Nashville SC's 2026 season keeps rolling. After clinching the Supporters' Shield with a win in Montréal, they'll turn around and face the reigning winners at Geodis Park, with the red-hot Philadelphia Union coming to town.
For the latest on the Union, we checked in with José Roberto Nuñez, who covers the team for José's Union Substack, as well as the league at large for MLSSoccer.com.
Philadelphia Union Coverage from José Roberto Nuñez
Ben Wright (SixOneFive Soccer): The Union have been among the hottest teams in MLS since Ryan Richter took over. What's been the key to success for them?
José Roberto Nuñez (Jose's Union Substack): Ryan Richter has worked wonders with his man-management skills.
Before his arrival, public comments from multiple players suggested that the locker room was fractured. Players were not performing to the standard expected of them, though it is unclear whether that was due to the demanding press former coach Bradley Carnell expected from his squad. To his credit, that approach worked in 2025.
Since taking over, Richter has elevated Cavan Sullivan to the level many expected him to reach, and perhaps even beyond it. He has helped Bruno Damiani develop into a player who has earned a place on Uruguay's preliminary squad list, while giving Frankie Westfield and Neil Pierre opportunities to showcase why they belong in the conversation for the US Men's National Team's future in 2028 and 2030. He has also reignited the midfield partnership between Danley Jean-Jacques and Jovan Lukić, restoring a duo that was among the best in MLS in 2025.
Richter's man-management skills cannot be overstated when assessing the Union's turnaround.
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BW: Cavan Sullivan is (rightfully) being hyped as one of the best young players ever seen in MLS. What has it been like watching his development up close? What's his ceiling?
JN: Every time Cavan Sullivan takes the field, I continue to be amazed by his ability to find new ways to impress me. Whether it is a skill I did not realize he had, a goal I did not think he could score, or an offensive or defensive contribution I did not expect him to make, he consistently finds ways to surprise us.
At his age, he has been an absolute treat to watch. As I have mentioned before, he has more than lived up to the hype surrounding him. The sky is the limit, and I think you would agree with me, Ben, as we continue to document his journey, not only for our own coverage but also for the league as a whole. He continues to break benchmarks and rewrite the record books.
At this point, I do not see a scenario in which he should be playing for any level of the US Soccer national teams other than the senior men's team.
