David Kirouac / Imagn ImagesMay 27, 2026 Updated 2:33 pm EDTThe Philadelphia Union have fired head coach Bradley Carnell, sources briefed on the situation told The Athletic.The Union are currently bottom of the league as MLS enters a nearly two-month break for the World Cup. Philadelphia exceeded expectations in 2025, winning the Supporters’ Shield under Carnell in his first year with the club. He won MLS Coach of the Year honors as a result.In 2026, though, Philadelphia has just seven points after 15 matches (1-10-4), good for worst in the 30-team league at the World Cup break.The Union have the lowest payroll in MLS, according to MLS Players Association figures, though those figures do not account for transfer fees or infrastructure spending (Philadelphia is among the biggest investors in the league in their youth facilities). The club moved on from key players Kai Wagner (Birmingham City), Tai Baribo (D.C. United) and Jakob Glesnes (LA Galaxy) this winter.
There’s been turmoil at the top of the club as well, with sporting director Ernst Tanner currently suspended through June 1 for violating the policies and standards of professional conduct required of league and club leadership. He can apply for reinstatement once that suspension is lifted. Academy director Jon Scheer has been the club’s interim sporting director. Scheer has had plenty of experience in the first team’ front office before being named academy director.Carnell, meanwhile, is fired by the Union in his second season in charge, a similar timeline to his first permanent MLS head coaching job. Carnell was let go by St. Louis City halfway through his second season at that club. Both times there was an overperformance in year one and steep drop-off in year two.The move represents the seventh coaching change already in MLS, just 15 weeks into the season. Philadelphia follows Orlando City (Oscar Pareja), CF Montréal (Marco Donadel), Inter Miami (Javier Mascherano), Columbus Crew (Henrik Rydstrom), Austin FC (Nico Estevez) and the Portland Timbers (Phil Neville) in swapping managers midseason.The Union don’t play again until July 22, after MLS resumes following its pause for the World Cup.
