The line to enter Philadelphia’s African American Museum stretched a full block up Arch Street on Juneteenth Friday morning and never let up all day — not through performances by the West Powelton Steppers and not even when Doug E. Fresh and Slick Rick took the stage.
History, whether from these hip-hop legends or the Black ancestors summoned by the crowd during the ritual pouring of libations, was all around.
Tahirah Barnett, of Southwest Philadelphia, with Order of Eastern Stars Prince Hall Adopted Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, (Center right) raises her finger in the air with fellow crowd members as Mayor Cherelle L. Parker speaks at the Juneteenth Block Party at the African American Museum in Philadelphia, Pa., on Friday, June 19, 2026.Tyger Williams / Staff Photographer
“It’s important for me to be out and show my kids how we connect to our ancestors, how we connect to the present as well, and to be with community,” said Velena Flores, 47, an administrator at Jefferson Hospital. “My grandmothers, they all passed away. My father passed away, my uncles. So all the ancestors are gone.”
Walene White of Northeast Philadelphia came with her aunt, Tiffany White, and her 13-year-old daughter and niece. As she waited to enter the museum, she reveled in the energy of the day.
“We’re just breaking down Black history, breaking down the day of Juneteenth — the significance— and letting them come and see and enjoy the environment,” White said.
The Marian Anderson Scholar Artists and Choral Ensemble performing at the Juneteenth Block Party at the African American Museum in Philadelphia, Pa., on Friday, June 19, 2026.Tyger Williams / Staff Photographer
Inside the museum, Ronald Holmes, 66, of Oxford Circle wore his Josh Gibson No. 20 jersey and Homestead Grays cap, honoring the great Negro Leagues catcher.
On the first floor, Holmes encountered a new exhibit on Ona Judge, the young woman enslaved by George and Martha Washington who escaped the presidential mansion in Philadelphia on May 21, 1796. She later settled in Portsmouth, N.H.
Shirley Taylor, 65, and Ronald Holmes, 66, of Oxford Circle, inside the African American Museum of Philadelphia on Juneteenth, 2026.Amy S. Rosenberg / staff
A few blocks away, at the site of the President’s House, controversy over how that history is presented continued. A federal appeals court ruling issued Thursday said the Trump administration can install its own slavery exhibits over the objections of the city of Philadelphia.
Inside the AAMP, though, Judge’s story was on full display. Created in collaboration with the Ona Judge Coalition, the exhibit includes video featuring some of the panels that the Trump administration fought to remove.
“Why would they fight so hard for that?” Holmes said. “And it’s our money they use to fight to take these things down, think about that, too. It’s mind boggling. But that tells you, the struggle is not over. We celebrate where we got to right now, but you know it’s not that final celebration.”
Mayor Cherelle L. Parker attending the Juneteenth Block Party at the African American Museum in Philadelphia, Pa., on Friday, June 19, 2026.Tyger Williams / Staff Photographer
Founded in 1976 during the nation’s Bicentennial, the African American Museum in Philadelphia was the first institution funded and built by a major municipality to preserve, interpret, and exhibit the heritage of African American history and culture.
West Powelton Steppers at the Philly African American Museum’s Juneteenth block party. pic.twitter.com/5EqiGASe6q
The Juneteenth Jubilee kicks off the 16-day Wawa Welcome America festival, which culminates in the city’s celebration of the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence.
The Juneteenth holiday, which former President Biden made a federal holiday in 2021, celebrates the day in 1865 when a Union general arrived in Galveston, Texas, and informed enslaved African Americans that the Civil War had ended and they were free — more than two years after President Abraham Lincoln issued the Emancipation Proclamation.
Aquil Dantzler, 26, of West Philadelphia, Pa., Singer and Song writer, poses for a portrait at the Juneteenth Block Party at the African American Museum in Philadelphia, Pa., on Friday, June 19, 2026.Tyger Williams / Staff Photographer
Philadelphia Mayor Cherelle L. Parker, attending the block party, said the museum played a “super huge role” in preserving the city’s history and that she remains committed to raising enough money to move the museum to the Benjamin Franklin Parkway. There’s currently $50 million set aside for that move, she said.
Slick Rick performing at the Juneteenth Block Party at the African American Museum in Philadelphia, Pa., on Friday, June 19, 2026.Tyger Williams / Staff Photographer
After posing for photos with 6-year-old Salani Williams, the Little Miss Black America Ambassador, Parker she said the city would continue the legal fight to determine what is displayed at the President’s House site.
“We do need to think about what it looks like telling the true story of the birthplace of our nation,” she said.
Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro stopped by the museum in the afternoon and, after touring its exhibits, told reporters he would coordinate with Parker on the city’s response to the President’s House ruling.
“Look, it is unfortunate the president continues to try and whitewash our history,” Shapiro said. “I am not going to back down in the face of these attacks coming from the federal government against understanding our freedom, even the painful parts of it.”
The museum is also hosting “Ruth E. Carter: Afrofuturism in Costume Design,” a touring exhibition featuring more than 80 original designs from the two-time Academy Award-winning costume designer from films including Black Panther, Sinners, Do the Right Thing,Coming 2 America, and Malcolm X.
Costumes from the movie Sinners from the exhibit “Ruth E. Carter: Afrofuturism in Costume Design” exhibition at the African American Museum of Phiadelphia.Courtesy African American Museum of Philadelphia
By afternoon, an exuberant, old-school block party had taken over the space behind the museum as thousands danced to performances by Doug E. Fresh, Slick Rick, Leah Jenea, and DJ Jazzy Jeff.
“There’s only one Philly baby,” Doug E. Fresh told the crowd before recounting the history behind Juneteenth. “A long time ago, when slavery existed, it was supposed to be ended and they extended it 2 1/2 years more. It was a crime. It was disrespectful. But as usual, Black people survived. And thrived.” .”
Aaron McCord, of Morrisville, Pa., is with his daughter Charli, 5, and son Bryson, 9, at the Juneteenth Block Party at the African American Museum in Philadelphia, Pa., on Friday, June 19, 2026.Tyger Williams / Staff Photographer
There were local performers, artists, food trucks, children’s activities, and a vendor village of jewelry and crafts.
Tyshia and Joseph Ingram displayed their “ABC Affirmations” flash cards from their business, Liberated Young, they started for their daughter.
“The day historically, but also what we’re going through in our country right now, is really important,“ Tyshia said. ”One of our favorite affirmations is F is for free.”
Ashley Jordan, the museum’s president and CEO, said she was excited about the museum’s role in the 250th celebration and its future.
The Ona Judge exhibit and the President’s House dispute, she said, “show why Black museums matter.”
Crowd Pleaserz Donnie “Nyce” Thompson, of North Philadelphia, his daughter Aniyah, 8, and son Jaden, 16, performing on the street for folks attending the Juneteenth Block Party at the African American Museum in Philadelphia, Pa., on Friday, June 19, 2026.Tyger Williams / Staff Photographer
“There was a time when the complete story wasn’t being told,” she said. “Entities like us matter so stories can be told unimpaired. It lives here as its own story, its own entity, complete with its own panels.”
Marquez Efferson, of Northeast Philadelphia, Mlanjeni Magical Touring Theater, making balloons for folks attending the Juneteenth Block Party at the African American Museum in Philadelphia, Pa., on Friday, June 19, 2026.Tyger Williams / Staff Photographer
The museum’s exhibit “Audacious Freedom” has been expanded to include modern Philadelphia heroes, she said. “You don’t have to look far for history,” she said. “There’s Leon Sullivan, Cecil B. Moore, and Patti LaBelle.”
Tiffany White and her niece, Walene White, in line outside the African American Museum of Philadelphia on Juneteenth 2026.Amy S. Rosenberg / staff
Waiting in line, Tiffany White, 37, reflected on the holiday’s significance. “I can’t believe that it took so long to become a holiday,” she said. “And then people didn’t know, and two years later, they were still slaves? It’s crazy.”
Alaina Gibbs, an innovation strategist at Main Line Health, attended with about 50 colleagues through the health system’s Belonging and Inclusion employee resource group.
