USMNT veteran Bedoya ends 17-year pro run after 2026 Union campaign

Alejandro Bedoya will hang up his boots after the Philadelphia Union completes its 2026 season. The 39-year-old captain announced his retirement on Monday, ending a 17-year professional career that included 10 years in Philadelphia and a decade of play in Europe.

Bedoya joined the Union in August 2016 as a designated player. His arrival coincided with a period of stability for the franchise. During his tenure, the club secured two Supporters’ Shields, the only trophies in its history, and reached the MLS Cup final in 2022. The team has qualified for the postseason in nine of the 11 seasons since his arrival, including the current year. They finished atop the Eastern Conference on three occasions.

Before moving to the United States, Bedoya played for Rangers in Scotland, Helsingborgs in Sweden, and Nantes in France. He began his professional journey with Orebro in Sweden after attending college at Fairleigh Dickinson and Boston College. He has earned 66 caps for the U.S. national team between 2010 and 2017. He appeared in all four games for the U.S. squad at the 2014 World Cup and won two CONCACAF Gold Cups in 2013 and 2017.

Bedoya currently ranks second in all-time MLS appearances with 286 games. He holds the second-most starts in league history with 227. At the club level, he has scored 25 goals and recorded 43 assists. Only he and goalkeeper Andre Blake have made 300 appearances in all competitions for the Union. He is one of three players in club history to reach the milestone of 25 goals and 25 assists.

His performance remained consistent well into his late 30s. In 2022, he recorded six goals and six assists in 2,427 minutes. The following year, he contributed seven assists in over 2,000 minutes. In 2024, he started 13 games and appeared in 30 matches. His playing time has decreased recently. He played in 24 games last year, starting nine, for a total of 739 minutes. He scored one goal and provided three assists during that campaign. This season, he has made one start in 19 appearances, totaling 265 minutes while recording three assists in league play.

Bedoya has served in a dual role for the last two years as a player and a front office specialist. This arrangement includes nonplaying duties to help manage the team’s salary cap and prepare him for post-playing roles. He previously faced uncertainty in 2024 when sporting director Ernst Tanner publicly questioned his future. The organization reversed its stance following reactions from fans and teammates.

Union owner Jay Sugarman praised Bedoya’s role in shaping the club’s identity. “Alejandro’s impact on the Philadelphia Union extends far beyond what he accomplished on the field,” Sugarman said in a team statement. “He has been an integral part of this club’s growth and evolution.. We are incredibly grateful for his commitment to this club and everything he has contributed over the last 10 years.”

Bedoya has also been active in community advocacy. He was named the 2022 MLS WORKS Humanitarian of the Year and won the 2023 Audi Goals Drive Progress Impact Award. He served as honorary chair for the Philadelphia 2026 World Cup bid and its hosting committee. Bedoya is the son of Colombian immigrants and described his story as one of an immigrant family whose son represented the U.S. in a World Cup. He will be eligible for the club’s Ring of Honor, which currently lists only one member.