Defence Force FC of Trinidad and Tobago hosted the Philadelphia Union in the first leg of their Concacaf Champions Cup Round One series on Wednesday at Hasely Crawford Stadium in Port of Spain, marking the first competitive meeting between the two clubs.
The Philadelphia Union qualified for the tournament as the 2025 MLS Supporters’ Shield winners, while Defence Force FC secured their spot as the third-place finishers in the 2025 Caribbean Cup. This match represents a first for both teams – the first time Defence Force FC has faced opposition from the United States and the first time the Union has played a team from Trinidad and Tobago.
Defence Force FC has a distinguished history in the Champions Cup, having won the competition in both 1978 and 1985, making them the only club from Trinidad and Tobago to achieve this feat. However, their recent experience in two-legged series against North American clubs has not been successful, with the team always being eliminated at that stage. In 1987, they reached the Grand Final against CF América of Mexico, drawing the first leg 1-1 at Hasely Crawford Stadium.
The Union, participating in their third Champions Cup edition, have yet to lose an opening match, boasting a record of two wins and a draw. Historically, U.S. Teams have had a strong record against Trinidadian opposition in the Champions Cup, winning nine of their last twelve matches.
Defence Force FC enters the match on a strong run of form in the TT Premier League, having secured recent back-to-back victories over Prison Services and La Horquetta Rangers. The team is hoping to leverage their home advantage at Hasely Crawford Stadium to challenge the heavily favored Philadelphia Union.
The match kicked off at 6:00 PM EST and 11:00 GMT. Live coverage was available on FS2 and Fubo.