Many gather for this years Juneteenth Block Party at the African American Museum in Philadelphia, Pa., on Friday, June 19, 2026.Tyger Williams / Staff Photographer
Gibbs and colleague Michelle Johnson, 47, said the visit was part of an effort to engage more with the community.
“Today was the perfect place to do that,” Johnson said.
Juneteenth is “really about how you look back at your roots, find your cultural connection, and it’s about observing the freedom that we all enjoy and celebrate,” Gibbs said. “It’s progress.”
Noting the communication breakdown at the heart of the Juneteenth story, Gibbs added: “It brings the community back together to celebrate the freedom and the communication that’s needed to keep community connections.”
Monty-G, of South Philadelphia, Pa., seen out in the crowd as Mayor Cherelle L. Parker speaks at the Juneteenth Block Party at the African American Museum in Philadelphia, Pa., on Friday, June 19, 2026.Tyger Williams / Staff Photographer
“I like seeing the positivity and the togetherness right now in the city, this is the first time we’re coming together as a group from our organization,” Johnson said.
Flores, meanwhile, said she was mindful of the news surrounding the President’s House and other national debates but focused on the day’s celebration.
“I tell my kids we can get inundated with negative stuff every day,” she said. “The happiness and the love — that’s what I look for.”
Kids playing a basketball game at the Juneteenth Block Party at the African American Museum in Philadelphia, Pa., on Friday, June 19, 2026.Tyger Williams / Staff PhotographerAlexis Nixon, of Salt Lake City, Utah, is checking out GG Afrikan Elganz clothes during her visit to see her brother Daeshawn Nixon, of Brynmawr, Pa., at the Juneteenth Block Party at the African American Museum in Philadelphia, Pa., on Friday, June 19, 2026.Tyger Williams / Staff PhotographerKingkilliam Kato, 5, of Camden, N.J., is with his mom Annagjid Kato, for this years Juneteenth Block Party at the African American Museum in Philadelphia, Pa., on Friday, June 19, 2026.Tyger Williams / Staff Photographer
Mayor Cherelle L. Parker has declared a public safety emergency at Bartram Village, a vacant Philadelphia Housing Authority (PHA) complex in Southwest Philadelphia, after squatters moved in and caused extensive damage.
This declaration clears regulatory hurdles that had delayed PHA’s plans to rapidly demolish the 45-building complex, where the last tenant moved out in 2025.
“For too long, these vacant buildings have posed serious safety risks to surrounding residents and the broader community,” Parker said in a statement Thursday. “This action clears the way to remove those hazards and replace them with new housing, new opportunity, and new investment.”
Bartram Village dates to World War II, when it was built to host defense workers during the wartime industrial boom. The site was later transitioned to the traditional public housing program, providing affordable housing for up to 500 households.
PHA has been planning a probable demolition for a major redevelopment since at least 2018, when it was estimated the buildings required repairs reaching almost $200 million in today’s dollars. Former residents would have a right to one of the 688 new units planned for the site.
But after tenants were moved out, the 22-acre property attracted squatters despite PHA’s security patrols in the area. Beyond occupying the space, squatters tore copper wiring from the buildings and damaged the popular neighboring park and historic site of Bartram’s Garden.
“We boarded it up, it was secured, and almost immediately we realized that folks were penetrating those areas in the back and coming in through Bartram’s Garden,” said Kelvin Jeremiah, president of the housing authority. “But because of the size … it became a real issue. The more we removed people, the more they came in.”
Councilmember Jamie Gauthier’s office began raising alarms in February about the state of Bartram Village.
“I warned that failing to act quickly would [exacerbate] safety issues and cost taxpayers’ money,” Gauthier said. “The buildings became hot spots for squatters and provided cover for inflicting over half a million dollars of damage to Bartram’s Garden.”
An abandoned Bartram Village apartment, which will soon be demolished.Jake Blumgart
Jeremiah said the housing authority couldn’t move to demolish the buildings immediately because Bartram Village is eligible for inclusion on the National Register of Historic Places. The mayor’s emergency declaration allows the agency to bypass a lengthy federal review process. The buildings are not protected by local preservation regulations.
Following Parker’s actions Thursday, “we are now prepared to move forward on an expedited basis to have the site demolished,” Jeremiah said.
PHA plans nine apartment buildings and over 150 townhouses for the Bartram Village site, supported in part by a $50 million grant from the federal government.
It is a major part of Jeremiah’s aggressive plan to renovate all of the authority’s existing holdings while building 3,000 new units and buying at least 4,000 units from the private sector.
The redevelopment has been years in the making because of tenant relocations and the federally mandated delay in demolition.
“Southwest Philadelphians have waited far too long for promised improvements at Bartram Village,” said Gauthier, who represents the area.
“I’m glad that Mayor Parker took the important step today of signing a public safety declaration giving PHA permission to demolish existing structures because they have been causing unsafe conditions to the community for a very long time,” Gauthier said in a statement.
Lincoln Financial Field has been renamed “Philadelphia Stadium” for the duration of the World Cup. In addition to five group stage games, the city will host a Round of 16 game on July 4.
// Timestamp 06/19/26 10:38pm
Haiti first team eliminated from World Cup after losing to Brazil
Brazil’s Vinícius Júnior celebrates after scoring the third goal against Haiti Friday night. Jose F. Moreno / Staff Photographer
Vinícius Júnior scored and assisted on one of Matheus Cunha’s two goals as five-time champion Brazil eliminated Haiti from the World Cup with a 3-0 victory on Friday night.
Haiti, the Western Hemisphere’s poorest nation that qualified for the World Cup for the first time since 1974, became the first team guaranteed not to reach the knockout round. Meanwhile, the Seleção got the decisive performance they needed.
Cunha, the Manchester United standout, got the start and showed with every surf-and-slide goal celebration why he should have been in the starting lineup in Brazil’s listless 1-1 draw against Morocco. Brazil coach Carlo Ancelotti made the surprising decision in the opener to instead insert Cunha as a late substitute.
Cunha thrilled the Brazilian fans who made up the bulk of the 68,324 spectators at Lincoln Financial Field when he tapped in a rebound for his first career World Cup goal. He then sent a left-footed strike into the upper left corner for a 2-0 lead in the first half against the overmatched Haitians.
Brazil forward Raphinha, who was subbed out with an injury in the first half, had an early goal disallowed on an offside call that only temporarily muted the yellow-clad Seleção fans in an otherwise festive atmosphere at the home of the two-time Super Bowl champion Philadelphia Eagles — whose cheerleaders did their part to rally the crowd.
Cunha added to the frivolity in Philadelphia, home to nearly 6,000 Brazilian immigrants, when he flashed his familiar surfing celebration.
— Associated Press
// Timestamp 06/19/26 10:14pm
A full house in South Philly
It’s a full house at the Philly World Cup. We’re like the dang Tanner Family up in here.
Fans at the World Cup are riding the waves and doing the wave – three times around Philadelphia Stadium. My favorite part was the fan who kept yelling “It’s coming! It’s coming!”
Brazil fans Miguel Sosa and his son, Enzo, of Nebraska, attend Friday’s match against Haiti at the Linc. David Maialetti / Staff PhotographerA happy Brazilian fan with a unique hat watches Brazil’s dominance in South Philly. Jose F. Moreno / Staff PhotographerA Brazil fan waves his national flag during Brazil vs. Haiti. Jose F. Moreno / Staff PhotographerFans navigate the stairs in the upper concourse of the Linc, which has been rebranded Philadelphia Stadium. David Maialetti / Staff Photographer
SEATTLE — It turned out that the U.S. men’s soccer team didn’t need Christian Pulisic to beat Australia, and make history in doing so.
With the star playmaker unable to shake off a calf injury, the Americans used two first-half tallies and a raucous atmosphere in Seattle to earn a 2-0 win, before a packed-to-the-roof crowd of 66,925.
The win clinched qualification for the knockout rounds, and marked the first time since 1930 that the U.S. men’s program has won two games in a World Cup group stage.
