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  • Brandon Marsh joins Jhoan Duran as first-time All-Star: ‘It hasn’t hit me yet’

    Brandon Marsh joins Jhoan Duran as first-time All-Star: ‘It hasn’t hit me yet’

    KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Brandon Marsh tried not to think about it. Even as the periodic voting updates rolled in, he claimed to be concerned only with the Phillies’ next game, not the All-Star Game.

    Yet here he was Sunday, finally yielding to his inner 10-year-old over the fulfillment of a lifelong dream.

    “Growing up as a kid, playing in the backyard with the Wiffle bats, you always want to be an All-Star,” said Marsh, one day after being named not only to the National League roster but voted in as a starter by the fans. “You always want to call yourself an All-Star growing up. I’m thankful for all the people that voted, all the fans.”

    Five Phillies selected to 2026 All-Star Game, including first-timers Brandon Marsh and Jhoan Duran

    Marsh led NL outfielders in the final phase of the fan balloting. The support was merited. Entering play Sunday, he was sixth in the NL batting race with a .310 average. He had the Phillies’ third-best OPS (.856) and was settling into the cleanup spot behind Bryce Harper.

    Five Phillies players were selected for the All-Star Game on July 14 in Citizens Bank Park, with Marsh and closer Jhoan Duran as first-timers. Harper was named to his ninth All-Star Game as the commissioner’s pick, while Kyle Schwarber will make his fourth All-Star appearance and Cristopher Sánchez his second.

    “It’s a dream come true,” Duran said. “I always wanted to be there, and it happened this year.”

    Brandon Marsh was sixth in the NL with a .310 batting average through Saturday.Yong Kim / Staff Photographer

    Marsh took a winding path to the All-Star Game — in Philly, no less.

    Drafted in the second round by the Angels in 2016, Marsh made his major-league debut in July 2021 and got traded to the Phillies a year later for catcher Logan O’Hoppe. They envisioned him as their future center fielder, but eventually moved him to left.

    And as recently as last winter, even after Marsh batted .303 with an .836 OPS over the final five months of last season, the Phillies were intent on using him in a platoon role because it didn’t seem he would solve left-handed pitching.

    “To be honest, I came into the year having zero expectations for myself personally,” Marsh said. “I feel like I’ve learned that from a lot of the great players in this game. So, I didn’t have many expectations, and I think that’s honestly helped a little bit, just not pressing so hard and stuff like that.”

    ‘The game is where it needs to be’: Bryce Harper wants compromise (and no salary cap) to keep sport thriving

    Marsh started fast, with two doubles on opening day. But like the rest of the Phillies, he has thrived under interim manager Don Mattingly, batting .315 with 11 homers and an .882 OPS in 59 games entering Sunday.

    In a team meeting Saturday, roughly one hour before the series opener against the Royals, Mattingly held a team meeting to inform the All-Stars of their selections. Marsh didn’t have much time to process it. Not with a game to play.

    “Really, it hasn’t hit me yet, to be honest with you,” Marsh said. “Tonight, when I have a lot of time on my hands after the game, I’ll sit down and I’ll have my moment and just just wrap my head around everything and realize how special it is and how much of an honor it is to be in this in this position.”

    Surely, Marsh will think about his dad, Jake, who died in 2021 due to throat and neck cancer.

    “He’s got the best seat in the house, you know?” Marsh said. “He gets to watch from the front row. I think he’d be super proud. He’s a big reason of why I do it.”

    Phillies ace Cristopher Sanchez is a candidate to start the All-Star Game for the National League.Elizabeth Robertson / Staff Photographer

    A start for Sánchez?

    If Sánchez wasn’t already the leading candidate to be the NL’s starting pitcher, consider this: Brewers ace Jacob Misiorowski is lined up to start the final game before the break, leaving him unable to unleash his historic fastball in the All-Star Game.

    Sánchez, meanwhile, will pitch Monday in Kansas City and again Saturday in Detroit. Mattingly said Sánchez could pitch one inning in the All-Star Game on what would be his between-starts bullpen day.

    What would it mean to Sánchez to get the start?

    One-stop shopping for the Phillies at the trade deadline again? Here’s three teams that could be a fit

    “Still a couple of [starts] left,” he said through a team interpreter. “We’ll just have to wait and see.”

    Regardless, Sánchez said he expects to have at least 20 family members and friends in attendance at the All-Star Game.

    “Super excited and happy,” said Sánchez, who has a 2.00 ERA in 18 starts, second in the majors to only Misiorowski. “All the hard work that we’ve been putting in, it was worth it.”

    Phils pitcher Brad Keller runs to cover first base during the Chicago White Sox at Philadelphia Phillies MLB baseball game at Citizens Bank Park in Philadelphia on Friday, June 5, 2026.Elizabeth Robertson / Staff Photographer

    Extra bases

    Reliever Brad Keller (right forearm tendintis) pitched a scoreless inning for triple-A Lehigh Valley in Rochester, N.Y. He could be reinstated from the injured list and rejoin the Phillies’ bullpen as soon as Tuesday night, according to Mattingly. … With a fastball-heavy approach (35 four-seamers out of 69 pitches), Andrew Painter allowed one run on four hits in six walk-free innings Saturday in triple A. … Bench coach Dusty Wathan’s dad, John, was inducted into the Royals’ Hall of Fame before the game. John Wathan was Kansas City’s catcher for 10 years and managed the Royals from 1987-91. … The Phillies signed triple-A outfielder Bryan De La Cruz to a major-league contract, added him to the 40-man roster, and optioned him to Lehigh Valley. De La Cruz exercised an opt-out in his minor-league contract, prompting the move. Right-hander Jean Cabrera, who has a 9.10 ERA between triple A and double A, was designated for assignment. … Sánchez (10-3, 2.00 ERA) will be opposed by Royals lefty Noah Cameron (4-6, 4.95) in the series finale Monday at 2:10 p.m. ET.

  • Bryce Harper is ‘grateful’ to be MLB commissioner’s All-Star pick. He’s also earned it.

    Bryce Harper is ‘grateful’ to be MLB commissioner’s All-Star pick. He’s also earned it.

    KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Bryce Harper saw the missed call on his phone Wednesday after the Phillies got off the field at Citizens Bank Park.

    Rob Manfred wanted to chat.

    The last time they talked, almost a year ago, it ended with Harper telling the commissioner to “get the [heck] out of our clubhouse” if he wanted to propose a salary cap in baseball.

