On Sunday, August 24, Subaru Park will be the stage for one of the most crucial third-place matches in North American soccer this year. The Philadelphia Union will take on the Colorado Rapids, with kickoff scheduled for 4:30 p.m. ET, and fans can catch the action live on Apple TV's MLS Season Pass. This isn’t just any consolation game—there’s much more at stake. The winner will secure a coveted spot in the 2025 Concacaf Champions Cup.
For Philadelphia, a victory would mark their third consecutive appearance in the prestigious regional tournament. On the other hand, Colorado is looking to return to the Champions Cup for the first time since 2022, when they made it to the Round of 16. A win on Sunday would grant the Rapids their fourth entry in club history, and they’ll be eager to seize the opportunity.
The Rapids' journey to this point in the tournament has been nothing short of impressive, even though they fell short in the semifinals. Colorado's path was paved with victories over four Liga MX teams, a feat unmatched by any other MLS side in Leagues Cup history. Their crowning achievement came in the quarterfinals, where they toppled top-seeded Club América. Before that, the Rapids claimed both regulation and shootout victories against Club León, FC Juárez, and Deportivo Toluca F.C., showing their resilience and determination in the process.
Philadelphia's road to the third-place match was challenging as well. The Union's Leagues Cup run ended in a 3-1 loss to Columbus Crew on Wednesday at Lower.com Field. Throughout the tournament, Philadelphia has had to navigate a tough lineup of opponents, starting with a win over Charlotte FC and a draw against Cruz Azul in the group stage. In the knockout rounds, the Union showed their mettle, defeating CF Montréal, FC Cincinnati, and Mazatlán F.C. to earn their place in this high-stakes third-place match.
These two teams rarely face each other, with their last meeting dating back to May 2023, when Philadelphia secured a 2-1 victory. Since that match, both squads have seen considerable changes, including the arrival of Chris Armas as the new head coach for the Rapids.
“We'll be playing for something. The watch party back home...they're rooting for us.” said Armas about the significance of the third-place match.
Keegan Rosenberry, who spent the first three years of his MLS career with the Union, made a significant impact during his time in Philly. The defender clocked 6,884 minutes across 80 appearances.
Reflecting on his former player, head coach Jim Curtin remarked, "He's had an incredible career for himself, being an All-Star this year, a really solid player. One that had some good memories with us here in Philadelphia."
As both clubs look to cap off their tournament runs with a place in the Concacaf Champions Cup, expect a fiercely contested match in front of the Union faithful at Subaru Park. The stakes are high, and both teams will be hungry to secure the final spot in one of the most prestigious competitions in the region.