The statisticians at TruMedia noted this marked the first time in World Cup history that one team benefited from own goals in consecutive games, following the opening tally of the U.S.’ win over Paraguay.
SEATTLE — I’ve just left the stadium here, three hours after the U.S. game ended, and all the sports bars across the street on Occidental Avenue are still packed.
The sun is shining, the temperature is in the 70s, there’s a breeze off the water, and it looks like the citywide party will keep going for a good while.
You can bet they’ll be watching Brazil-Haiti on the TVs here. And they’ll be watching the Mariners too, since they have a home game against the Red Sox in two hours. T-Mobile Park is a block south of Lumen Field, so there’s a mix of soccer and baseball fans around.
Emily Vanim of Pottstown welcomes fans to “FIFA-delphia” ahead of Friday night’s matchup betwen Brazil and Haiti.Stephanie Farr / Staff
Emily Vanim of Pottstown had one of the best FIFA volunteer jobs – sitting in a lifeguard chair with a megaphone welcoming fans to “FIFA-delphia” and answering all their questions.
“Never give a teacher a megaphone,” she said.
The sixth grade teacher said she’s met the best people as a FIFA volunteer.
“We’re friends for life and we’re having an awesome time,” she said. “It’s surreal and the fans are outstanding.”
Brazil fans tries to use Rocky curse against Argentina
🥊 🇦🇷 Nos Estados Unidos, é tradição entre torcedores rivais colocar bandeiras ou camisas na estátua de Rocky Balboa, em Filadélfia, para tentar dar azar ao adversário. Entrando na brincadeira, um torcedor brasileiro decidiu dar uma “forcinha” aos argentinos nesta Copa do Mundo.… pic.twitter.com/xvWKunH4It
Things got chippy towards the end of the U.S. men’s national team second group match against Australia, but it was forward Florian Balogun who kept composure in the face of a second yellow card.
Going in for a challenge in the 88th minute, Balogun and Australian defender Harry Souttar got tangled in the air and found Souttar with his arm wrapped around the neck of Balogun on the way down. Instead of reacting to the bait, Balogun who picked up a yellow card earlier in the match was smart to walk away.
It led commentator Stu Holden to say: “The Australians have come here to have a rugby match, but to have restraint in these moments, to not swing an arm and punch back. Souttar is trying to get under his skin.
It kicked off a string of chippy plays down the stretch, but in the end, the U.S. men picked up their second win in this World Cup, securing a berth into the knockout round of 32.
Depending on the result of tonight’s match between Turkey and Paraguay (11 p.m., FS1), should that game end in a draw, the U.S. will win Group D outright.
A lot of love in Philly as Brazil and Haiti fans get together
Bob Travers, 78, of Southhampton, was among tailgaters accepting high-fives at Lot L outside Philadelphia Stadium.
Travers wore a Brasil jersey and a hat that said “Dysfunctional Veteran.” This was his second World Cup, having gone to one in 1994. This one was better already though, he said, because he was accompanied by his sons and grandson.
“I love it,” he said “The atmosphere is fantastic!”
Perhaps the only time fans of opposing teams have gotten along while tailgating at the Linc, aka Philadelphia Stadium for the World Cup. The vibes are immaculate.
How bad was it for Australia? They made three subs at halftime.
Australia’s Paul Okon-Engstler reacts after a collision with a U.S. player. Lindsey Wasson
SEATTLE – You know a first half went badly for a team when it makes three substitutions at halftime.
That’s what Australia did, with the biggest one being Nestory Irankunda replacing Mohamed Touré up front. Why Iranknunda didn’t start, as one of the Socceroos’ rising stars, was a big question among the Australian media before kickoff.
The other moves were Jason Geria replacing the yellow-carded Cameron Burgess on the back line, and Connor Metcalfe replacing Nishan Velupillay in midfield.
Alex Freeman doubled the U.S. lead in the 43rd minute off a free kick play. But it wasn’t surprising the offside flag was up initially, and by the rules it could have stayed that way.
When Sergiño Dest took the initial shot that deflected up in the air, Folarin Balogun and Weston McKennie were clearly offside, while Freeman was not. And when the ball came down, Balogun was right next to Freeman, in close range to the goalkeeper.
Though Balogun didn’t touch the ball, his presence there could be called interfering with the goalkeeper, and that’s grounds for keeping the flag up. But the video review crew decided that Balogun didn’t interfere enough, so they let the goal stand.
Double celebration for Alex Freeman’s goal to put the U.S. up 2-0 before the half — once before the VAR, and once after
‘It’s such a dream’: Brazil fans take over Stateside Live!
Brazil fans at Stateside Live! in Philadelphia hours before their country takes on Haiti.Stephanie Farr / Staff
Stateside Live! turned into Brasil Live! Friday as a sea of fans descended on the stadium bar complex prior to their team’s World Cup game against Haiti at nearby Philadelphia Stadium.
By 3 p.m., the entire complex was a sea of yellow-and-green, dotted with islands of Haiti fans (and a few team USA fans) in red, white, and blue.
Belange Pierre, 54, of Ottawa, Canada, waved a Haitian flag outside the gates. He drove to Philly with four friends to catch his team’s first World Cup game in 50 years. They were confident they’d be driving back to Canada with a win under their belts after the game.
“Allons-y!” the group shouted, which is French for “Let’s go!”
Andre Magalhaes and his wife, Kelly Bennett, traveled from Orlando to watch Friday’s Brazil-Haiti game.Stephanie Farr / Staff
Andre Magalhaes, 47, a native of Brazil now living in Orlando, was counting down the hours until his first World Cup game at Stateside Live! Friday.
“It’s a child’s dream come true,” he said of attending his first World Cup match. “I’ve waited for this moment my entire life to be here.”
Magalhaes wore a leather cangaceiro, a traditional hat from Northeast Brazil. His wife, Kelly Bennett, 44, wore a team Brasil shirt a U.S. flag as a cape.
“We’re going to watch the game here then I’m going to fold up the flag and I’m going into the stadium and root for Brazil,” she said.
The couple, who are only in town for the three days, said they loved Philly’s sports complex.
“You have all three stadiums and public transit right here!” Bennett said. “It’s such a dream, especially coming from Orlando.”
SEATTLE – It didn’t take long for the United States’ shift to a two-striker front line to pay off.
Folarin Balogun’s hot form continued just 11 minutes in, as he forced an own goal off Cameron Burgess to put the Americans ahead. Antonee Robinson sprung Balogun down the left flank, and he sprinted almost all the way to the end line, then laid a pass into the middle for Ricardo Pepi and Sergiño Dest’s late runs.
But the ball hit Australian centerback Cameron Burgess near the six-yard box instead, and pinged right into the net.
The crowd was thrilled, and the hosts were off and running again.
Lumen Field, known as Seattle Stadium during the World Cup, ahead of U.S. vs. Australia Friday.Jonathan Tannenwald / Staff
SEATTLE – Like most NFL stadiums, Seattle’s press box is glass-enclosed, though it least it has some small windows that open to pick up a bit of the atmosphere.
But I wanted the real thing for a moment. So I snuck outside to the seating bowl for the players’ walkout and the national anthems.
Both sets of fans belted out their national anthems, with the Star-Spangled Banner ringing around the entire stadium. You could probably hear it up the street at the ferry terminal.
Media aren’t allowed to take videos inside the stadium unless they’re rightsholders, a FIFA rule I’ve lived with at every World Cup I’ve covered. But we can take photos, so here’s mine of what it looked like.
At Fan Fest, Mayor Parker thrilled to share ‘Philly-ness with the world’
Philadelphia Mayor Cherelle L. Parker at the opening of the FIFA Fan Festival in Fairmount Park Friday.Owen Hewitt / Staff
Mayor Cherelle L. Parker helped open the gates of the FIFA Fan Festival ahead of the U.S.’s clash with Australia at 3 p.m.
Parker stepped out into the crowd waiting at the festival’s main gate and posed for photos with fans waiting in line, including one with a group of traveling Scottish supporters.
Before the gates opened, Parker said she was appreciative that fans are showing up to the city and the festival “authentically, as themselves.”