    But Manfred had something less divisive on his mind. He wanted to use his one selection to name Harper to the National League team for the 96th All-Star Game on July 14 in Philadelphia.

    ‘The game is where it needs to be’: Bryce Harper wants compromise (and no salary cap) to keep sport thriving

    “Yeah, he called me and told me I was going to be his pick,” Harper said Sunday. “He said that I’ve had a great first half, and I think the numbers kind of speak for themselves. I think I had an opportunity [to be an All-Star]. Obviously with the fan vote it didn’t happen, so he gave me the opportunity. Definitely grateful for that and excited to be there.”

    So, Harper and Manfred are pals now?

    Harper laughed.

    “No, I’m just grateful for the opportunity,” said Harper, a nine-time All-Star, with more selections than any active player except Mike Trout (12), Chris Sale (10), and Freddie Freeman (10). “He left me a voicemail during the game and told me he wanted to talk about the All-Star Game. I wasn’t sure what the question was going to be at that point, but then we talked and he let me know.

    Bryce Harper said, “I think I deserve to be in the game for the way I’ve played.”Yong Kim / Staff Photographer

    “I think I deserve to be in the game for the way I’ve played, so definitely grateful for it.”

    Indeed, entering Sunday’s games, Harper was tied for 11th in the majors with a .903 OPS and was among 15 players with at least 20 home runs. He was batting .274 with a .374 on-base percentage.

    The numbers are notable. Last October, in a season-ending news conference, Phillies president of baseball operations Dave Dombrowski wondered aloud if Harper, at age 33, was still elite.

    A few days ago, Harper said a reporter asked him if he has answered the question.

    “It’s like, I don’t care,” Harper said. “It’s up to you guys to decide that. Every year, I come in and I’ve got an opportunity to be great at what I do, you know? Like I said, the numbers show right now, they speak for themselves.

    Five Phillies selected to 2026 All-Star Game, including first-timers Brandon Marsh and Jhoan Duran

    “But I know they can be better. I know I can be better. I’m going to enjoy it, obviously. But I think I can be better than what I’m doing right now.”

    Harper figures he can always swing at fewer pitches out of the zone or draw more walks. The Phillies have four other All-Stars: Kyle Schwarber, Cristopher Sánchez, and first-timers Brandon Marsh and Jhoan Duran. Marsh is a starter in the National League outfield; Sánchez might be the starting pitcher.

    But it wouldn’t have been an All-Star Game in Philly without Harper, the city’s biggest baseball star.

    The question now: Will he be in the Home Run Derby?

    Harper remains noncommittal. Health isn’t a problem. After dealing with wrist and back issues over the past few seasons, he said his “body feels great.” He has started every game so far this season.

    Bryce Harper and Kyle Schwarber are All-Stars. Will they compete in the Home Run Derby?Elizabeth Robertson / Staff Photographer

    The biggest issue: Finding a pitcher. Harper’s dad, Ron, did the honors in 2018, when Harper won the Home Run Derby in Washington, but hasn’t thrown batting practice in four or five years.

    Harper’s phone has been buzzing with offers.

    “A couple ex-players that throw BP now to their kids and stuff,” he said. “I think I can trust a couple of them, but it’s just hard for me, to tell you the truth, not being able to do it with somebody that I’m super comfortable with. You can’t just pick somebody random to go out there.

    “I’m not going to do something if I’m going to have a half-mentality towards it. If I’m going to do it, I want to be full bore and very confident in winning. Because I’m not going to do it unless I’m going to try to win it. Like, I’m not going out there just to have fun. I want to win the thing.”

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    Chalk it up to a competitive streak that continues to fuel Harper in his 15th major-league season.

    None other than Phillies interim manager Don Mattingly, a six-time All-Star as a player, marveled at Harper’s nine All-Star selections for both the longevity and level of excellence.

    “I think the first thing that comes to mind is, ‘Not enough,’” said Harper, who has five years left on his Phillies contract and a desire to play beyond that. “I’ve been in the game a long time. Nine’s a big number. But hopefully I’ll have more after the next couple of years.

    “Every number or anything that I look at right now, it’s just I always kind of tell myself ‘not enough,’ you know? Just got to keep going, keep wanting more, and then hopefully get there.”

  • FIFA overturned USMNT star Folarin Balogun’s suspension vs. Belgium. Was Trump involved?

    FIFA overturned USMNT star Folarin Balogun’s suspension vs. Belgium. Was Trump involved?

    SEATTLE — U.S. men’s soccer team star striker Folarin Balogun will be available to play in Monday’s World Cup round-of-16 game after all.

    FIFA announced just before the team’s practice on Sunday that the one-game suspension that came with Balogun’s red card against Bosnia in the round of 32 has been suspended “for a probationary period of one year.” The governing body said it invoked Article 27 of its disciplinary code, which says, “The judicial body may decide to fully or partially suspend the implementation of a disciplinary measure.”

    It’s a special treatment that world soccer’s governing body has only given twice in its history.

    At the 1962 World Cup, Brazilian star Garrincha had a red card overturned after lobbying from his nation’s federation and host Chile’s president — and, allegedly, a potential bribe to a referee, allowing him to play in the final.

    Last November, FIFA suspended two games of a three-game ban given to Portugal’s Cristiano Ronaldo after he elbowed a Republic of Ireland player in a World Cup qualifier. That allowed him to play in two group games this summer that he otherwise would have missed.

    “In line with article 27 of the FIFA Disciplinary Code, the implementation of the match suspension is suspended,” the governing body’s statement said.

    Balogun was ejected during the U.S. round-of-32 win for running the studs of his right cleat down Bosnia’s Tarik Muharemović’s right calf before catching the back of his foot.

    Folarin Balogun has already moved on from his red card, and backs the USMNT to do the same

    Referee Raphael Claus didn’t call it at first, but the video review officials saw it and recommended that Claus take a second look. Once he did, the red card felt inevitable.

    FIFA does not allow appeals of red cards, but the governing body can decide on its own to suspend a suspension.

    There’s some irony in the fact that when the ejection happened, FIFA was criticized for Claus’ use of a slow-motion replay that might have been against the rules of video reviews. But FIFA’s announcement made no mention of that.

