The World Cup break is coming at the right time for the Philadelphia Union, but for Bradley Carnell, it is already too late. The club announced Wednesday that it has parted ways with its head coach and elevated Jon Scheer to sporting director, while Union II boss Ryan Richter steps in as interim first-team coach. The reset comes less than a year after a Supporters' Shield high turned into a gut-punch of a season.
Club announcement
In the club's official release, the Union laid out a new power map with Scheer at the center. As sporting director, he will oversee player recruitment, roster construction, scouting and the broader technical strategy as Philadelphia tries to redraw its long-term competitive blueprint.
"Jon has consistently demonstrated strong leadership, a deep understanding of our club philosophy, and a clear vision for the future of the Philadelphia Union," owner Jay Sugarman said in the statement, which also included a formal thank you to Carnell for his work. According to Philadelphia Union.
From Supporters' Shield to last place
Carnell arrived in January 2025 and immediately looked like a home run hire. He guided the Union to the Supporters' Shield and picked up MLS Coach of the Year in his debut season. This year has been the mirror image.
When the move was announced, Philadelphia sat dead last in MLS with seven points and a 1-10-4 record through 15 matches, a collapse that rattled a fan base that had gotten used to winning. Local coverage has tied Carnell's exit to both that nosedive on the field and ongoing turbulence in the front office. As reported by The Philadelphia Inquirer.
Front-office shake-up
Scheer had already been in the hot seat behind the scenes since March, when Major League Soccer suspended longtime sporting director Ernst Tanner after an independent review found violations of league policies and standards of professional conduct.
MLS detailed that Tanner was suspended without pay through June 1 and required to complete a league-approved restorative program. The Union's announcement also notes that Scheer, who first joined the organization in 2018 as part of the academy staff, stepped in as interim sporting director at that point, setting up Wednesday's full promotion. Per MLS and Philadelphia Union.
Why the decision matters
Behind the scenes, the Union have been trying to thread a very thin needle. Observers have pointed to offseason roster churn, a shift toward younger signings and tight spending as ingredients that left last year's Shield winners exposed.
Coverage that cited The Athletic reported that Philadelphia entered this season with one of the lowest payrolls in MLS and had moved on from several veteran contributors over the winter. That combination left Carnell working with a thinner, greener squad and very little margin for error. As detailed by RealGM.
What comes next
The Union say a global search for a new head coach is underway immediately. Sugarman and Scheer are scheduled to face the cameras and questions at a Thursday press conference at 10 a.m., where the club's leadership will have to sell supporters on the new direction as much as outline it. According to CBS Philadelphia.
Philadelphia does not return to league play until July 22, when MLS resumes after the World Cup pause and the Union host the New York Red Bulls at Subaru Park. As noted by The Philadelphia Inquirer.
Until then, Richter holds the fort on the touchline while the freshly promoted Scheer works on a plan that fans hope will look a lot more like last season and a lot less like this one. This story will be updated after the club's press conference and as the coaching search unfolds.
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