“We are a global culture, and we are one people,” Parker said. “What makes America and the world so amazing, is that all of us, no matter the fabric, no matter the patchwork in our quilt, we make up a global humanity, and an American community that’s representative of everyone. I’m excited about it all.”
After greeting the line of fans waiting to get into the festival on Sedgley Drive, Parker walked into the festival to greet a few vendors. She stopped at the Bank of America tent to make a bracelet – she chose a black band with all the Philly-specific charms and a World Cup trophy charm – then stopped into the FIFA store on the festival grounds.
With the help of a few store associates, Parker picked out some kits and World Cup merch, including both Brazil jerseys, a seafoam France away jersey, a yellow Curaçao jersey, two World Cup logo shirts and a stripes U.S. jersey.
Parker said she’s enjoyed seeing soccer fans out and about in the city – especially Brazilian fans, whose team will take the field against Haiti at Lincoln Financial Field at 8:30 p.m.
“We were on the parkway, and Brazil was turning it out and up,” Parker said. “Everywhere we’ve been, they’re like, ‘Philadelphia is beautiful, the experience is great.’ You can be a visitor one time, but they’ll feel Philadelphia.
“You have to feel the energy here. We are not like any other city in the nation. There is something special about Philadelphia, and being able to share that Philly-ness with the world is something really exciting.”
Check out The Inquirer’s all-new pop-up soccer show!
Ahead of today’s pivotal World Cup matches, get up to speed on all things soccer with the Inquirer’s Soccer Extra, our pop-up soccer show during the matches here in Philly, featuring writer Jonathan Tannenwald and host Lisa Carlin.
Catch the show Thursdays at 11 a.m., until the final match at Philadelphia Stadium (aka the Linc) through July 4. In their second episode, the duo take a look at this first week of World Cup action and look ahead to Philly’s upcoming matches in Brazil-Haiti tonight and France-Iraq on Monday.
— Inquirer sports staff
// Timestamp 06/19/26 2:35pm
Like Philly, Seattle putting the ‘city’ in ‘World Cup host city’
Seattle Stadium, usually called Lumen Field, as fans arrive for the World Cup match between the U.S. and Australia Friday.Jonathan Tannenwald
SEATTLE – You might not think that Philadelphia and Seattle have much in common, thousands of miles apart and with different cultural vibes. But during this World Cup, it feels like they have a lot in common.
It’s not just that the U.S.-Australia and Brazil-Haiti games are on the same day, which has put the two cities at the top of the World Cup’s headlines. It’s that they’re true cities, the kind where you can feel the energy of a big event just by being there.
That’s how a World Cup is supposed to be, and has been at all the other ones I’ve been to. The sights and sounds of big fan gatherings are as important as the games themselves.
Philadelphia has seen that a few times now, from the Club World Cup last summer to the masses of Ecuador and Brazil fans in recent days. Soccer brings people together from all over the place like nothing else, even in a city where other sports are more important.
Another thing you can tell out here is how different things are from the first U.S. game in suburban Los Angeles. The stadium is exceptional and the atmosphere was great, but there just wasn’t the same kind of buzz beyond the game because L.A. isn’t the same kind of city.
Fans at Pioneer Square in Seattle.Jonathan Tannenwald
The downtown doesn’t matter as much, and everything else is way too sprawling – and that’s before getting to the U.S. camp being over an hour south in Orange County. You’re never going to have the same kind of buzz when everything around is highways and shopping centers.
In Philadelphia, you can walk anywhere in Center City, then take a quick subway ride to the game. Here, you can walk from the waterfront to the stadium, and there’s a light rail line across town too.
I made that walk this morning, and saw thousands of fans going in both directions. A “Men in Blazers” live show on one of the piers drew a huge crowd that filled the plaza and the sidewalks beyond it.
The big crowd here isn’t just wearing red, white, and blue. There are plenty of Australia backers too, all in their traditional green and gold. You’ll see them behind one end zone, behind the team’s bench, and in a few sections of the upper deck.
I unexpectedly walked through their fan march on the way to the stadium. Everyone was in good spirits, including the U.S. fans at bars nearby who responded with lighthearted boos and “USA!” chants.
One Socceroos fan carried the amusing sign you see above. A bunning snag is Australia’s similar culinary tradition, a grilled sausage in a folded piece of white bread topped with grilled onions, then ketchup and/or mustard.
SEATTLE – Christian Pulisic will not play in the U.S.-Australia game, as he hasn’t recovered enough from his calf injury to make the squad.
“Christian is not available,” U.S. manager Mauricio Pochettino told Fox Sports’ broadcast moments before FIFA published the teams’ starting lineups. “Let’s hope that as soon as possible he can be ready to be selected again, and to be part of the team. Now we need to be focused on our team, and the players that are going to play. We have ahead very important game – Australia is going to be really tough.”
Pochettino said Pulisic trained Friday morning and “the feelings are good” on the star playmaker’s overall recovery.
“A little bit sad,” Pochettino admitted. “He wanted to participate today. But it’s still [too] early.”
EXCLUSIVE: USA star Christian Pulisic is OUT today with a calf injury against Australia and Ricardo Pepi will get the start, USMNT manager Mauricio Pochettino tells FOX Sports’ @JennyTaft. pic.twitter.com/ZobSiOfjYx
Ricardo Pepi comes into the U.S. lineup, and that means a tactical shift with two strikers on the field. My guess is the Americans will line up in a 3-4-2-1 formation that looks like this:
Australia has all of its players healthy. The Socceroos’ starting lineup is headlined by rising star striker Nestory Irankunda and 6-foot-6 centerback Harry Souttar. There’s also a familiar face from MLS in New York City FC midfielder Aiden O’Neill.
The #USMNT starting lineup with Christian Pulisic out – Ricardo Pepi comes in to throw two strikers at Australia.
I am guessing it will look like this formation-wise…
Fans from all over gather for entrance into the FIFA Fan Festival
Fans wait to enter FIFA Fan Festival at Lemon Hill in East Fairmount Park Friday.Owen Hewitt / Staff
The gates of the FIFA Fan Festival don’t open to visitors until 2 p.m., but a line has already started to form at the main gate.
Gus Sanchez said he and his family had been in line since about noon after biking over from Northeast Philly.
Sanchez said he wanted to watch the U.S. men’s team take on Australia with a crowd, leading him to come over to the Fan Festival.
“It’s something I can’t explain,” Sanchez, 53, said. “Seeing people from different countries getting together, having fun, enjoying the game.”
The crowd is full of U.S. kits, but other nations are represented, too. Kits from Haiti and Brazil, which will face off tonight at Lincoln Financial Stadium, can be spotted in the line, as well as fans from Scotland.
Alex Nelson said he traveled from Prestwick to the U.S. to soak in the environment of the World Cup.
He traveled from Boston, where the Scots played Haiti on Saturday, to Philadelphia to take in Scotland-Morocco at the Fan Festival.
Nelson, sporting a tartan kilt, said he’s loved his time in Philly so far.
“Very clean city,” Nelson said. “Everybody has been so helpful. Everybody’s mixed in —the Brazilians, the Moroccans, U.S.A., all mixed. That’s what it’s all about.”
Brazil fans bring the party to Philly’s Rocky steps
// Timestamp 06/19/26 9:36am
Photos: Brazil fans take over Philly
Brazil fans play a little soccer as they rally at the Philadelphia Museum of Art Thursday. Elizabeth Robertson / Staff PhotographerThousands of Brazil fans swarmed the streets ahead of their team’s matchup against Haiti in Philly. Elizabeth Robertson / Staff PhotographerBrazil’s Lucas Paquetá poses for a photo with fans outside the Sofitel Philadelphia at Rittenhouse Square.Jose F. Moreno / Staff PhotographerBrazil soccer fans wait outside of the Sofitel Philadelphia at Rittenhouse Square to greet the players. Aidan T. Gallo / Staff PhotographerA Brazil soccer fan cheers outside the Sofitel Philadelphia at Rittenhouse Square. Aidan T. Gallo / Staff PhotographerBrazil fans are hoping for the team’s first 2026 World Cup win in Philly. Aidan T. Gallo / Staff Photographer
// Timestamp 06/19/26 8:09am
Everything you need to know about the World Cup in Philly
Philadelphia’s second World Cup game is Sunday night.
