Philadelphia Union II vs New England II: MLS Next Pro Rivalry

Subaru Park stages a familiar rivalry on 13 May 2026 as Philadelphia Union II host New England II in MLS Next Pro’s group stage. Both sides arrive locked on 14 points and sitting inside the Eastern Conference play-off places – Philadelphia Union II seventh, New England II eighth – so this is the kind of six-pointer that can shape the race for a 1/8-final berth later in the year.

Form and stakes

In the league, both teams have identical basic records: 5 wins, 0 draws, 3 defeats from 8 matches. Philadelphia Union II hold a slightly better goal difference (+3 vs +2), but New England II have the stronger divisional rank right now (fourth in the Northeast Division to Philadelphia’s third, but only on fine margins).

The form lines, though, tell different stories. Philadelphia Union II’s recent run reads “LWLWW” in the conference table and “WWLWWLWL” across all phases: streaky, high-variance, and without a single draw. New England II’s “WLLLW” in the table and “WWWWLLLW” across all phases suggest a side that started hot with four straight wins but has cooled, losing three of the last four.

With both clubs currently projected towards the promotion play-offs (1/8-finals), this fixture is about more than local bragging rights. It is a chance to create daylight in a congested Eastern Conference and to bank a head-to-head edge that could matter in tie-breaks.

Philadelphia Union II: aggressive at home, no safety net

Philadelphia’s 2026 profile is that of a front-foot side that lives and dies by the sword. Across all phases they have 12 goals for and 8 against in 8 games, averaging 1.5 scored and 1.0 conceded per match. At home they have been more productive: 8 goals in 5 outings (1.6 per game) and only 5 conceded (1.0 per game).

The home record in the league – 3 wins and 2 defeats, no draws – underlines the risk-reward approach. Their biggest home win so far is 4-1, while their heaviest home loss is 1-2, suggesting they can both overwhelm visitors and be punished on fine margins.

Defensively, 2 clean sheets at Subaru Park across all phases show they can shut teams out, but the broader numbers point to a team that prefers to outscore rather than control. They have failed to score only once this season, and that came away from home.

Discipline could be a subtle factor. Philadelphia’s yellow cards are spread across the game, with noticeable spikes between 16–30 minutes and late on (91–105). They have also seen a red card in the 61–75-minute window. In a tight contest, managing that aggression will be important, especially against a side like New England II that tends to grow into games.

Tactically, expect Philadelphia Union II to try to leverage their home attacking edge, pressing high and looking to create a game with multiple chances. With no data on individual scorers, the emphasis is on the collective: a group that has shown it can put four past opponents at Subaru Park and rarely settles for stalemates.

New England II: home fortress, away vulnerability

New England II’s season has been built on their home form. In the league they have 5 wins and 1 defeat from 6 home matches, scoring 9 and conceding 6. Across all phases, that expands to 11 scored and 6 conceded at home, averaging 1.8 goals for and 1.0 against. Away, it is a different picture: 0 wins, 0 draws, 2 defeats in the league, with just 1 goal scored and 2 conceded; across all phases, 1 scored and 3 conceded in 2 away fixtures.

That away sample is small but stark. Their biggest away defeat is 2-1, which fits the pattern of narrow losses, but the lack of attacking output on the road (0.5 goals per game across all phases) contrasts sharply with Philadelphia’s home productivity.

New England II’s goal-timing data is revealing. Across all phases, they score most between 46–60 and 61–75 minutes (3 goals in each range, 30% each of their total), suggesting a side that often improves after half-time. They are less dangerous early (only 1 goal in the first 15 minutes) and in the final stretch (1 goal from 76–90).

Defensively, they are relatively stable in the first hour but vulnerable late. Half of their goals conceded come between 76–90 minutes (4 of 9 across all phases). That late drop-off, combined with their away struggles, could be a key theme at Subaru Park if the game is still live heading into the final quarter.

From an over/under perspective, New England II’s matches have mostly been low scoring. Across all phases, only 1 of their 8 games has gone over 2.5 goals (3+ goals), with 7 under that mark. On the defensive side, they have not yet been involved in a game where they conceded in a match that went over 2.5; all 8 fixtures sit under 3.5 and 4.5 goals for both goals-for and goals-against distributions. That points to tight margins rather than shootouts.

