Keys to the Match: Philly Bound
Published on February 25, 2026 under Major League Soccer (MLS)
New York City FC News Release
New York City FC take on the Philadelphia Union at Subaru Park on Sunday, March 1. Kickoff is scheduled for 4:30PM ET.
Here are the Keys to the Match, presented by Ford.
Away Again
After securing a point in their opening game of the season, New York City FC are back on the road against the Philadelphia Union.
The last time they traveled to Chester, Pennsylvania, it was for the Eastern Conference Semifinal. That visit saw Pascal Jansen's side emerge 1-0 winners thanks to a beautiful team goal that was finished off by Maxi Moralez.
New York City would happily take a repeat result on Sunday afternoon, but they know it won't be easy. Their 1-1 draw in their last game held many positives, but also many opportunities to improve.
A second consecutive away game gives the team the chance to secure three big points and show further progress from Matchday 1.
Busy Week
The Philadelphia Union are already engaged in two competitions.
As well as MLS, the Union are part of the Concacaf Champions Cup. They will play Defence Force on Thursday, holding a 5-0 aggregate lead from the first leg in Trinidad and Tobago. The second leg is due to take place in Chester on Thursday evening.
By the time the Union take on New York City FC, it will be the team's fourth game in two weeks. Their MLS season opener ended in a 1-0 defeat against D.C. United.
Former Union striker Tai Baribo scored the goal, while the Union's new signing Ezekiel Alladoh was shown a straight red card for dissent.
The busy schedule can be seen as both a positive and a negative from a New York City perspective, but it could allow New York City FC to catch the Union off guard and secure a big win on the road.
Form Guide
There has not been a draw between these two teams since 2021.
During the last 10 MLS Regular Season meetings, the Union have won seven and New York City have won three. Last season, New York City FC visited the Union twice - once in the regular season and once in the postseason.
In both games, the result finished 1-0, with the Union claiming the regular-season win and New York City claiming the postseason victory.
Interestingly, that theme of narrow wins also extended to the meeting between the two teams in New York in 2025, where Pascal Jansen's side ran out 1-0 winners thanks to a goal from Alonso Martínez.
It will be interesting to see if that pattern of close results continues on Sunday.
Major League Soccer Stories from February 25, 2026
- FC Cincinnati win Concacaf Champions Cup Round One series on aggregate, 13-0 - FC Cincinnati
- LAFC Signs Forward Denis Bouanga to Multi-Year Contract Extension - Los Angeles FC
- Timbers Sign Chilean International Alexander Aravena on Loan from Brazilian Side Grêmio - Portland Timbers
- Chicago Fire FC and Xerox IT Solutions Announce New Technology Partnership - Chicago Fire FC
- D.C. United Signs Goalkeeper Grant Leveille to a Homegrown Contract. - D.C. United
- FC Cincinnati Add Andrei Chirila, Bryan Dowd and Ayoub Lajhar to Roster Via Short-Term - FC Cincinnati
- Keys to the Match: Philly Bound - New York City FC
- OneFootball Becomes the New Home of MLS NEXT Pro Matches in 2026 with New Global Partnership - New England Revolution
- OneFootball Becomes the New Home of MLS Next Pro Matches in 2026 with New Global Partnership - St. Louis City SC
- MLS NEXT Pro Announces OneFootball as New Broadcaster for the 2026 Season - Inter Miami CF
- Whitecaps FC Sign Reigning MLS Defender of the Year Tristan Blackmon to Contract Extension - Vancouver Whitecaps FC
- Dynamo & Dash Charities Opens Applications for 2026 Maggie McKethan Memorial Scholarship - Houston Dynamo FC
- St. Louis CITY SC Signs Midfielder Chris Durkin to New Contract - St. Louis City SC
- Want Your Lawn as Green as a Soccer Pitch? Chicago Fire FC Has a Ground Crew for You - Chicago Fire FC
- LAFC Advances to Concacaf Champions Cup Round of 16 with 7-1 Aggregate Victory over Real España - Los Angeles FC
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