Photo: Stephen Speer
The holidays are here, and — just like that — 2023 is around the corner.
2022 was a year to remember for Philly’s soccer community, starting first and foremost with the most successful season in Philadelphia Union history. After a slow-ish start to the season, the Union spent most of the summer dazzling the fans at Subaru Park, scoring goals by the bucketful and turning into a nearly unstoppable juggernaut.
The peak, of course, came with the Union’s come-from-behind victory in the Eastern Conference Final, an unforgettable evening that saw the Boys in Blue raise a trophy in front of a packed, delirious house.
MLS Cup didn’t end as anyone hoped, but the match itself — a 3-3 thriller, with the two sides separated only by penalties — lived up to the billing. (If it wasn’t for last weekend’s World Cup final, I’d wager MLS Cup was the best final of the year in global football.)
What an incredible weekend it was for so many who’d poured their heart and soul into the Union over the club’s star-crossed history.
The Union (and Union II, who made the MLS NEXT Pro playoffs) weren’t the only excitement in the local soccer world.
A Pennsylvania native, Christian Pulisic, led the U.S. Men’s National Team’s run to the Round of 16 at the World Cup, scoring a painful winner against Iran to advance the squad out of the group stage. Union alum and Medford, N.J. native Brenden Aaronson appeared regularly as a substitute.
And a fresh wave of local kids and Union Homegrowns — including Mark McKenzie, Jack McGlynn, and Paxten Aaronson — either made club breakthroughs or earned big moves overseas this year, and look likely to be in the conversation for the next Men’s World Cup.
(That tournament, by the way? As we learned in June, it’ll be right here, in Philadelphia.)
And below the pros, local soccer continued up and down the pyramid, helping grow the game we all love so much.
Now the stage is set for a fantastic 2023. The Union will fight for an unprecedented four trophies, including the chance to claim continental glory in the Concacaf Champions League. Our USWNT will seek a third straight Women’s World Cup title when that tournament kicks off in July in Australia and New Zealand. And all around our community, folks will find a patch of grass, take out a ball, and have a kick-around.
We here at the Philly Soccer Page are, as always, thankful that you trust us as a source for news and analysis and a community for fans of the beautiful game. As we enter our fourteenth (yes, fourteenth!) year of operations, we appreciate all of the support that you’ve provided over that time.
We’re on a quasi-hiatus during the winter months, but we’ll be back in action soon enough with the thoughtful, passionate coverage that you’ve come to count on over the years.
Happy holidays and a happy new year to all.
Thanks Peter! And thanks to everyone involved in this site! I encourage anyone who can to go on Patreon and donate to the page. It’s incredible to have a place to chat with knowledgeable Union fans after games and read awesome writing from everyone who takes the time author something. I’m grateful and appreciative. Excited to see what 2023 brings for this team and Happy Holidays to everyone!
Merry Christmas! It’s been a fun year here. Looking forward to 2023
Happy New Year to all of you!