    “We accept the decision of the Disciplinary Committee and are pleased that Folarin Balogun is eligible to compete [Monday],” U.S. Soccer said in a statement. “Our full attention is focused on the round of 16 match against Belgium in Seattle, and we look forward to the continued support of our amazing fans.”

    Confusion over the rules

    Star playmaker Christian Pulisic opened a can of worms when he said, “Obviously we made that appeal, and felt like there was a good chance, because anyone can look at that and say it was super harsh.”

    A U.S. Soccer spokesperson was asked if there was, in fact, an appeal or if Pulisic misspoke, given the federation’s previous statement that no appeal was possible. The response was that U.S. Soccer was “engaged in the process” with FIFA’s disciplinary committee, but no details were given.

    U.S. players found out about the decision on the bus ride over to Friday morning’s practice. Balogun was not among the players who spoke when they arrived. He said on Saturday that he disagreed with the decision, but had moved on in part to be a role model for fans watching.

    “We weren’t quite sure if it was true or not,” centerback Chris Richards said of the moment he heard the news. “I think everyone knows with AI and with this and that, [there] can be a few question marks. But ultimately we found out through social media, so it was cool to finally get the confirmation that it was true.”

    Malik Tillman’s heroics helped the USMNT survive Folarin Balogun’s red card and make World Cup history

    Asked what it means that Balogun got treatment only previously accorded to Ronaldo, he said: “I don’t know what goes on behind the scenes — I don’t know if they’re comparing Flo to Cristiano Ronaldo or what’s going on. I try to focus on what goes on on the field, but clearly they saw something in the decision that they thought deserved to be overturned.”

    Fellow defender Alex Freeman said, “I had no clue” that it was in the works.

    Folarin Balogun working in a drill with teammates on Friday.Jonathan Tannenwald

    “I think it’s a little strange for us,” he said. “I have no clue how it happened, but for us, we’re just happy that it happened, and happy that we’re able to go in and have a phenomenal player like Balogun to be able to go in and play.”

    There was immediate criticism on social media, including from international journalists who accused FIFA of rigging the game for the host country.

    For the USMNT, being in the World Cup on July 4 is a special honor

    A statement from Belgium’s federation said it was “astonished by FIFA’s decision,” and that “in order to safeguard the legitimate rights of all participating teams and to protect the fundamental principles of fair play in our sport, both at this FIFA World Cup and at future editions of the tournament,” it was “investigating all potential options.”

    But it did not say what those options could be.

    Belgium manager Rudi Garcia was even more blunt in his news conference Sunday afternoon.

    “I didn’t know that at FIFA’s headquarters, July 5 is the same thing as April 1 in Europe,” referring to a calendar date that also applies in the United States. “I think you should refer to the statement by my federation … The Belgian federation isn’t just defending itself, it’s not just defending the national team. It’s defending football in general. It’s defending its integrity, defending its ethics.”

    The FIFA World Cup in Philly won’t soon be forgotten. Here are 10 major reasons why.

    Another question on the subject drew a quick “Don’t waste your time asking about it” answer. And when Garcia was asked if he believed his star striker Romelu Lukaku would get the same treatment from FIFA, he answered: “Ah, I can’t answer that question.”

    But those reactions were just the tip of the iceberg.

    FIFA president Gianni Infantino (right) giving U.S. President Donald Trump the men’s World Cup trophy at the White House last year.TIERNEY L. CROSS

    Trump lobbied his friend

    A source with knowledge of the matter confirmed reports that President Donald Trump personally called FIFA president Gianni Infantino to lobby for Balogun’s suspension to be overturned.

    The New York Times reported that Trump called Infantino on Wednesday — the night the game was played in Santa Clara, Calif. — and English radio network TalkSport reported that “FIFA sources insist White House influence could not affect the decision.”

    That did not stop Trump from posting on his Truth Social platform: “Thank you to FIFA for doing what was right, and reversing a great injustice!”

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    A request for further comment from FIFA has not yet been returned.

    Sources in Seattle said there was a point in the past few days when Trump or Vice President J.D. Vance might attend Monday’s game, with authorities in town preparing for them to visit. But it was confirmed on Friday that they are not.

    U.S. manager Mauricio Pochettino said he wasn’t involved in any lobbying by U.S. Soccer, though he named CEO JT Batson as someone who was. Pochettino also said he didn’t know about Trump’s involvement until reporters told him at his news conference.

    “No, we cannot mix that,” he said. “That is a decision from FIFA with the evidence that happened before, and that’s it.”

    But he was, of course, very happy that the decision went his team’s way.

    “It’s not only because I am the coach of the U.S. men’s national team that I need to defend my side,” Pochettino said. “I think it’s 100% — or 99%, because there are always some people, 99.9% — we all agree that was an unfair red card.”

    He also was not surprised that it became such a big deal.

    “I come from cultures in Argentina [in] Europe where fútbol, soccer, is more than a religion. It does not surprise me that in this country, that feeling has started to grow.”

    Pochettino spoke repeatedly of his respect for Garcia, whom he has known a long time. But beyond that, he said “I think it’s fair, the decision, to not punish us more. Because I think it was enough. And now focus on the game.”

    Staff writer Dugan Arnett contributed to this article.

  • The FIFA World Cup in Philly won’t soon be forgotten. Here are 10 major reasons why.

    The FIFA World Cup in Philly won’t soon be forgotten. Here are 10 major reasons why.

    Three weeks of World Cup excitement in Philadelphia came to a close on Saturday, but not before an announced sold-out crowd of 68,324 sat through 100-plus degree temperatures to watch France move on to the quarterfinals following a 1-0 defeat of Paraguay.

    When the final whistle blew, it capped Philly’s first-ever hosting of the men’s World Cup in what was just the second time it’s been played on U.S. soil. Over the course of those weeks, Philadelphia became the world’s playground as our parks were used as staging grounds for thousands of fans, bars and restaurants catered to people from all over the world, and city landmarks received global attention.

    Despite intense summer temperatures, World Cup fervor still hit a fever pitch in Philly

    The moments the World Cup brought were innumerable, but we compiled a list of the Top 10 takeaways as the lights move away from Philadelphia Stadium and continue at FIFA’s Fan Festival at Lemon Hill, which will keep the party going as the tournament inches closer to a thrilling end at New York/New Jersey Stadium on July 19.

    Party on the Orange Line

    SEPTA pulled out all of the stops — literally and figuratively — getting thousands of fans to and from Philadelphia Stadium courtesy of both local and express trains on the Broad Street Line that ran frequently and, for the most part, safely and efficiently, with scores of transit police and other officials at the stations.

