Last Updated on October 1, 2026 by Helena
Brandan Craig comes from a soccer-loving Philadelphia family in which both of his parents played the sport at a high level and his younger brother has followed him into the Philadelphia Union development system. Born on April 7, 2004, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Craig grew up surrounded by the game long before he became a professional defender.
His father, Andrew Craig, played college soccer at Temple University after growing up partly in England, while his mother, Kristie Craig, was also a four-year starter at Temple. Brandan’s younger brother, also named Andrew, is a defender who has developed with the Philadelphia Union Academy. While Craig has spoken openly about his parents and soccer upbringing, he has kept his romantic life private, and no girlfriend, wife or children have been reliably confirmed publicly.
Who Is Brandan Craig’s Girlfriend?
As of now, Brandan Craig has not publicly confirmed the identity of a girlfriend or romantic partner through a reliable interview, official club profile or established news source.
Craig has generally maintained a low profile when it comes to relationships. Interviews with the American defender have focused heavily on his development with the Philadelphia Union, his experiences with the United States youth national teams and his professional career rather than his dating life.
There is therefore no sufficiently verified information to identify anyone as Brandan Craig’s girlfriend.
There is also no reliable public confirmation that Craig is married. Unless the defender chooses to make his relationship status public, social-media interactions or photographs should not automatically be interpreted as evidence of a romantic relationship.
Does Brandan Craig Have Children?
As of now, there is no reliable public information confirming that Brandan Craig has children.
Official profiles from Philadelphia Union, CF Montréal and United States Soccer coverage do not identify him as a father.
Craig has instead spoken most frequently about the family in which he grew up, particularly his parents and the soccer background they provided for him.
Who Are Brandan Craig’s Parents?
Brandan Craig’s parents are Andrew Craig and Kristie Craig.
Soccer has played a major role in the lives of both parents. Andrew and Kristie were competitive players themselves before Brandan was born, meaning their son grew up in a household where the sport was already deeply established.
The Philadelphia Inquirer has documented the family’s long-standing connections to the local soccer community, particularly through Andrew’s relationships with other prominent Philadelphia soccer families.
Brandan has also made clear that the influence did not come exclusively from his father. He has specifically praised his mother’s athletic background and said that she does not always receive enough recognition when people discuss the source of his soccer ability.
Andrew Craig – Brandan Craig’s Father
Andrew Craig is Brandan Craig’s father and one of the most important early influences on his soccer career.
Andrew grew up partly in England, where his father was stationed while serving in the United States Air Force. This background explains why Brandan is eligible for a British passport in addition to his American citizenship.
After the family returned to the Philadelphia area, Andrew attended Father Judge High School.
His decision to attend Father Judge became an important part of the wider Craig family soccer story. Andrew’s father, John Craig, knew that the school’s soccer coach had a military background and encouraged his son to attend the school.
Andrew developed into an outstanding player at Father Judge and scored the decisive penalty kick that sent the school into a Philadelphia Catholic League championship match.
He later continued his career at Temple University.
Andrew Craig Played Soccer at Temple University
Andrew Craig became one of Temple University’s standout soccer players during the early 1990s.
He was named the Atlantic 10 Player of the Year in 1993, demonstrating that Brandan’s father reached a high level of college soccer himself.
His experience as a competitive player provided Brandan with a parent who understood the technical and mental demands associated with serious soccer development.
Andrew later continued playing in Philadelphia-area adult leagues, which meant Brandan was exposed to the sport almost immediately after birth.
Brandan and his longtime friend Quinn Sullivan reportedly first encountered each other as babies while their fathers were playing in the same soccer environment.
Andrew Craig and the Sullivan Family
The Craig family has a particularly close connection with the family of fellow professional player Quinn Sullivan.
Andrew Craig and Quinn’s father, Brendan Sullivan, knew each other through Philadelphia soccer long before their sons became teammates.
Andrew had previously been coached by Quinn Sullivan’s grandfather, Larry Sullivan, at Father Judge. Andrew and Brendan later played together, while their wives also played soccer together.
The connection eventually extended to their children, with Brandan Craig and Quinn Sullivan becoming friends and teammates from approximately four years old.
Both later entered the Philadelphia Union development system and signed Homegrown professional contracts with the club on the same day in 2020.
Kristie Craig – Brandan Craig’s Mother
Kristie Craig is Brandan Craig’s mother and was also an accomplished soccer player.
Kristie played high school soccer at Council Rock before continuing her career at Temple University.
Brandan has described his mother as a four-year starter at Temple and has emphasized that her athletic ability contributed significantly to his own soccer background.