Brazil fans work to avoid Rocky curse again of Philly game
Brazil fans guard the Rocky statue at the Philadelphia Museum of Art to prevent being jinxed.Elizabeth Robertson / Staff Photographer
International soccer supporters, be warned — clothe the Rocky statue at your own risk.
The fans of the Ecuadorian national team learned Sunday what many NFL fans already know about draping their colors over the statue of Rocky on the steps of the Philadelphia Art Museum.
Ecuadorian supporters fitted Rocky with a yellow La Tri kit, then saw their team concede a 90th-minute winner in its FIFA World Cup group-stage opener against Ivory Coast on Sunday at Lincoln Financial Field (aka Philadelphia Stadium).
The effects of the “Rocky curse” are well-documented when it comes to football, but it was relatively untested on the beautiful game. Ecuador lost, 1-0, to the Ivorian side, which entered the tournament ranked 10 spots behind La Tri in the FIFA World Ranking.
With Brazil coming to Philly for a Group C match against Haiti on Friday (8:30 p.m., Fox29), Movimento Verde Amarelo, Brazil’s main supporters’ group, went to great lengths to ensure the yellow and green of the Canarinho stayed off the Rocky statue.
The Rocky statue was roped off with a four-post retractable nylon stanchion, with four members of MVA, sunglasses on and earpiece in, standing at attention at each corner as Brazilian fans gathered for a rally in front of the Art Museum.
The bodyguards discouraged fans from draping any Brazilian garb on the statue, holding signs that read:
“Operation Rocky Protectors — Attention: it is forbidden to put Brazilian colors on the statue.”
Matheus Henrique, 30, was one of the MVA members protecting the statue. Henrique, a native of Belém, Brazil, moved to Los Angeles a decade ago for college.
Henrique is friends with the person who helped organize Brazil’s takeover of the steps and responded when a call went out for volunteers to guard the statue.
“It’s a superstition, we heard,” Henrique said. “We’re enjoying the event as well.”
Christian Pulisic’s status a mystery ahead of USMNT-Australia
Christian Pulisic during a United States men’s national soccer team in Seattle Thursday.Jonathan Tannenwald
There was no surprise news about Christian Pulisic from U.S. men’s soccer team manager Mauricio Pochettino in his news conference before Friday’s game against Australia (3 p.m., Fox29, Telemundo 62). Pochettino did not rule the star playmaker in or out, and that was not surprising.
“As you know, he was training in an individual way the whole week,” Pochettino said. “But like always, I think tonight, the day before the game, we have a meeting with our medical area, and we will assess the whole group, the players, and tomorrow we will communicate all the things that we can agree tonight.”
Pulisic was seen briefly at the start of Thursday’s practice, then headed off to work on his own. When he arrived, he wasn’t wearing the sleeve over his injured left calf that he sported on Wednesday. But after a few minutes, he sat down on a bench by the sideline and put it on.
“He is evolving, he is much better from [last] Friday,” Pochettino said. “I think at the moment we’ll see. … He’s doing a massive effort trying to be ready.”
The manager also praised Pulisic for being “strong and with a great mentality” as the Hershey native works to be ready for kickoff.
Asked who might play if Pulisic can’t go, Pochettino didn’t answer. This was no surprise either.
“I will tell tomorrow if that is the situation,” he said. “At the moment, we are evaluating all the possibilities just in case, and then we will decide when we have the confirmation in one or another direction tonight.”
Former U.S. men’s star Landon Donovan will be on the call for Brazil vs. Haiti in Philly Friday night.Katharine Lotze
The second of six World Cup matches will take place Friday night in Philadelphia, with Brazil taking on Haiti (8:30 p.m., Fox) in Group C action.
Calling the game on Fox tonight will be veteran soccer announcer Ian Darke, joined by former U.S. men’s national great Landon Donovan. Natalie Gedra will handle reporting at Philadelphia Stadium, otherwise known as Lincoln Financial Field.
Brazil vs Haiti
Time: 8:30 p.m. Philly time
Location: Philadelphia Stadium (Lincoln Financial Field)
TV: Fox (Ian Darke, Landon Donovan)
Spanish: Telemundo (Luis Omar Tapia, Diego Balado)
Philly hosted its first-ever men’s World Cup match last week, with Ivory Coast topping Ecuador.Jose F. Moreno / Staff Photographer
Philadelphia was the star during its first 2026 World Cup match, which featured an Ivory Coast upset in front of a re-branding Lincoln Financal Field filled with Ecuador fans.
Philadelphia Stadium, as it’s called during the tournament, will host five more World Cup games, including a Round of 16 matchup on July 4.
Think you know your news? There’s only one way to find out. Welcome back to our weekly News Quiz — a quick way to see if your reading habits are sinking in and to put your local news knowledge to the test.
Question 1 of 10
A rowhome hosting the only collaborative Keith Haring mural that still stands in its original location is up for rent. What neighborhood is it located in?
CorrectIncorrect. XX% of other readers got this question right.
On the corner of 22nd and Ellsworth Streets in Point Breeze, We The Youth stands on the facade of a 1,797-square-foot, three-story rowhouse that's up for rent. Its location was important to Haring. He didn’t want it to be somewhere too upscale or trendy, according to collaborators.
Question 2 of 10
Roxanne, the Michelin-recognized restaurant that an Inquirer report revealed lacked a restaurant license, has reopened. What new features does it have?
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With a license to operate and passed health inspection, Roxanne’s reopening comes with several new features, including a BYOB format and a lunch menu.
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Question 3 of 10
Philly’s Cathedral Basilica is the canvas for a new immersive light show. "Luminiscence" will bring the interior walls of the Cathedral Basilica of SS. Peter and Paul to life through August with a light show set to classical music. Philadelphia is only the second U.S. city to host a production. Which city was the first?
CorrectIncorrect. XX% of other readers got this question right.
“Luminiscence” events — which are specifically designed for cathedrals and basilicas — began in France. Philadelphia is only the second U.S. city to host a production. The first was held at the Basilica of Saint Mary in Minneapolis last year.
Question 4 of 10
A free giveaway item at FIFA Fan Festivals nationwide, including Philadelphia’s, has gone viral and is drawing hours-long lines. What is the giveaway item?
CorrectIncorrect. XX% of other readers got this question right.
Mimicking a Pandora bracelet, Bank of America’s free Fan Bands are composed of a red, blue, or black woven band and an assortment of five metal beads that lace through. Available beads include numbers, flags, a FIFA World Cup trophy, and several city-specific designs that pair with World Cup host cities. The Fan Bands have prompted extremely long lines each day of Fan Fest.
Question 5 of 10
Royal Sushi & Izakaya Chef Jesse Ito was one of two Philaelphia-based James Beard Award recipients this week. Ito won for Best Chef, a title he said has been “a long ride.” Ito has been up for the award before. How many times was he nominated in total?
CorrectIncorrect. XX% of other readers got this question right.
The chef behind the Queen Village omakase counter and its more casual bar and restaurant has been nominated nine times for the award, which honors the top culinary talent across Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Delaware, Maryland, Virginia, and Washington. This go-around, Ito beat out two-time finalist Amanda Shulman — whose Her Place Supper Club earned one of Philly’s first Michelin stars last year — and Omar Tate and Cybille St.Aude-Tate of Honeysuckle, who transformed their cafe-market into a Michelin-recommended prix fixe restaurant in 2025.
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This big chain is implementing its own delivery drones across Philadelphia in an effort to battle with Amazon:
CorrectIncorrect. XX% of other readers got this question right.
Wing, the first company to offer commercial drone delivery to homes in the United States, announced this week that it will expand its partnership with Walmart to bring drone service to seven new cities, including the City of Brotherly Love, sometime in 2027. It’s the latest chapter in a high-speed delivery war between Walmart and Amazon.
