Philadelphia Union will host Charlotte FC on Saturday, October 17, at 2:30 PM ET in a Kids' Day Match presented by Language Services Associates, turning Subaru Park into a full-day event built around the home game. Fans can watch on Apple TV, but the matchday schedule starts long before kickoff, with parking lots opening at 9:30 AM and the rest of the stadium following in stages through the afternoon.
That is why the search for Charlotte vs Philadelphia matters now: this is not just a Saturday fixture, it is the Union's latest home date with a tightly packed slate of kid-focused extras. Fans can stop by Subaru Plaza for a poster-making station, while NJ Snake Man will be on hand and kids can use a large-scale soccer pool inflatable in the grass area across from Media Gate. Inside Phang's Playground, there will be a photo booth, Fairy Hair and face painting, and a kids DJ and PA announcer will help drive the atmosphere throughout the day.
The giveaways are real, but they are not unlimited. An exclusive mini squishy dumpling is set aside for the first 200 kids, and photo-submitted drawings will appear during the Starting XI. Later, the Punt, Kick, Throw Contest Finalists will take the field at halftime, giving the day a spotlight moment before the match settles into its final stretch. The structure makes the event feel open to families, yet some of the most sought-after activities are capped from the start.
That same balance shows up after the final whistle. Kids 14 and under can join the annual Post-Game Kick, but registration is limited to ticket holders, and the first 100 Phang's Kids Club MVP members get front-of-the-line access. The club has also paired the day with a non-perishable food drive for the Chester community, with donations requested at the U-Serve tent on Subaru Plaza. Subaru Park, officially zero-landfill since 2021, still sends more than 90% of its waste to be reduced, reused or recycled, with the remainder converted to energy.
For fans trying to map out the day, the timing is straightforward: gates open at 1 PM ET, the Union Shop opens at 12 PM, and Subaru Plaza opens at 12:30 PM. The bigger question is not when the game starts, but how many ticket holders will move through the extra stops before kickoff and how many will stay for the postgame run onto the field. Either way, Saturday's Charlotte vs Philadelphia matchup is set up as one of the Union's most packed family events of the season.
Tickets for every home match of Philadelphia Union's 2026 season are on sale now.
