Not even a year after being named the MLS Coach of the Year and leading his squad to a Supporters’ Shield, Union manager Bradley Carnell.
Sources confirmed the news to the Inquirer, and the team subsequently released a statement, adding that Union II head coach Ryan Richter will serve as the team’s interim head coach, and that the interim tag was removed from sporting director Jon Scheer’s title.
The Union (1-10-4, 7 points) hold the distinction of having the MLS’ worst record. The team has mustered just one win in their first 15 league matchups and ranks last in the Eastern Conference. In the team’s first 10 games, they scored just five points — the lowest ever in franchise history in that span.
Carnell’s firing comes on the heels of a six-game losing streak topped off by a 6-4 loss to the Lionel Messi-led Inter Miami. Additionally, the Union currently have the lowest payroll in the league, almost five times less than that of Inter Miami’s.
Some fans and onlookers took to social media to voice their grievances with Carney’s firing, blaming the team for moving on from some of the best players on last year’s squad.
Notably, the Union lost Kai Wagner, Jakob Glesnes, and Tai Baribo this offseason — all of whom were All-Star selections last year.
Here’s what members of the media and fans are saying about Carnell:
@UnionBox SELL THE TEAM. You keep going with this garbage energy drink football tactics as an excuse to not spend on real talent. We are sick of your front office and want real change in this team… Starting with you.
— Seal (@idan3s) May 27, 2026
Bradley Carnell was not at his best this season and certainly had his faults, but he wasn’t handed the best deck of cards after winning the Supporters Shield in season 1, IMO
3 All-Stars sold, leaving the squad with a young and unproven (in MLS) makeup
Tough business, Soccer https://t.co/tgc5OMxWyc
— Jimmy King (@Jimmyking35) May 27, 2026
> win a shield
> gut the roster
> blame the manager
> Circle of Life https://t.co/g8oliz3rnC— Brian Wagner (@brianwagner1234) May 27, 2026
Didn’t he lose all his best players? #MLS https://t.co/GPVEmjjfw5
— Lloyd Sam (@MrLloydSam) May 27, 2026
crazy timeline. can’t help but feel like the front offices failed Bradley Carnell both in St. Louis and Philly https://t.co/FoFPijdgtx
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— Andy Deossa 🇨🇴 (@Andy_Deossa) May 27, 2026
Bro. It’s not his fault Sugarman won’t spend money. https://t.co/9fuUdUHr2n
— Hannah Hutchings (@HutchingsHannah) May 27, 2026
Carnell was hired in January 2025 following the firing of longtime manager Jim Curtin. Now the Union’s technical staff, led by Scheer, will begin a new search for a new coach. Scheer had been serving in the role since sporting director Ernst Tanner was suspended by the MLS for discriminatory behavior.
In the case of Carnell, there were others who were more supportive of the move, or at least understand the rationale:
WOW.
Absolutely the correct move, but I really didn’t think they’d do it.
Lots of thoughts coming soon. https://t.co/v5GdraBagT
— Evan 🐍🛡️ (@SoB_Evan) May 27, 2026
By no means was Carnell dealt a good hand (lowest spending club + lack of Sporting Director), but some of his tactical decisions really hurt this team.
Interested where the Union go from here given that most of the players were brought in by Carnell.#DOOP https://t.co/cKcoDpvkmj
— Ben Brecher (@BenBrecher18) May 27, 2026
Had to happen with the lack of results this season.
The Union have two months to sort everything out. https://t.co/RMQfnMGAyo
— Joe Tansey (@JTansey90) May 27, 2026
I will be dancing in the streets doing cartwheels down Spring Garden tonight. https://t.co/HsnKpRYyKm
— Pat in the Hat (@pat_in_thehat) May 27, 2026
Today may be the happiest I’ve been all season. #doop
— Jared Nisly (@Nisdog) May 27, 2026
And, leave it to some fans to cope through jokes and memes:
Funniest possible thing the club could do now would be to make Bedoya an interim player-manager for the rest of the season
— UN🐍 (@Union_Nate) May 27, 2026
https://t.co/diO4BrnSTt pic.twitter.com/1Do16vQGAw
— Bruce (@THurt512) May 27, 2026
All of this happening at 3:22pm on a Wednesday is wild lol https://t.co/fphEjUXIui
— Poulomi (@poulomib22) May 27, 2026
The Union, along with the rest of the MLS, will not see game action for another two months as the league presses pause for the upcoming FIFA World Cup.
Read more The Union fire Bradley Carnell with MLS’s worst record at the World Cup break
Club Statement: https://t.co/lhP9vT04qM pic.twitter.com/TWy4Qr4GPT
— Philadelphia Union (@PhilaUnion) May 27, 2026