    But while SEPTA deserves a job well done, the heroes are the fans who routinely brought the party on the rides to and from the stadium. For just $2.90, fans heading down were subjected to singing, drums, flag waving, and a whole lot of hugging and high-fiving, whether you wanted it or not. The pre-party might have been at FIFA’s Festival or Stateside Live!, but it was also on many of the matchday trips southbound to NRG Stadium.

    On the eve of the FIFA World Cup Group C match between Brazil and Haiti, this fan left a Spanish and English soccer jersey at Rocky’s feet on the Art Museum steps on June 18.Elizabeth Robertson / Staff Photographer

    Rocky statue became World Cup lore

    World Cup fans not only embraced Philly culture but also embraced our city’s sports culture and its superstitions. No proof of that was bigger than how nations took to the curse of placing a team jersey on the Rocky statue. Ecuador kick-started the notion, and their team lost, causing the planner of the moment to make a public apology.

    The Ecuadorian team jersey on the Rocky statue was made by a fan who wanted to bring good luck to his team. That fan later issued a public apology after Ecuador’s loss. Gigio Benavides

    Brazil brought its own partition and security detail to keep supporters from putting a kit on Rocky, and Croatia claimed to debunk the curse, announcing they put a jersey on Rocky, but it didn’t matter in their team’s 2-1 defeat of Ghana.

    Still, news of our city’s statue went viral and has now become a fan phenomenon, regardless of sport, worldwide.

    Members of the Ivory Coast national soccer team react to fans during an open practice at Subaru Park in Chester on June 12.
    Elizabeth Robertson / Staff Photographer

    A second home for the Ivory Coast

    The love affair of the Ivory Coast needs to be studied because for the two weeks that the team took up residence at the Hotel DuPont in Wilmington and trained at WSFS SportsPlex and Subaru Park in Chester, they became family. People cooked special meals for the team, fans were buying their signature bright orange jerseys, and they were yearning for autographs at team training sessions.

    In return, Ivory Coast advanced to the knockout rounds by winning both of its matches in Philadelphia, against Ecuador and Curaçao. Always remember that the team earned its first-ever trip to the knockout stage via a path forged through the Greater Philadelphia Region.

    France’s Kylian Mbappé, reacts after a foul by Paraguay’s Andrés Cubas during the first half Saturday’s round-of-16 World Cup match at Philadelphia Stadium. Jose F. Moreno / Staff Photographer

    Red, white, and blue on July 4

    It wasn’t the red, white, and blue of our nation’s colors, but it was somewhat symbolic that those were the colors of the two nations that faced off in Philly’s final game on a day that celebrated America’s independence.

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    On one side, there was France, a nation whose efforts in America’s independence are well-documented, which arrived with a team viewed as one of the best in the world, with arguably the world’s best striker, Kylian Mbappé.

    On the other side sat Paraguay, a nation the U.S. men’s national team has beaten twice in less than a year: first in its Group D opener, then in a friendly last November at Chester’s Subaru Park.

    A fan heads for shelter as rain falls at Lincoln Financial Field during a World Cup match between France and Iraq on, June 22.Elizabeth Robinson / Staff Photographe

    Singing (and shopping) in the rain

    Sure, it was hot, muggy, and wet, but France’s first match in Philadelphia, against Iraq, won’t soon be forgotten. Two storms, one right after the other, soaked Philadelphia Stadium and caused a delay of more than two hours. But while some actually decided to leave, believe it or not, the fans who stayed sang, cheered, and found ways to stay cool and dry.

    How? Well, how about ravaging the concourse levels for food, drink, and memorabilia, leaving many concessions out of food and drink by the time the game resumed, and the official FIFA store on the main concourse looking like it got hit by a tornado?

    Where were tourists traveling to Philadelphia from for the World Cup?

    ALL the color

    It’s tough to put into words how to describe all of the vibrant colors on display during the three weeks of the tournament. Fortunately, a team of Inquirer photographers not only attended every match, but also were around town capturing moments showcasing the rabid fandom and excitement the World Cup delivered.

    There to help

    They wore neon green, light purple, and dark blue. They were comfortable being in the backdrop, but seemed ready to step up and support at a moment’s notice. In addition to the familiar faces of fan service representatives on any given Eagles gameday, the thousands of FIFA volunteers scattered both in and out of the stadium and at the FIFA Fan Festival brought a level of comfort simply by being there.

    But the great part is that to many of them, it wasn’t just a job. They, too, seemed to be soaking in Philly’s moment in soccer’s sun, or dancing during the rains that fell for some of it, too.

    Fan service representatives Robin “Miss Robin” Carter (left) and Maura Jacquinet were dancing in the rain during the delay for the June 22 match between France and Iraq.Kerith Gabriel / Staff

    And when you remember that mostly unpaid volunteers did much of the work, often through six- to eight-hour shifts, a special hat tip is due to those who helped make the event memorable for hundreds of thousands in attendance.

    Fans pack the Broad Street Line ahead of the World Cup game between Brazil and Haiti on June 19.Kerith Gabriel / Staff

    Brazil vs. Haiti was a vibe

    Probably the one match in Philadelphia where the game didn’t matter, the party started the night before with Brazil fans taking over bars, restaurants and the steps of the Art Museum in advance of their match against Haiti. The next day, whether it was on the train, in the parking lots, or once inside the stadium, both Brazilian and Haitian fans alike decided to make the game one big party.

    A fan looks on with delight during Brazil’s match against Haiti on June 19. Jose F. Moreno / Staff Photographer

    Money was no object in Philly

    In what amounted to the most expensive edition of the FIFA World Cup to attend, ever, fans still found a way to pack Philadelphia Stadium. In all, five of the six matches held in Philly were announced as complete sellouts of 68,324 in attendance. Only the match between Ivory Coast and Ecuador didn’t deliver a sellout crowd, and the margin was just 50 people. The average get-in ticket for a group-stage match on secondary market sites in Philly was $703, according to Front Office Sports.

    “It’s been an expensive summer,” said Susan Richman, who attended two matches in Philly with six other family members. “I think all in all we’ve spent close to $15,000 [on tickets]? But for us to say that we’ve attended the World Cup in America is something that personally, I’ll always remember.”

