Defence Force will host Philadelphia Union at the Hasely Crawford Stadium on Wednesday in the first leg of the first round of the 2026 CONCACAF Champions Cup. The home side, who ply their trade in the Trinidad and Tobago top flight, have performed brilliantly in their league duties this season, but they face a different test on the continental stage this week.
Defence Force are back in the CONCACAF Champions Cup for the first time in over two decades after an excellent 2024-25 campaign saw them lift the TT Premier League title and consequently book a spot in the CONCACAF Caribbean Cup. They narrowly progressed past the group stages of the Caribbean Cup before securing a third-place finish to seal their return to the Champions Cup.
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Philadelphia Union also performed superbly last term, picking up 66 points to register their second-highest regular-season points tally in Major League Soccer and ultimately lift the Supporters’ Shield. They then eased past Chicago Fire in the first round of the playoffs before suffering a disappointing elimination in the Eastern Conference semifinals, losing 1-0 at home to New York City FC.
Their status as Supporters’ Shield champions secured Philadelphia Union a spot in the Champions Cup, where they will be targeting a statement result in their first outing.
Defence Force vs Philadelphia Union Head-to-Head and Key Numbers
- Wednesday’s game will mark the first-ever meeting between the two teams.
- Defence Force are featuring in their 13th CONCACAF Champions Cup campaign and their first since 2002.
- Philadelphia, meanwhile, have made three previous appearances in the tournament, most recently in 2024.
- Defence Force are the only side from Trinidad and Tobago to have ever won the Champions Cup, lifting the continental crown in 1978 and 1985.
- Philadelphia, meanwhile, have never won the tournament, with their deepest run coming in 2023 when they reached the semifinals.
Defence Force vs Philadelphia Union Prediction
Unbeaten in their last 12 outings, the Teteron Boys are in high spirits ahead of their tournament opener this week. However, they are badly mismatched and will mainly seek to give a good account of themselves in front of their home support.
The Union are comfortable favorites heading into the midweek clash and could kill off the tie should they perform to their full potential on Wednesday.
Prediction: Defence Force 1-3 Philadelphia Union
Defence Force vs Philadelphia Union Betting Tips
Tip 1 – Result: Philadelphia Union to win
Tip 2 – Goals – Over/under 2.5 – Over 2.5 goals (Eight of the hosts’ last 10 matches have produced more than 2.5 goals)
Tip 3 – Both teams to score: YES
Edited by Peter P