Question 7 of 10
Rita’s Italian Ice & Frozen Custard has added a new limited-edition flavor to its summer menu. It’s called ‘mermaid’ and is only available for about a month. What’s one of its primary ingredients?
CorrectIncorrect. XX% of other readers got this question right.
Mermaid Italian Ice is a vibrant pink flavor that combines berry and marshmallow and comes topped with glitter. The Bensalem-born water ice purveyor is offering the flavor at all 600 Rita’s locations nationwide until Sunday, July 19.
Question 8 of 10
It’s believed this one gesture destined Ecuador to lose on Sunday against Ivory Coast in the FIFA World Cup game played in Philadelphia:
CorrectIncorrect. XX% of other readers got this question right.
Despite warnings throughout the day, Ecuador fans dressed the Rocky statue in a jersey and team flag, perhaps plaguing the team to a loss out of their control. The “Rocky statue curse” is a famous jinx that comes into effect when a team’s fans dress the boxer in an opposing team’s gear. Ecuador fans could be seen Monday leaving Rocky offerings in an attempt to reverse the curse. Brazil fans and Pennsylvania’s tourism office have also issued warnings about the curse.
Question 9 of 10
The Stonewall Riots in 1969 became a watershed moment in the fight for queer rights. But four years earlier, LGBTQ activists gathered at this Philadelphia spot for the first Remembrance March:
CorrectIncorrect. XX% of other readers got this question right.
On July 4, 1965, gay activists Frank Kameny, of Washington, D.C., Craig Rodwell, of New York, and Barbara Gittings, of Philadelphia, gathered 40 of their LGBTQ brethren in front of Independence Hall to demand equality. Held four years before the Stonewall Uprising in 1969, the march made history as the country’s first gay rights demonstration. That 1965 march became an annual protest, now known as the Remembrance March.
Question 10 of 10
A federal court reached a ruling this week involving exhibits at the President's House Site, which has been at the center of a court dispute regarding which agency controls the content the public sees. The exhibits discussed in the lawsuit primarily tell the story of:
CorrectIncorrect. XX% of other readers got this question right.
A three-judge Third Circuit Court of Appeals panel unanimously agreed Thursday to toss out an injunction issued by a Philadelphia district court judge in February that ordered the National Park Service to restore interpretive panels telling the history of the nine individuals who were enslaved by Washington at the President’s House. The judges further found that the federal government’s proposed replacement panels, which historians say whitewash Washington’s role in slavery, “are full of historical context.”
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President Donald Trump’s administration sued Philadelphia and some of its top officials Thursday over a new ordinance that bars law enforcement officers from concealing their identities and effectively bans federal immigration agents from wearing masks.
The law, part of City Council’s recently adopted “ICE Out” package of legislation imposing some of the nation’s toughest local restrictions on immigration agents, is “blatantly unconstitutional,” the lawsuit said.
“Such an ordinance also undermines the principles of federalism that underlie our entire constitutional order by seeking to prevent effective federal law enforcement within Philadelphia,” according to the complaint.
The ordinance makes it a crime for any law enforcement officer, including Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents, to wear face coverings or conceal personal identifiers like badges and nameplates while carrying out their official duties in the city, and it requires officers to identify themselves. It also prohibits the use of unmarked vehicles.
The bill includes exceptions allowing officers to wear masks in certain circumstances, such as medical emergencies or SWAT operations.
An officerwho violates the ordinance could be prosecuted, and risks up to 90 days in jail plus a fine.
The suit, filed in the Eastern District of Pennsylvania, names as defendants the city, Mayor Cherelle L. Parker, District Attorney Larry Krasner, and City Solicitor Renee Garcia. It asks a federal judge to find the bills unconstitutional, warning that federal agents could suffer irreparable harm if the policy remains in place.
“Protecting officers’ personal identities is particularly important during high-risk enforcement operations involving individuals with violent criminal history, gang affiliations, transnational criminal organizations, and known or suspected terrorists,” the suit says.
The lawsuit marks the Trump administration’s most significant action targeting Philadelphia’s immigrant-friendly policies to date.
“Today we regrettably had to sue the birthplace of this great Nation,” Associate Attorney General Stanley Woodward said in a statement. “But we will not sit by while Philadelphia flagrantly violates our Constitution, seeking to criminally punish our Nation’s law enforcement heroes merely for doing their job.”
Philadelphia has long been known as a sanctuary city primarily because it does not comply with ICE-issued detainers, in which federal agents ask local jails to facilitate the arrest of undocumented immigrants in their custody.
But Parker has largely avoided direct confrontation with the White House over the issue, a reversal from the combative stance of her predecessor, former Mayor Jim Kenney.
Parker’s supporters credit her with careful, crafty management of the city’s relationship with Trump, noting Philadelphia has been spared from the surges of federal agents the president has sent to other cities. But immigration advocates say Parker has backed away from a fight at a time when strong action is most needed.
The tension surfaced when Parker decided to let the mask bill became law without her signature, after Garcia warned the mayor that the provisions might not be legally enforceable.
Council members, however, wanted to take a more proactive stance against Trump’s nationwide deportation campaign. And they seem to have gotten his attention.
Councilmember Kendra Brooks, who coauthored the “ICE Out” package, said she “will not back down from this fight.”
“Philadelphia doesn’t like bullies. And we certainly don’t like masked PPD officers or ICE agents terrorizing our neighbors,” Brooks said in a statement. “The people of this city expected our leaders to fight back against Trump’s invasion. That’s what we did when we passed ICE Out.”
Brooks noted that the lawsuit cites the Parker administration’s publicly aired concerns about the bill, and said other jurisdictions targeted by Trump after they passed legislation restraining ICE have not had to deal with that dynamic.
“Other lawsuits aren’t dealing with the City’s own words about the laws being used against them,” Brooks said.
The Parker administration declined to comment.
The Pennsylvania Immigration Coalition condemned the lawsuit as a political effort to undermine local policies that keep families safe, strengthen public trust, and ensure city resources serve Philadelphians.
“Once again the Trump administration is using the courts to wage a political campaign against immigrant communities, instead of addressing the real needs of our country,” coalition executive director Jasmine Rivera said in a statement. “Pennsylvanians have been clear, they do not want more immigration enforcement and detention centers, they want affordable education, healthcare, and housing.”
Councilmember Rue Landau, the legislation’s other coauthor, criticized Trump for “targeting Philadelphia because our city dared to stand up and say that masked federal agents should not be able to operate in our communities and target our vulnerable neighbors without accountability.”
‘We will arrest you’
In addition to banning officers from concealing their identities, the “ICE Out” package, which in April passed Council with a veto-proof supermajority, prohibits federal immigration agencies from staging raids on city-owned property, bans discrimination on the basis of citizenship status, and prohibits the city from engaging in most forms of information-sharing with ICE.
The legislation also codified some of Philadelphia’s long-standing sanctuary city policies that had been established only through executive order — most notably a ban on city jails honoring ICE detainers not accompanied by judicial warrants.
Parker did not sign the bill after Garcia expressed concern about the ban’s “significant legal and operational challenges,” the suit notes. The mayor’s signature would signal the Parker administration’s intent to enforce the requirement, the solicitor said, and would send an inaccurate signal that the prohibition was enforceable.
While Parker might have attempted to distance herself from the requirement by not signing the bill, the lawsuit quotes Krasner threatening federal agents with prosecution.
“We will arrest you. We will put handcuffs on you. We will close those cuffs. We will put you in a cell,” Krasner said in January. “We will do everything in our power to convict you and we will make sure you serve your entire sentence because Donald Trump has no power whatsoever to pardon you.”
Larry Krasner shown here during a press conference at City Hall to announce a package of bills aimed at pushing back against ICE enforcement in Philadelphia, January 27, 2026.Jessica Griffin / Staff Photographer
Philly case could have national stakes
The complaint makes clear that by bringing this lawsuit, the Department of Justice is not closing the door on challenges to other ICE Out ordinances.
Around the country, more and more Democratic-led communities are attempting to regulate what ICE can and cannot do within their jurisdictions. And doing so with the support of immigrant communities.
