D.C. United's Tai Baribo questionable for Philly return

Striker's thigh injury may delay his homecoming against former club Union.

Apr. 18, 2026 at 1:06am

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

A fragmented, geometric painting depicting a soccer player in motion, with overlapping planes of color and form representing the unpredictability of Tai Baribo's injury status.An abstract, cubist-inspired illustration captures the uncertainty surrounding Tai Baribo's status for the upcoming D.C. United-Philadelphia Union matchup.Philadelphia Today

Striker Tai Baribo's return to Philadelphia may be delayed beyond D.C. United's scheduled visit to the Union on Saturday night. The Israeli international led Philadelphia with 16 MLS goals in 2025 before joining D.C. United in a $4 million cash trade during the offseason. Baribo has been sidelined with a thigh injury and is listed as questionable for the match.

Why it matters

Baribo's potential absence would be a significant blow for D.C. United, as he has scored three of the team's four league goals so far this season. The Union are also struggling to start the year, so Baribo's return could provide a boost for the home team as they look to earn their second win of the season.

The details

Baribo trained on his own this week, and D.C. United manager Rene Weiler said the team will evaluate his status on Friday to determine if he can play on Saturday. Without Baribo, the Union have endured a miserable start to 2026, earning their first league win last weekend against Montreal.

  • Baribo has missed D.C. United's last two matches due to the thigh injury.
  • D.C. United is scheduled to visit the Philadelphia Union on Saturday, April 20, 2026.

The players

Tai Baribo

A striker who led the Philadelphia Union with 16 MLS goals in 2025 before being traded to D.C. United in the offseason.

Rene Weiler

The manager of D.C. United.

Bradley Carnell

The manager of the Philadelphia Union.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

What they’re saying

“He trained for himself, so we have to check it tomorrow. I hope he will be with the team. And it would push the team, of course. I'm not sure if he (will be) ready for the game on Saturday, but we will check it out (Friday).”

— Rene Weiler, D.C. United Manager

“We always want to face the best opponents, and a D.C. United with Tai Baribo is certainly a force to be reckoned with. We are preparing and planning accordingly, but we cannot control what we cannot control. Whether he's in the building, traveling or not, that's a narrative we cannot drive and control, so we're only focused on us and the team that we think will play.”

— Bradley Carnell, Philadelphia Union Manager

What’s next

D.C. United will evaluate Tai Baribo's status on Friday to determine if he can play in Saturday's match against the Philadelphia Union.

The takeaway

Tai Baribo's potential absence would be a significant blow for D.C. United, as he has been their most productive scorer so far this season. The Union are also struggling, so Baribo's return could provide a boost for the home team as they look to earn their second win of the year.