In a detailed Philadelphia Inquirer interview, Brandan explained that discussions about his development often focus on him and his father while overlooking his mother.
He made a point of giving Kristie credit for her athletic genes and described himself as fortunate to have both Andrew and Kristie as his parents.
Kristie Craig’s Soccer Connection With Heike Sullivan
Kristie Craig’s soccer story is also connected with the Sullivan family.
Kristie and Quinn Sullivan’s mother, Heike, competed against each other during their college years before later becoming teammates with the United German Hungarians, a long-established Philadelphia-area soccer club.
That meant the Craig and Sullivan families were connected through soccer well before Brandan and Quinn developed into professional players.
Andrew Craig has said that the families have known each other since the 1980s and that their children grew up together.
Does Brandan Craig Have Siblings?
Yes. Brandan Craig has a younger brother named Andrew Craig.
Like Brandan and their parents, Andrew has pursued soccer seriously. He has developed as a central defender through the Philadelphia Union Academy and has also appeared in the Union II environment.
The two brothers therefore represent another generation of the Craig family maintaining its strong connection to Philadelphia soccer.
Andrew Craig – Brandan Craig’s Younger Brother
Andrew Craig was born on September 14, 2007, making him approximately three years younger than Brandan.
He plays primarily as a central defender, the same general position in which Brandan has established himself professionally.
Andrew entered the Philadelphia Union development structure when he was young and progressed through the club’s academy teams.
By 2026, he had become captain of the Union Academy U18 side and was beginning to receive opportunities with Philadelphia Union II.
Andrew Craig Followed Brandan Into the Union Academy
Brandan’s younger brother began his own Philadelphia Union journey through the Union Juniors program before progressing into the academy.
He eventually became an important member of the U18 team and helped the academy win the prestigious Dallas Cup in 2026.
Later that year, Andrew made his MLS NEXT Pro debut with Philadelphia Union II.
His development has naturally attracted comparisons with Brandan because both brothers are defenders and both came through the same academy.
However, Andrew has been developing his own career rather than simply following the exact route taken by his older brother.
Brandan Craig Grew Up in a Soccer Family
Few aspects of Brandan Craig’s background are as important as the sporting environment created by his parents.
His father played Division I college soccer at Temple, his mother also played at Temple, and his younger brother became a Union Academy defender.
Brandan therefore grew up with people around him who understood the sport at a competitive level.
Soccer was not simply an occasional family activity. It formed part of the family’s social life, friendships and connection to the broader Philadelphia community.
Brandan Craig’s British Connection Through His Father
Brandan Craig also has an international element to his family background through his father.
Andrew Craig was born in England while Brandan’s grandfather was stationed there with the United States military.
As a result of his father’s birthplace, Brandan has been reported to hold a British passport in addition to his American citizenship.
This connection attracted particular attention during Brandan’s youth because he travelled to England for soccer opportunities.
Who Is Brandan Craig’s Grandfather?
Brandan Craig’s paternal grandfather is John Craig.
John served as a master sergeant in the United States Air Force, and his military career resulted in the family spending time in England while Andrew Craig was young.
When Andrew later returned to Philadelphia and needed to choose a high school, John influenced his decision to attend Father Judge.
That choice eventually connected Andrew with coach Larry Sullivan and strengthened the relationship between the Craig and Sullivan soccer families.
In this way, decisions made by Brandan’s grandfather decades earlier indirectly contributed to the soccer environment in which Brandan eventually grew up.
Brandan Craig and Quinn Sullivan Grew Up Together
Brandan Craig’s childhood is closely connected to fellow Philadelphia Union academy graduate Quinn Sullivan.
The two were born only days apart in April 2004 and knew each other from infancy because their fathers played soccer together.
They began playing on the same teams when they were approximately four years old.
During childhood, they represented clubs including Lighthouse Soccer Club, Fishtown AC and Philadelphia Soccer Club before eventually entering the Philadelphia Union system.
Their development continued almost in parallel, culminating in both signing Homegrown contracts with the Union in November 2020.
They later represented the United States together at youth international level.
Brandan Craig’s Parents Supported His Development
Craig began attracting attention as a talented defender while still very young.
As his level increased, soccer required greater commitments from both Brandan and his family. Training sessions, tournaments and academy responsibilities became increasingly demanding.
His parents already understood that environment because both had been serious players themselves.
Rather than being unfamiliar with the sacrifices required by competitive soccer, Andrew and Kristie had firsthand experience of balancing education, training and competition.
The family remained closely involved as Brandan progressed from local Philadelphia soccer into one of the leading MLS academies.
Brandan Craig’s Philadelphia Union Journey
Craig spent several years developing within the Philadelphia Union Academy.