    Brazil fan Maninhu and Haitian fan Greguity met at the World Cup match in Philly between Brazil and Haiti. Both said they’ve become “best friends” in the process.Kerith Gabriel / Staff

    Fans becoming friends

    One of the things that this tournament has conveyed is that humanity isn’t gone, as much as our social media algorithms would love us to believe. The colors that have mattered throughout the World Cup have had nothing to do with the color of someone’s skin, or where they’re from. The colors that have mattered have been the ones on the jerseys that have passed through Philadelphia Stadium, ones that have allowed us to ask questions of others, to get to learn more about them, their culture, their nation’s history.

    Fans play a soccer game at the base of the Art Museum steps ahead of the FIFA World Cup Group C match between Brazil and Haiti on June 18. Elizabeth Robertson / Staff Photographer

    It’s why money was no object to be in that moment, why a bucket list was fulfilled. In the end, that commonality undoubtedly found that strangers become friends, and friends become family, using sport as a connective tissue. In the end, that just might be the greatest takeaway from the three weeks in which the world’s greatest game made a pit stop in Philadelphia.

    The joy the World Cup has brought to Philadelphia feels like the escape we didn’t know we needed

    “This is wonderful for Philadelphia and wonderful for America, welcoming everybody into this beautiful country,” Ivory Coast native-turned-Philadelphian Ahmadou Dia told The Inquirer recently. “The World Cup, the football itself, brings every country, every single person, together regardless of color. It doesn’t matter what you look like, because on the field or in that stadium, we’re family.”

    Watch: How visiting World Cup fans view the City of Brotherly Love

    Honorable mentions: The turf laid down at the bubble field at Fan Festival … The Bank of America charm bracelets everyone went wild for at Fan Festival … The VFA-11 and VFA-81 flyover at Philadelphia Stadium on July 4. … Free rides on the Broad Street Line after the game … Ghana and Paraguay fans remaining in the stadium for over an hour after their matches to soak it all in … Lines of fans outside team hotels … The rooftop terrace at Stateside Live! on any given matchday.

  • Jesús Luzardo, J.T. Realmuto take starring roles in Phillies’ 6-1 win over Royals on Fourth of July

    KANSAS CITY, Mo. — With fireworks pop, pop, popping in the distance in all directions around Kaufman Stadium, the Phillies burst a few bombs in the air, too, Saturday night.

    Just not from the usual sources.

    Never mind that five players — nearly 20% of the roster — found out before the game that they will come home to play in Philly’s All-Star Game on July 14. It was the supporting cast — notably J.T. Realmuto, Alec Bohm, and Jesús Luzardo — that lit up the Royals, 6-1, on the Fourth of July.

    Five Phillies selected to 2026 All-Star Game, including first-timers Brandon Marsh and Jhoan Duran

    In winning for the 10th time in 14 games, the Phillies got homers from Realmuto, rookie Gabriel Rincones Jr., and Bohm. Luzardo rode his devastating sweeper to strike out nine batters in six solid innings.

    And what about those All-Stars? Although they were in the lineup, Bryce Harper, Kyle Schwarber, and Brandon Marsh might as well have taken the night off. Jhoan Duran did. There was no save necessary.

    It was a no-muss, no-fuss win for the Phillies, now 41-20 under interim manager Don Mattingly and 50-39 overall, still breathing down the neck of the Braves, who lead the division by three games.

    “I feel like, if we’re going to be any good, we need to get contributions up and down,” Mattingly said. “It can’t always be Harp and Schwarb hitting homers and driving in a bunch of runs. It’s got to be the whole roster.”

    Yes, and before Realmuto and Rincones — the seventh- and eighth-place hitters — launched back-to-back homers against Royals starter Michael Wacha in the fourth inning, Luzardo set the tone for the night.

    In his second-to-last start before the All-Star break, Luzardo retired the first eight batters — five by strikeout — before yielding an infield single. He mixed four pitches but could’ve easily gotten by with only the sweeper, a pitch that he started throwing only before last season.

    Luzardo threw a total of 95 pitches; 42 were sweepers, 15 of which generated swings and misses. And while he preyed on one of the worst offenses in baseball, it also continued a trend in which the sweeper has been more effective.

    “I almost felt like I threw it so much that I forgot how to throw it,” Luzardo said. “But lately, I feel like the last five or six starts, it’s felt back to what it was and maybe even get better.”

    ‘The game is where it needs to be’: Bryce Harper wants compromise (and no salary cap) to keep sport thriving

    Mattingly said it can be tough to differentiate Luzardo’s sweeper from his other pitches, including his changeup. If it’s difficult to tell from the dugout, imagine what it looks like in the batter’s box.

    “It’s the angle with him,” Mattingly said. “It kind of gets into where you get pitches feeding off each other. The fastball sinks, and then the changeup, and then the sweeper, and it all starts feeding out of the window. It’s really effective.”

    Said Royals manager Matt Quatraro: “It’s an elite pitch. You hope that he makes a mistake.”

    The Royals finally scratched across a run in the fourth inning on Lane Thomas’ double and a two-out infield single from Nick Loftin.

    By then, though, the Phillies already had a lead.

    The Phillies’ J.T. Realmuto celebrates with Justin Crawford after hitting a two-run home run during the fourth inning.Charlie Riedel

    The Phillies put pressure on Wacha by loading the bases with two out in the first inning but didn’t break through until Realmuto cracked a two-run homer in the fourth.

    Rincones followed by hitting a cutter into the right-field bullpen to open a 3-0 lead.

    Bohm teed off in the sixth inning with a leadoff homer. The Phillies kept tacking on. Trea Turner scored on a wild pitch in the seventh inning before Bohm doubled and scored on Rincones’ single in the eighth.

    Not mentioned: Schwarber, Harper, and Marsh, none of whom scored a run or drove one in. (Schwarber did, however, get three hits and reached base four times.)

    Zack Wheeler and Don Mattingly ‘all square’ after Phillies pitcher disagreed with being taken out

    The All-Stars brought the Phillies back from the sewer of a 9-19 start. And while the roster is top-heavy, the supporting actors have played a vital role in the surge under Mattingly.

    “Obviously we wouldn’t be where we are today without all the guys that got nominated and picked to be All-Stars,” Luzardo said. “And I think we could have had a lot more, too. Selfishly, I think [Bryson] Stott, Bohm, [Zack Wheeler], obviously.