“In all the ways that ICE agents terrorize and violate the rights of our community, masked kidnappings are ones we consistently see and hear about,” said Erika Guadalupe Núñez, executive director of Juntos, the South- Philadelphia-based immigrant advocacy organization.
She said, however, that “we’re part of a strong local movement organized to fight back, and we all embody the spirit of this city, we will not back down easily.”
In March, the Montgomery County Board of Commissioners passed a resolution that restricted the agency from using county property or resources for civil investigations.
Issues around masks and identification have been particularly contentious.
Activists in Philadelphia and elsewhere say ICE arrests often look like kidnappings or muggings, where men in ordinary clothes, with no visible identification, suddenly descend on their target. The people being arrested may think they are being attacked by criminals.
Several states, including New Jersey and New York, have passed laws to ban law enforcement officers, including ICE, from wearing facial coverings while on duty.
In April, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit upheld a lower court’s injunction on a California law that required federal agents to “visibly display identification.” The unanimous three-judge panel ruled that the requirement violated the Constitution’s supremacy clause, which bars the states from regulating federal government activities.
New Jersey Gov. Mikie Sherrill signed bills in March that essentially banned ICE agents and police from wearing masks on the job, drawing pushback from Republican lawmakers. The Trump administration sued New Jersey in federal court in April, and the New Jersey Monitor and others reported that ICE agents continued to cover their faces during recent clashes with demonstrators outside the Delaney Hall immigrant detention center in Newark.
The Trump administration says federal immigration officers wear face coverings to protect themselves and their families from anti-ICE activists who may seek to identify and harm them. Assaults and death threats are on the rise, the administration said.
The city does not have a right to dictate the content of the panels, the court found.
The judges further found that the federal government’s proposed replacement panels, which historians say whitewash Washington’s role in slavery, “are full of historical context.”
The proposed panels “highlight the momentous events that took place in the President’s House and the other sites at Independence National Historical Park,” Judge Thomas M. Hardiman, a President George W. Bush appointee, wrote in the opinion. “They acknowledge the evil of slavery, including its injustices and hypocrisies, and, by telling the story of the nine slaves that Washington kept in the President’s House, remind us of their essential humanity.”
It was not immediately clear what would happen next at the site. The federal government did not immediately outline its next steps, and there are conflicting court rulings over the Trump administration’s push to remove displays from national parks that “inappropriately disparage Americans past or living.”
But the ruling does bring to a close a chapter in the President’s House litigation, the first courtroom clash between Trump and Mayor Cherelle L. Parker’s administration. Any further review of the injunction is at the discretion of the three judges, the full Third Circuit, or the Supreme Court and is not guaranteed.
Mijuel Johnson, a guide with The Black Journey: African-American Walking Tour of Philadelphia, leads District Court Judge Cynthia Rufe (right) as she visits the President’s House in Independence National Historical Park in February.Tom Gralish / Staff Photographer
The city was unable to convince the Third Circuit panel it has joint decision-making power with the federal government over the entirety of Independence National Historical Park because of the local ownership of Independence Hall.
Philadelphia has standing to argue in court that the federal government violated the contract signed when the city donated the President’s House to the National Park Service, Hardiman wrote. The agreement included a guarantee the federal agency would maintain the site.
But the city had to prove it could win based on that argument to keep the injunction alive, and the judges disagreed.
“The duty to ‘maintain’ is better understood as a general management obligation that accompanies ownership, not a promise that the exhibits will forever remain in place regardless of the owner’s wishes,” the opinion said.
The city’s claim that the removal was “arbitrary and capricious” under the Administrative Procedure Act also did not find purchase. The federal law allows challenges only to “final” agency actions, but the newly proposed panels show the January removal was not the Trump administration’s “last word on the matter,” the opinion said.
Avenging the Ancestors Coalition, one of the advocacy groups leading efforts to protect the President’s House, said in a statement that the group was disappointed by the decision but would persevere. The coalition was consulting its legal team to consider potential next steps.
“This is definitely not the end of this fight, nor does it diminish the importance of ensuring that the full truth of our nation’s history is preserved and presented accurately,” the organization said.
In a video statement Thursday, Parker said, “I will pursue every legal action possible in efforts to reverse this decision.”
A spokesperson for the U.S. Department of the Interior simply said: “Trust in Trump.”
Debate over history
A worker cleans the glass on the panel for Oney Judge after re-hanging it at the President’s House in Independence National Historical Park in February.Tom Gralish / Staff Photographer
The ruling is an inflection point in the tumultuous legal saga over whether the federal government has power to determine which version of U.S. history is displayed for public viewing — an issue even more salient ahead of the country’s 250th birthday on July Fourth.
The Trump administration ordered the removal of the President’s House exhibits in January after almost a year of scrutiny of the site. Months later, the government offered its own vision for how those panels would be replaced, quietly uploading them to the National Park Service website in April.
An Inquirer review of the panels found that the federal government had softened Washington’s role as an enslaver.
For instance, one proposed panel argues the people who were enslaved at the President’s House “experienced a greater modicum of autonomy than elsewhere in the South such as to explore the city and sometimes even attend the theater, with Washington buying the tickets.”
Historians argued the original panels were accurate, well-researched, and site-specific. The development of the site in the early 2000s was the product of collaboration across various disciplines including historians, artists, architects, and advocates.
But Thursday’s ruling says the Trump administration’s proposed displays offer a nuanced view on Washington’s and John Adams’ roles in or opinions on slavery, adequately highlight the stories of the nine people enslaved at the President’s House, thoroughly acknowledge the horrors and brutality of slavery, and uplift key figures in Black history.
“One panel … explains that Washington ‘often expressed discomfort with the institution and a desire to see it abolished,’ but, ‘as a Virginia plantation owner, his wealth and livelihood were deeply tied to it,’“ Hardiman wrote. ”Other panels provide an even broader overview of slavery and the struggle to extirpate it.”
The ruling landed just less than three weeks before the 250th anniversary celebrations, and one day before Juneteenth. Attorneys for the federal government said the new panels had been manufactured and were ready to be installed.
U.S. Rep. Brendan Boyle (D., Philadelphia), whose district includes Independence Park, said in a statement that Thursday’s ruling highlighted the urgency of passing his Protecting American History Act, which would shield historical displays at the park from government censorship.
“Just a block away from where our nation was founded, Donald Trump is choosing the path of tyrants who rewrite history instead of learning from it,” Boyle said. “As we approach America’s 250th anniversary, we must tell the full truth of our nation’s history — the good and the bad.”
The administration has appealed to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the First Circuit.
There is not a prescriptive way to resolve such conflicting rulings, which is why some legal scholars argue against so-called universal injunctions, in which one district judge’s ruling affects the entire country. The Supreme Court signaled its discomfort with those types of orders last year.
Conflicting rulings have become more prevalent during Trump’s tenure, as his administration has issued drastic measures that take immediate effect, said Michael Foreman, a professor at Penn State Dickinson Law.
Which order ends up prevailing will depend on whether the Massachusetts ruling is stayed, or if the issue escalates to the Supreme Court.
The authors of the Declaration of Independence wrote a preamble to set the tone for the document following it. Now, Philadelphia will have a preamble event ahead of the nation’s 250th celebration to match.
From Saturday through Monday, Wawa Welcome America and Philadelphia Parks and Recreation will host Philly Fair 250, a free series of family-friendly events including fireworks, musical performances, a trapeze experience, and a full-size replica of the Liberty Bell anyone can ring.
Philly Fair 250 will be held in Fairmount Park’s Centennial District, in front of the Please Touch Museum. Events will run from 2 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, and from 2 p.m. to 8 p.m. Monday.
Everett Jackson, professionally known as DJ Hollywood, tries out the trapeze activity set up for visitors to the Wawa Welcome America media preview for the Philly Fair 250 outside the Please Touch Museum.Erin Blewett / Mural Arts
As a Philly Fair 250 partner, the Please Touch Museum will be free Saturday and Sunday.
