Where to watch Columbus Crew vs. Philadelphia Union live stream, TV channel, lineups for Leagues Cup semifinal

Just four teams remain in the hunt for the 2024 Leagues Cup title as defending MLS Cup champions Columbus Crew meet perennial contenders Philadelphia Union on Wednesday evening in Ohio.

All four teams left are from Major League Soccer, with the last Liga MX sides crashing out as Mazatlan and Club America were eliminated, both on penalties, in the quarterfinals.

That means the Crew are by far the favorites to win the title, but Philly can battle with the best, having already secured wins against FC Cincinnati, Charlotte FC, and CF Montreal, all teams either firmly entrenched in MLS playoff spots or very much in the hunt.

Both these sides secured penalty shootout wins in the quarterfinals, and may need to draw on those dramatic heroics again if they are to lift the trophy in the end.

Columbus Crew vs. Philadelphia Union live stream, TV channel

• Date: Wednesday, August 21, 2024
• Time: 7:30 p.m. ET / 4:30 p.m. PT
• TV channel: None
• Streaming: MLS Season Pass from Apple TV

The entirety of the 2024 Leagues Cup can be found on MLS Season Pass from Apple TV .

With Apple and MLS not making any matches available for free from the Round of 16 onwards, the semifinals have also been tabbed for subscribers only.

What time is Columbus Crew vs. Philadelphia Union kickoff?

This Leagues Cup semifinal match kicks off from Lower.com Field on Wednesday, August 21 at 7:30 p.m. local time in Columbus, Ohio.

Here's how that time translates across the time zones in North America:

MORE: Find out which games are streaming free on MLS Season pass from Apple TV each week

Columbus Crew vs. Philadelphia Union lineups & team news

Helping their MLS title defense and Leagues Cup run has been a clean bill of health, with only backup goalkeeper Evan Bush currently on the shelf for the Crew.

As a result, they have two CONCACAF internationals in Canadian Jacen Russell-Rowe and American DeJuan Jones coming off the bench amidst a very strong MLS squad.

Columbus Crew projected starting lineup (3-4-3): Schulte (GK) — Moreira, Camacho, Cheberko — Farsi, Zawadzki, Nagbe, Arfsten — C. Ramirez, C. Hernandez, Rossi.

The utterly ridiculous dismissal of Tai Baribo in the quarterfinals leaves him suspended for this match, meaning new signing Sam Adeniran will step in up front alongside Mikael Uhre .

Midfielder Jose Martinez is reportedly closing in on a transfer to Brazilian side Corinthians but came off the bench in the last match and scored in the shootout, so it's unclear what his status for this match will be. Managing the minutes of aging captain Alejandro Bedoya has been essential this season, and he could be a bench option on a short turnaround as he was in the quarterfinals.

Philadelphia Union projected starting lineup (4-4-2 diamond): Blake (GK) — Harriel, Glesnes, Elliott, Wagner — Q. Sullivan, Flach, Gazdag, McGlynn — Uhre, Adeniran.

Columbus Crew vs. Philadelphia Union prediction, betting odds & lines

• Score prediction: Columbus Crew 1-0 Philadelphia Union

Both these teams have proven their defensive capabilities throughout the Leagues Cup, and the inflated goals total is an absurdly high bar to clear. Yet keeping the Columbus Crew off the scoreboard will be a monumental challenge, and the electric attack of the defending MLS champions will be too much for the Union to manage away from home.