    “But it is what it is. The guys that got picked, kudos to them. I’m really happy for them. It’s awesome to see.”

  • Zack Wheeler and Don Mattingly ‘all square’ after Phillies pitcher disagreed with being taken out

    Zack Wheeler and Don Mattingly ‘all square’ after Phillies pitcher disagreed with being taken out

    KANSAS CITY, Mo. — When Zack Wheeler pitches again for the Phillies, the air between him and manager Don Mattingly will be clear.

    “All square,” Mattingly said Saturday.

    To recap: Wheeler disagreed with being taken out before completing the fifth inning Wednesday night in Citizens Bank Park, even though he gave up back-to-back-to-back two-out hits and matched his season-high with 104 pitches.

    Mattingly said he spoke with Wheeler and offered the same explanation that he gave reporters, notably that he had the long-term interests of Wheeler and the overall rotation in mind.

    ‘The game is where it needs to be’: Bryce Harper wants compromise (and no salary cap) to keep sport thriving

    Did Wheeler accept that justification?

    “I don’t know,” Mattingly said. “I’m not sure. I mean, I’ve been through it. It’s not my first time I’m going through it with a guy that’s really good. They never want to come out. It’s the way it goes with those guys, right?”

    Besides, Wheeler may have a new gripe. He wasn’t selected to the National League All-Star team Saturday night despite posting a 2.36 ERA in 13 starts, a remarkable recovery after having a rib removed last September to treat a compressed vein near his collarbone.

    Mattingly called a team meeting at about 6 p.m. here Saturday to break the news that Brandon Marsh, Bryce Harper, Kyle Schwarber, Cristopher Sánchez, and Jhoan Duran were named All-Stars.

    Wheeler is lined up to start the last game before the break, which makes him ineligible to pitch in the All-Star Game. Mattingly wasn’t sure if that was the reason that Wheeler was omitted.

    Phillies pitcher Brad Keller throws the baseball against the Arizona Diamondbacks on Saturday, April 11, 2026 in Philadelphia.Yong Kim / Staff Photographer

    Keller gets closer

    Brad Keller gave up a two-run homer Friday night in a triple-A game in Rochester, N.Y., the reliever’s first game action since going on the injured list June 16 with right forearm tendinitis.

    Despite the results, Mattingly said pitching coach Caleb Cotham was pleased when he watched video of Keller’s inning.

    “He’s looking more at the process, what his delivery looks like, how it was coming out, how the ball’s spinning, all that kind of stuff,” Mattingly said. “And he was happy with it.”

    Phillies’ Brad Keller on track to return before the All-Star break: ‘It’s a night-and-day difference’

    Keller will pitch again Sunday in Rochester, according to Mattingly, after which the Phillies could decide to bring him back from the injured list.

    The Phillies are relying on Keller as part of their late-inning bridge to closer Jhoan Duran. Keller overcame a rocky start and allowed three earned runs over 12⅔ innings in a span of 13 appearances before giving up three runs in the eighth inning June 13 in Milwaukee, his last appearance before being sidelined.

    Overall, the 30-year-old righty has a 4.15 ERA in 31 appearances.

    The Phillies optioned righty Alan Rangel to triple A after his start Thursday.Jose F. Moreno / Staff Photographer

    Rangel out, Banks in

    With the fifth-starter spot coming up once more before the All-Star break — and not again until July 21 — the Phillies optioned righty Alan Rangel to triple A and recalled lefty Tanner Banks to get an extra arm in the bullpen.

    Rangel replaced demoted Andrew Painter for three turns in the rotation. He appeared twice behind an opener and started once, posting a 3.46 ERA in 13 innings.

    In his most recent start, Rangel sidestepped four walks in four scoreless innings in oppressive heat at home Thursday against the Pirates. As a “bulk” pitcher, he gave up one run in five innings June 22 in Washington and four runs in four innings June 27 in New York.

    The Phillies won’t rush Andrew Painter’s return to majors. Instead, it’s about ‘getting himself’ right.

    “It’s nothing that he’s done,” Mattingly said. “I mean, he threw the ball well, so we’re happy with the way he’s going. But it did give us a chance to get an extra [reliever].”

    Mattingly said the Phillies will likely run a “true bullpen game” when the fifth-starter spot comes around Wednesday in Cincinnati, although it will be subject to how much the relievers are taxed over the next four games.

    Banks began the season in the majors but was sent to triple A with a 5.86 ERA on June 18. In four games for Lehigh Valley, he allowed six runs (three earned) in 4⅓ innings for a 6.23 ERA.

    Extra bases

    The Phillies traded low-A right-hander Ryan Degges to Cleveland for international bonus pool space, money that was allocated to signing 17-year-old Taiwanese right-hander Ho Hua for $500,000, according to a league source. In May, the Phillies made a similar move for bonus pool money to sign Chan-min Park, a 17-year-old right-hander from South Korea, for $1.205 million. … The Phillies signed veteran catcher Payton Henry to a minor-league contract and sent him to triple A. … Aaron Nola (3-5, 6.04 ERA) is scheduled to start at 3 p.m. Sunday against Royals righty Luinder Avila (3-3, 5.40).

  • Despite intense summer temperatures, World Cup fervor still hit a fever pitch in Philly

    Despite intense summer temperatures, World Cup fervor still hit a fever pitch in Philly

    Soccer fans wearing red, white, and blue of all kinds braved triple-digit temperatures across Philadelphia on Saturday as the city hosted its sixth and final match of the FIFA World Cup at Philadelphia Stadium, better known as Lincoln Financial Field.

    The round of 16 match between France and Paraguay added an international flair to the city’s semiquincentennial celebrations. Before the city launched its fireworks on Ben Franklin Parkway, fans stopped to watch Les Bleus beat Paraguay, 1-0, and advance to the quarterfinals.

    Where are tourists traveling to Philadelphia from for the World Cup?

    The FIFA Fan Festival in Lemon Hill Park closed after the first match of the day between Morocco and Canada, but people across the city found ways to take in the game with other soccer fans.

    Fans take in pregame festivities before the start of Saturday’s FIFA World Cup finale in Philly between France and Paraguay. Jose F. Moreno / Staff Photographer

    Live from Independence Hall

    FOX hosted its studio show from Independence National Historical Park, using Independence Hall as its backdrop.

    Broadcaster Rob Stone sat alongside former U.S. men’s national team players Landon Donovan, Alexi Lalas, and Clint Dempsey for the show, which began at 11 a.m. and ended at 3:30 p.m.

