Red Bull New York dropped an important game on Saturday night at Sports Illustrated Stadium, a 3-1 loss to Philadelphia Union, which now puts New York’s playoff hopes in dire jeopardy. Since returning from the World Cup break, Red Bull have played seven games with only one win and one draw in that window. That’s just four points out of a possible 21 that leaves many wondering just what has happened to the club that looked poised to move up the table back in May.
“You still have to defend your own box,” said captain Emil Forsberg after the frustrating defeat. “I think in the end, with what we’re doing, sometimes it’s just too easy. The goals we concede are too easy, and then we have to bounce back. We have to hold each other accountable and start winning games.”
This level of loss is something that Forsberg has not been accustomed to experiencing. With RB Leipzig, the Swedish international saw great success with the club constantly being a contender for the Bundesliga title. Now, he is staring at the possibility of captaining New York to consecutive seasons of not making the playoffs.
Should the club continue their fall, they will have done so in two uniquely different ways. Last season saw great veteran talent brought in with Alexander Hack hoping to solidify the defense following the departure of Andres Reyes, and Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting joined to be the best striker the club has had since the departure of Bradley Wright-Phillips. None of that worked as the club faltered late in the season, much as they are in 2026. The difference is that now they are doing much of a similar job but with a much younger squad that was meant to bring about a change in the club’s trajectory.
“We want to do better for the fans,” said Forsberg. “We have to. It should never be acceptable to show that. As a team, we’re trying as best we can, but we have to hold ourselves to a certain standard in every aspect of the game and it has to be for over 95 minutes.”
Red Bull will now take to the road next Saturday as they play Seattle Sounders at Lumen Field. Expectations are not high for New York to come away with points given recent form. However, if there is to be a turnaround, Seattle is where it will need to begin as the club currently sits precariously in eighth place, one point away from being outside of the playoff picture.
photo by Matt Kremkau