He represented the club across multiple age groups, ranging from the U12 level through U18/19 football.
In 2020, while still only 16, he became the youngest captain in Philadelphia Union II history.
His performances led to a Homegrown contract with the Union, officially beginning in 2021.
Craig eventually made his MLS first-team debut with Philadelphia before spending time on loan with Austin FC and El Paso Locomotive.
Brandan Craig Represented the United States With His Family Watching
Craig also became an important player for the United States at youth international level.
He played a central role when the United States won the 2022 Concacaf U20 Championship, a tournament that also secured qualification for both the FIFA U20 World Cup and the Olympic football tournament.
While Brandan was competing in Honduras alongside longtime friend Quinn Sullivan, their fathers remained in Philadelphia communicating throughout the tournament.
Andrew Craig expressed pride in seeing two boys who had grown up together in Philadelphia succeed internationally.
Craig later played every minute of the United States’ 2023 FIFA U20 World Cup campaign as the team reached the quarterfinals.
Brandan Craig’s Move to CF Montréal
After leaving the Philadelphia Union organization following the 2024 season, Craig joined CF Montréal in February 2025.
The move gave him the opportunity to establish himself more regularly at the Major League Soccer level after several years in which much of his playing time had come with reserve teams and on loan.
CF Montréal initially signed Craig for the 2025 season with club options for 2026, 2027 and 2028.
The club subsequently exercised his option for the 2026 season, keeping the Philadelphia-born defender in Montréal.
The Craig Family’s Soccer Legacy Continues
Brandan Craig’s family provides an unusual example of multiple generations becoming deeply connected to the same sport.
His father Andrew was an outstanding Temple player, while his mother Kristie also competed for Temple after playing at Council Rock.
Brandan then progressed through the Philadelphia Union Academy and represented the United States internationally.
His younger brother Andrew has continued the story by becoming a defender and captain within the same Union academy system.
The Craig family’s relationship with soccer therefore extends well beyond Brandan’s individual professional career.
Brandan Craig Keeps His Romantic Life Private
Although Brandan has openly discussed his parents and football upbringing, he has revealed much less about his romantic life.
As of now, no girlfriend or wife has been publicly confirmed through a sufficiently reliable source, and there is no dependable reporting indicating that Craig has children.
The publicly documented Craig family instead centers on his parents, Andrew and Kristie, his younger brother Andrew and his paternal grandfather John.
Brandan’s story is particularly notable because soccer connects almost every publicly known member of his immediate family, from his parents’ college careers to his younger brother’s current development in the Philadelphia Union system.
Frequently Asked Questions About Brandan Craig’s Family
Who is Brandan Craig’s girlfriend?
As of now, Brandan Craig has not publicly confirmed a girlfriend through a reliable source.
Is Brandan Craig married?
There is no reliable public confirmation that Brandan Craig is married.
Does Brandan Craig have children?
No children have been publicly confirmed for Brandan Craig.
Who are Brandan Craig’s parents?
Brandan Craig’s parents are Andrew Craig and Kristie Craig. Both were competitive soccer players and played at Temple University.
Who is Brandan Craig’s father?
His father is Andrew Craig, a former Father Judge and Temple University soccer player who was named the Atlantic 10 Player of the Year in 1993.
Who is Brandan Craig’s mother?
His mother is Kristie Craig. She played soccer at Council Rock before becoming a four-year starter at Temple University.
Does Brandan Craig have a brother?
Yes. Brandan has a younger brother named Andrew Craig, who plays as a defender and has developed through the Philadelphia Union Academy.
How old is Brandan Craig’s brother Andrew?
Andrew Craig was born on September 14, 2007.
Does Brandan Craig have a sister?
As of now, reliable public sources reviewed do not identify a sister. His publicly documented sibling is his younger brother Andrew.
Who is Brandan Craig’s grandfather?
His paternal grandfather is John Craig, a former United States Air Force master sergeant.
Is Brandan Craig English?
Brandan was born in Philadelphia and represents the United States, but he also has a British connection because his father Andrew was born in England. Brandan has been reported to hold a British passport.
Did Brandan Craig’s parents play soccer?
Yes. Both parents played competitive soccer. Andrew Craig starred at Temple University, while Kristie Craig was a four-year starter for Temple’s women’s team.
Where was Brandan Craig born?
Brandan Craig was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States, on April 7, 2004.
Where does Brandan Craig play now?
Brandan Craig plays as a defender for CF Montréal in Major League Soccer.
Helena Lena Jessica Da Laila is a football writer covering Spanish women’s football, with a focus on Liga F, tactical trends, and emerging talents shaping the women’s game in Spain.