They also bring a reliable penalty record into the season: 2 penalties taken, 2 scored, 0 missed across all phases. In a fixture that has previously gone to shootouts, that composure from the spot is a small but relevant detail.

Head-to-head: five competitive meetings, razor-thin edge

The last five competitive meetings between these sides, all in MLS Next Pro, paint a picture of sustained balance:

• 24 August 2025, Subaru Park (Regular Season – 31): Philadelphia Union II 1-3 New England II – New England II win in regulation.
• 26 June 2025, Subaru Park (Regular Season – 20): Philadelphia Union II 2-2 New England II, 7-6 on penalties – officially a draw over 90 minutes, Philadelphia Union II win the shootout.
• 9 March 2025, Gillette Stadium (Regular Season – 1): New England II 0-0 Philadelphia Union II, 4-3 on penalties – officially a draw over 90 minutes, New England II win the shootout.
• 6 July 2024, Mark A. Ouellette Stadium (Regular Season – 22): New England II 1-2 Philadelphia Union II – Philadelphia Union II win in regulation.
• 19 May 2024, Gillette Stadium (Regular Season – 13): New England II 1-3 Philadelphia Union II – Philadelphia Union II win in regulation.

Counting only the 90-minute results, that yields:

• Philadelphia Union II: 3 wins
• New England II: 1 win
• Draws: 1 (the 2-2 in June 2025; the 0-0 in March 2025 is also a draw in regulation, so across the five listed it is actually 2 draws)

So over these five competitive fixtures: 3 wins for Philadelphia Union II, 1 for New England II, and 2 draws in regulation time, with two of those draws decided by penalties (one shootout win each).

Subaru Park has hosted the last two meetings, both in 2025: a 1-3 home defeat for Philadelphia Union II in August and a 2-2 draw in June that they edged 7-6 on penalties. That mixed record underlines that home advantage has not guaranteed control in this rivalry.

Tactical match-up

Stylistically, this looks like a clash between Philadelphia’s home aggression and New England’s structured, low-scoring tendencies.

• Philadelphia Union II will likely push the tempo, aiming to turn it into a more open game where their 1.6 home goals-per-game profile can tell. Their ability to score in bunches (evidenced by that 4-1 home win in 2026) is a clear threat to a New England side that concedes late.
• New England II, by contrast, may seek to keep the game tight and lean on their strong mid-game phases. Their scoring clusters after half-time suggest a plan built around adjusting and exploiting spaces once the match settles. Given their away scoring struggles, they may prioritise defensive compactness and transitional attacks rather than prolonged possession.

Set pieces and penalties could be decisive. With New England II perfect from the spot in 2026 and this rivalry already producing two penalty shootouts in 2025, any foul in the box will carry extra weight.

Discipline might tilt things towards Philadelphia if they can manage their card profile and avoid the kind of red card they have seen in the 61–75-minute window. New England II’s yellow distribution is heavier in the middle and late stages of games, which could invite dangerous free-kicks in advanced areas.

The verdict

On the evidence of 2026 alone, Philadelphia Union II are the stronger home side than New England II are an away side. Philadelphia’s 3 wins from 5 at Subaru Park and 1.6 goals per home game contrast with New England’s 2 away defeats from 2 and just 0.5 goals scored per away outing across all phases.

The head-to-head record over the last five competitive meetings also leans slightly towards Philadelphia Union II, who have 3 regulation wins to New England’s 1, even if the most recent clash at Subaru Park ended 1-3 in favour of the visitors.

Combine Philadelphia’s attacking edge at home, New England’s late defensive frailty, and the visitors’ limited away output, and the data points towards a narrow home advantage. Given New England’s strong defensive trend in low-scoring matches, this could be tight and decided by one goal rather than a shootout-style spectacle.

A logical expectation is a cagey first half, a more open second period, and Philadelphia Union II marginally more likely to edge a low-to-mid scoring contest at Subaru Park.