Union Notes: Leagues Cup Draw Revealed, CCC Roster, Backup GK Signed

The Union found out their Leagues Cup path on Wednesday, revealed their Concacaf Champions Cup roster on Tuesday and signed a backup goalkeeper.

The Philadelphia Union learned on Wednesday how their 2024 Leagues Cup path would begin.

The Union were drawn into East Group 4 with fellow Major League Soccer side Charlotte FC and Liga MX’s Cruz Azul.

The 2024 Leagues Cup carries some format tweaks.

The groups were decided by a new Leagues Cup Ranking system.

Basically, the MLS teams were ranked by their final position in the 2023 Supporters’ Shield standings and Liga MX clubs were ranked by cumulative performance over 34 matches in the Clausura and Apertura tournaments.

Philadelphia was ranked seventh and put into the top of three tiers established by the rankings. The Union were ninth overall in the rankings, but they are listed as seventh for Leagues Cup group-stage purposes because Club America and Columbus Crew, the reigning champions of each league, receive beys into the round of 32.

(Photo via Leagues Cup release)

Charlotte FC was 25th and in the second tier of this new ranking system and Cruz Azul was the top team in the third tier at No. 31.

All of the 15 groups (seven in the East and eight in the West) have one team from each tier. Competitive balance and geographical matchups were used to make up the groups.

Mexican teams will host games in the 2024 Leagues Cup, but only four Liga MX have been granted what the competition calls “hub privileges”

Club America can host through the semifinals, Monterrey through the round of 16, Chivas through the round of 32 and Tigres through the group stage.

This is only relevant to the Union if they are matched up with Club America, Monterrey or Chivas.

The top two clubs from each group will advance to the round of 32 and then a straight knockout bracket will commence.

The knockout round will be “fixed bracket”, according to the Leagues Cup release. In 2023, the knockout-round bracket was filled out by region.

As it was last year, there are “no ties”. If a group-stage game ends in a draw, both teams will be awarded one point and then the winner of a penalty shootout will come away with two points for a win. A regulation win is worth three points.

All of the match dates and times will be announced at a later date. The Union should play the group-stage games at Subaru Park because of their superior ranking.

Concacaf Champions Cup Roster Announced

The Union announced their roster for the Concacaf Champions Cup on Tuesday.

Joaquin Torres and Matt Real are the notable absences from the group that was in Florida training for the last two weeks. Three goalkeepers were put on the roster, with Holden Trent and Andrew Rick as backups.

Per Concacaf, "Clubs that have chosen to register fewer than 35 players can add additional players up to 44 hours before each match, provided their roster does not exceed 35 players. Once a player has been registered, they may not be removed or replaced."

That means any new signings can be added at no cost as long as the roster does not exceed 35 players.

Union Sign Backup Goalkeeper

Speaking of new signings, the Union secured the services of backup goalkeeper Oliver Semmle on Wednesday.

Semmle joins the team on a two-year contract with an option for the 2026 season.

Semmle was acquired through the Colorado Rapids, who owned his college draft rights, but the goalkeeper played at Louisville City in the USL Championship last season.

The Union sent a 2025 MLS SuperDraft second-round pick to Colorado in exchange for Semmle’s MLS rights.

Semmle set a USL Championship rookie clean sheet record with 13 shutouts last season for the club managed by former Union midfielder Danny Cruz.

Semmle will be the No. 2 goalkeeper behind Andre Blake and the expected starter when Blake is away on international duty.