Parks and Recreation Commissioner Susan Slawson said it was exciting to host the event in the area where the city welcomed visitors for the Centennial Exhibition of 1876, the first world’s fair located in the United States. She said the fair was meant to celebrate “democracy, freedom, and all the opportunities you have here in the city of Philadelphia.”
There should be something for everyone at Philly Fair 250. The event will honor U.S. history with 13 food trucks, each offering food representing one of the original colonies. Philadelphia’s own Pink Sweat$ will headline an array of music performances on Sunday, and trainer Noel Davis will lead a workout on each weekend date.
Sue Slawson (center, left), commissioner of Philadelphia Parks and Recreation, and Jane Golden (cente, right), founder of Mural Arts, ring a replica of the Liberty Bell with other organizers and young attendees at the media preview for the Philly Fair 250.Erin Blewett / Mural Arts
And no summertime event would be complete without fireworks. The Science History Institute will have shows on Saturday and Sunday nights, as an extension of its new “Flash! Bang! Boom!” exhibition detailing the history and chemistry behind fireworks. While most people know fireworks originated in ancient China, much of the chemistry behind the modern style and color was shaped in the United States, said David Allen Cole, president and CEO of the Science History Institute.
“Really, since the birth of the American republic, fireworks have been a big feature of our lives,” he said.
Jesse Smith, vice president of interpretation and education and museum director at the Science History Institute, shows off the inside of a firework to demonstrate how it functions.Nate File / Staff
The 2000s pop-rock sensations the All-American Rejects are taking over the main stage at the FIFA Fan Festival next month.
Philadelphia Soccer 2026, the organizers of FIFA Fan Festival, announced that Micah Palace, the East Coast Spanglish rapper; and All-American Rejects will be the next major concert series to take place at Lemon Hill this summer.
Micah Palace, who launched his career with the single “No Sabo” in 2024, is finding even more popularity among soccer fans as he promotes his song “Rodeo” as a World Cup anthem on Instagram and TikTok. Palace will perform at Lemon Hill on Friday, June 26, at 6 p.m.
All-American Rejects, a band whose songs “Move Along” and “Dirty Little Secret” couldn’t be escaped in 2005, is bringing their catchy earworms to Lemon Hill on Monday, July 13, at 7 p.m.
Throughout the 39-day World Cup festival, music artists and performers will grace the stage. Already, global pop sensation Luis Fonsi headlined opening night on June 11, and Ecuadorian singer Johann Vera performed before the Ecuador vs. Ivory Coast match on June 14. More performances will continue to be announced as the festival progresses, organizers said.
A man was shot in the stomach while riding the L train in Center City on Thursday afternoon.
SEPTA Transit Police were investigating the shooting, which occurred around 1:30 p.m. on a westbound L train, also known as the Market-Frankford Line, at 15th Street Station located under City Hall and Dilworth Plaza.
Police transported the injured man, who was not identified, to a nearby hospital, where he was in stable condition, according to SEPTA. A search was underway for a suspect, whom police did not identify.
L train and trolley service resumed after having been stopped for around 30 minutes, a SEPTA spokesperson said.
Thousands of Ecuadorian fans came face-to-face with the Rocky statue curse over the weekend. As the Ecuadorian team fell to the Ivory Coast, 1-0, many blamed fans who draped the iconic statue of the Italian Stallion in their signature yellow jersey.
Their actions even triggered the Pennsylvania Tourism Office to officially alert teams worldwide:
“Philadelphia can’t wait to host you! (but Rocky does not need your kit),” the statement read.
The warning came too late for Ecuadorian native Gigio Benavides, who had spent a week hand-making a version of his team’s jersey with loved ones just to place it on Rocky on June 13, the day before the Ecuadorian loss.
But the 38-year-old didn’t know about the other teams that have suffered the same fate after gussying up Rocky in their own team’s unis.
“Rocky is an example of discipline and consistency. He was always facing people who had so much more, but he never gave up. We needed that spirit,” Benavides said in Spanish.
Ecuadorian soccer fans attend a flag-waving event at the Philadelphia Museum of Art steps along the Benjamin Franklin Parkway, ahead of their first round World Cup match against the Ivory Coast last weekend.Yong Kim / Staff Photographer
A week before the World Cup began, he measured the statue through online pictures to ensure the shirt would fit.
Five friends, who make school uniforms for a living, helped him bring the yellow shirt to life using a 2XL shirt template.
They left the sides open to ensure the statue’s lifted arms would fit, and his aunt sewed clips on the sides in case more room was needed.
“That was good because Rocky was really, really muscular,” Benavides said.
To top it off, they added Rocky’s name on the back with the inscription: “Dream, transcend, and make history.”
Benavides traveled 26 hours and 3,000 miles from his small town in Loja, Ecuador, to Philadelphia’s 30th Street Station. But, not before telling his friends that if they saw the shirt, to know that he made it.
He arrived before sunset on Saturday, hours before Ecuadorians flooded the Philadelphia Museum of Art’s steps.
“My only concerns at the time were not offending the people of Philadelphia or getting in legal trouble for putting the shirt on him,” Benavides said.
Gigio Benavides puts a custom Ecuador shirt on Rocky during last Saturday’s gathering at the Philadelphia Museum of Art steps.Gigio Benavides
When Benavides made it to the steps, the statue already had flags on, so he figured his shirt would only add to Rocky’s glory.
It wasn’t until hours later, when hate messages began pouring in, that he realized his mistake.
“Now everyone is saying I am bad luck,” Benavides said.
Amid the death threats and cruel messages, falling asleep proved a challenge. But he chose to look at the bright side: “Maybe Ecuador could break Rocky’s curse and set the city free,” he recalled thinking.
By Sunday morning, that hopefulness had turned into a need for survival. Yet, the full weight of the curse didn’t fall on his shoulders until he arrived inside the stadium.
Lincoln Financial Field, renamed Philadelphia Stadium for the World Cup, was an ocean of yellow, and many Ecuadorian influencers had already put a target on him by posting his name online.
By grace, his seat happened to be in a section where most of the spectators were not Ecuadorian. He sat between two men, one from Boston, the other from Brazil.
As Ivory Coast faced Ecuador, Benavides felt himself sweating, seeing the score fixed at zero. The continuous tie by halftime made him feel a dose of relief.
“I thought, if the curse is true, but we tied 0-0, then maybe we avoid it,” he said. “Either way, we must break it, because my life is on the line.”
One minute before the 90th-minute mark, Ivory Coast scored, leaving Benavides sobbing on his seat.
Ecuador forward Enner Valencia (center) and Ivory Coast defender Emmanuel Agbadou (right) collide when the head the ball in the first half of the World Cup Group E soccer match in Philadelphia on Sunday.David Maialetti / Staff Photographer
The hate worried Benavides, but nothing hurt more than feeling his good intentions had cursed his beloved team.
“I was crying so much that the guys from Brazil and Boston hugged me,” Benavides said. “They keep saying, ‘It’s OK man, it’s OK.’”
Feeling like a truck hit him, Benavides stayed seated as fans left the stadium wondering what would happen next. But the storm and the drops falling on his face didn’t allow for too much time for reflection.
By Monday morning, videos of Ecuadorians offering beer and Encebollado — a traditional Ecuadorian fish soup said to cure hangovers — to Rocky for him to lift the curse went viral.
Other Ecuadorian fans tried turning the curse to their favor and putting Germany’s shirt on Rocky, ahead of their match in New York on June 25. It’s a move the Pennsylvania Tourism Office said on their Instagram post that won’t work, because “the statue will know.”
Benavides himself did not attend, returning to plead with Rocky, but he did walk around the city before traveling to New Jersey, witnessing some of the fans himself.
“Seeing everyone so caught up in the game made me realize how much soccer helps us free ourselves from the heavy thing happening,” Benavides said. “So it’s OK if I have to take the fall, but let’s not forget to still have hope, and send good vibes to our team.”
Ecuadorian fans wait for their team to play Ivory Coast during the World Cup Group E soccer match in Philadelphia on Sunday.David Maialetti / Staff Photographer