    Soccer fans and historical sightseers stood on the lawn across the street from Independence Hall as the show taped, chanting “U-S-A” and an occasional “E-A-G-L-E-S.”

    Lots of folks out in front of Independence Hall taking in Fox’s World Cup desk show (and seeking autographs afterward)

    [image or embed]

    — Owen Hewitt (@oyounothing.bsky.social) July 4, 2026 at 3:51 PM

    Max Goldfarb, 27, stood in the crowd in front of the show’s cameras just before it ended in the afternoon. Once the show was over, Goldfarb got Clint Dempsey to sign a pack of FIFA World Cup stickers he purchased from a nearby convenience store.

    Max Goldfarb poses in front of Independence Hall with a pack of FIFA World Cup stickers signed by former U.S. men’s national team striker Clint Dempsey.Owen Hewitt

    Goldfarb wore a France T-shirt he bought when he saw Les Bleus take on Senegal at MetLife Stadium on June 16, but said he was planning on watching the team’s round of 16 matchup from his Center City apartment to escape the heat.

    “It’s been cool seeing all the fans around, and the energy of the fourth in the city,” Goldfarb said.

    Weather during the World Cup in Philadelphia could be useful data for a future Eagles stadium

    Soccer on South Street

    A few hundred people watched France’s victory from the 700 block of South Street, which was closed to vehicle traffic for a watch party in front of Brauhaus Schmitz.

    The German pub and restaurant set up a large LED screen at the end of the block with long, wooden tables in front of it.

    A mix of people dressed in festive American colors and French kits attempted to beat the heat with umbrellas, cooling towels and personal fans, crowding into shady spots on the street. Brauhaus Schmitz set up a misting system in front of its storefront on South Street to try and keep its customers cool.

    A few hundred folks are braving the heat on the 700 block of South Street to watch France-Paraguay in front of Brauhaus Schmitz

    [image or embed]

    — Owen Hewitt (@oyounothing.bsky.social) July 4, 2026 at 5:48 PM

    While most of the crowd watching the match were locals, two fans had traveled quite a distance to watch France’s win.

    Alex Mar and Axel Pfeffer, natives of Essen, Germany, booked their plane tickets to Philadelphia, where Germany would have played its round of 16 match, before the Germans were upset by Paraguay in the round of 32 on Monday.

    Mar and Pfeffer made the trip anyway, arriving to Philadelphia on Saturday. They made Brauhaus Schmitz their first stop after they learned they wouldn’t be able to see Rocky Statue due to the city’s planned Independence Day celebrations.

    While they were disappointed to miss a chance to see their country play in the World Cup, the Germans plan on making the most of their trip. They intend to fly to Las Vegas after some more sightseeing in Philadelphia.

    Axel Pfeffer (left) and Alex Mar (right) stand on South Street at Brauhaus Schmitz’s FIFA World Cup watch party.Owen Hewitt

    Heat like Philadelphia experienced on Saturday is unusual for their home nation, but Mar and Pfeffer seemed unbothered by the temperatures.

    “It’s hot, but [we] stay hydrated,” Mar said. “Get in some rooms with air-conditioning, and drink some beer.”

    Fête for French Fans

    A couple blocks down from Brauhaus Schmitz, French fans packed The Good King Tavern to watch their team advance past Paraguay. As it did for France’s win over Iraq last month, the restaurant opened its upstairs wine bar, Le Caveau, to help accommodate some of the crowd.

    Jeff Minors was one France fan waiting to go upstairs before the game started. The Fairmount resident said he started cheering on the French after their run to the World Cup title in 1998, led by Thierry Henry.

    For the USMNT, being in the World Cup on July 4 is a special honor

    Despite there being closer bars to watch the match at, Minors traveled to The Good King Tavern to watch alongside other French fans.

    “We just really wanted to experience the French vibe and cheer on France at a French restaurant,” Minors said.

    Jeff Minors (left) and Melissa Davis (right) wait to enter The Good King Tavern ahead of France’s match against Paraguay.Owen Hewitt

    While the FIFA Fan Festival has brought more traffic and parking restrictions into his neighborhood, Minors said he was not bothered by the festivals’ presence.

    Through the six matches Philadelphia has hosted, Minors said he appreciated the energy the tournament has brought into the city.

    “I think it’s been great for the city,” Minors said. “It’s been, I think, really eye-opening for a lot of people who are visiting, how fun Philadelphia is.”

  • Five Phillies selected to 2026 All-Star Game, including first-timers Brandon Marsh and Jhoan Duran

    Five Phillies selected to 2026 All-Star Game, including first-timers Brandon Marsh and Jhoan Duran

    KANSAS CITY, Mo. — A few minutes past 6 p.m. here Saturday, Don Mattingly gathered the Phillies for a team meeting.

    That’s when Brandon Marsh and Jhoan Duran found out they were All-Stars.

    For the first time.

    Marsh, the leading vote-getter among National League outfielders in the final phase of fan voting, will be joined on July 14 in Philadelphia by Kyle Schwarber, Bryce Harper, Cristopher Sánchez, and Duran. All but Harper were selected by their peers; Harper was named by commissioner Rob Manfred.

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    “It’s a dream come true,” Duran said after the Phillies’ 6-1 victory over the Royals. “I always wanted to be there, and it happened this year.”

    Zack Wheeler, who has made a remarkable return from thoracic outlet syndrome, was notably not selected. Wheeler missed the season’s first four weeks. He’s also lined up to start the last game before the break, which would leave him unable to pitch in the All-Star Game.

    Mattingly said he wasn’t sure if Wheeler’s unavailability led to the snub. But other pitchers who are scheduled to start the last game before the break were selected, including flamethrowing Brewers ace Jacob Misiorowski, and will likely be replaced.

    Even without Wheeler, the five All-Stars will tie for the second-largest contingent in Phillies history. They had eight selections to the 2024 All-Star Game in Texas, though Wheeler chose not to attend and Ranger Suárez was injured.

    Mattingly was looking forward to breaking the news to all five players, but especially Marsh and Duran, who are All-Stars for the first time.

    “I think that first one is always special because it kind of like validates, ‘Hey, I’ve made it. I’ve been an All-Star,’” said Mattingly, selected to six All-Star games as a player and slated to be a coach on Dodgers manager Dave Roberts’ National League staff this year. “It’s just huge.”

