half of the campaign, the Union (13-10-6, 45 points) have risen to sixth in the Eastern Conference, just one point behind fifth-place Charlotte (13-9-7, 46 points).

The Union can clinch a playoff berth with a win or draw plus some help, while Charlotte can do so with a win outright among other scenarios.

By beating the Chicago Fire 3-1 on Wednesday, behind two goals from Bruno Damiani, the Union became the third team in the league's post-shootout era to win eight matches in a row. One more win would tie the record.

"I don't use that as a way to motivate the guys or anything like that," Richter said of the streak. "It stays the same. We have a game against Charlotte that we have to put together a good performance, and that's where our full focus has to be. When you approach every game like that, if you do a good job, then you get rewarded with streaks or records."

Charlotte FC would know more about historic streaks than anyone. In 2025, they became the second team to rip off nine straight wins, tying the 2018 Seattle Sounders' record.

"We're going up against a team that are performing really, really well," Charlotte coach Dean Smith said. "But I'd probably say we're in the top four or five (teams) since the World Cup break who've been performing well as well in the league. So it makes for a good matchup, as long as Wednesday's performance was an outlier."

The performance he was referring to was a 3-1 road loss to Columbus. Charlotte has now dropped two of three following a 5-0-3 stretch.

Idan Toklomati has scored three goals in two games to match Pep Biel for the team lead with 12 apiece.

Charlotte FC defeated the Union 2-1 on April 4. Philadelphia's Cavan Sullivan had his first assist of the season in that game, but Richter has since made the 17-year-old midfielder the center of the attack. Six of his seven goals and 10 of his 14 assists have come since the World Cup break, and he's had a goal contribution in 10 straight league games.

Union forward Milan Iloski ranks third in MLS with 18 goals.