    Brandon Marsh was selected to his first All-Star Game.Yong Kim / Staff Photographer

    Of all the Phillies’ big names, the fans turned out in droves to vote for Marsh, who will become the first Phillies outfielder to start an All-Star Game since Raúl Ibañez in 2009.

    Marsh, 28, entered Sunday fifth in the NL — and third among all major-league outfielders — with a .310 average. He had 15 doubles, 15 homers, and an .856 OPS, the continuation of a promising final four months last season. Since the beginning of May 2025, he was batting .309 with 25 homers and an .852 OPS in 702 plate appearances over 199 games.

    In the first phase of fan voting, Marsh pulled in the second-most votes among NL outfielders and advanced to the final stage with the Dodgers’ Andy Pages and Teoscar Hernández, the Braves’ Ronald Acuña Jr. and Michael Harris II, and the Mets’ Juan Soto. Pages and Soto were also named starters.

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    Schwarber, 33, was runner-up to Shohei Ohtani in the fan voting but was a lock to be named on the players’ ballot. Aside from being immensely popular with his peers, Schwarber leads the majors in homers (30, entering play Sunday) and ranked fourth in the majors with a .943 OPS. It will be his fourth All-Star appearance, all but one coming with the Phillies.

    Harper, 33, didn’t advance to the final round of fan voting after finishing behind the Dodgers’ Freddie Freeman and Braves’ Matt Olson in the initial stage. But it wouldn’t have been an All-Star Game in Philadelphia without Harper, and his selection by Manfred was based as much on merit as reputation. Entering the weekend, the nine-time All-Star ranked 10th in the majors in OPS (.906) and was among only 15 players to reach the 20-homer mark.

    “The longevity side of it with Harp — I think this is nine for him — I mean, it’s building to where you start getting those kind of guys that get 12-15,“ Mattingly said. ”Just the fact that he’s still continuing to play at that level is huge for me.”

    Cristopher Sanchez was a lock for the NL pitching staff after going 50⅔ innings without allowing a run.Elizabeth Robertson / Staff Photographer

    Sánchez, 29, was a lock for the NL pitching staff after going 50⅔ innings without allowing a run, the longest streak ever by a lefty and fifth-longest all-time.

    The only question is whether Roberts will choose him to start the game.

    Sánchez is lined up to start the second-to-last game before the break, on Saturday in Detroit, which Mattingly said could put him on track to pitch one inning on July 14.

    Whether or not Sánchez starts the All-Star Game, Duran could close it, in which case, warm up the tarantulas on the right-field scoreboard.

    “That would be crazy,” Duran said. “We never know. I always say I never say never because you never know.”

    Jhoan Duran is having one of the best seasons ever by a Phillies reliever.Elizabeth Robertson / Staff Photographer

    Duran, 28, is having one of the best seasons ever by a Phillies reliever with 45 strikeouts, six walks, a 1.52 ERA, and a league-leading 21 saves (in 22 chances) entering the weekend.

    Surely, he knew the All-Star Game was a possibility.

    “I wasn’t thinking too much about that,” Duran said. “My wife, yes. She was on top of that. I never put too much time on it mentally.”

    Now that the All-Star rosters have been announced, the Home Run Derby field will begin to form. Schwarber and Harper said they would consider competing in the Derby if they were on the All-Star team.

    Zack Wheeler and Don Mattingly ‘all square’ after Phillies pitcher disagreed with being taken out

    When he was with the Nationals, Harper raised his hand for the Derby — and won it — in Washington in 2018. He said earlier this week that he’s undecided about doing it again.

    “The last time I did it, I won. I said I’d never do it again,” Harper said. “So, we’ll see how I’m feeling. … Obviously, I know the fans want me to do it, so I’ll take that into account, but we’ll see how much pump, I guess, I have behind me going out there and doing it.”

    Said Mattingly: “It doesn’t bother me. It’s set up a lot better now than it was before where it’s not a zillion swings.”

  • Weather during the World Cup in Philadelphia could be useful data for a future Eagles stadium

    Weather during the World Cup in Philadelphia could be useful data for a future Eagles stadium

    Three-quarters of the seats inside Lincoln Financial Field — er, Philadelphia Stadium — felt the blast of a late-afternoon sun before France and Paraguay kicked off their round of 16 showdown Saturday, the sixth and final World Cup game in the city.

    Those weren’t rally towels swinging; they were the giveaway fans, and even those seated on the shaded west side of the stadium used them to try to cool off. Some in the sun left them unraveled and used them as a shade.

    Philadelphia set a record Saturday, reaching 101 degrees or higher for the third consecutive day, according to the National Weather Service. The real-feel temperature on the field at kickoff was hotter than the 98 degrees FOX displayed on its television broadcast.

    France celebrates after its defeat of Paraguay on a sweltering final day of FIFA World Cup action at Philadelphia Stadium. David Maialetti / Staff Photographer

    The city shone during its three weeks in the world spotlight. Fans have packed the fan festival. The stadium has been full. But the games didn’t come and go without the weather being part of the story.

    For the USMNT, being in the World Cup on July 4 is a special honor

    France’s first trip to Philadelphia, a June 22 group stage game vs. Iraq, featured a lengthy delay at halftime due to lightning from a storm that produced heavy downpours. The scheduled 15-minute break lasted more than two hours. Saturday’s game was played during a record-setting heat wave and kicked off with the threat of severe thunderstorms looming later Saturday night.

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    France forward Kylian Mbappé walks off the field at the start of a two-plus hour rain delay at Philadelphia Stadium on June 22 for their game against Iraq. Jose F. Moreno / Staff Photographer

    ‘I was a purist, but…’

    Mount Laurel’s Graig Weidinger, who was tailgating with a group of friends outside the stadium Saturday, knows it’s probably inevitable that the home of the Eagles one day will have the ability to shield the playing field from weather. The team’s lease expires in 2032, and Jeffrey Lurie said earlier this year that the organization is going through “exploratory research” on the idea of a new or renovated stadium.

    Many new stadiums and renovation projects in the NFL have included retractable roofs or domes. There are currently 10 NFL stadiums with roofs, and four more are on the way. The Eagles still are at least a year away from coming close to finalizing plans for their future, but data points like the weather during this World Cup could factor into decisions.

    Weidinger said he previously was against the idea of the Eagles playing under a roof. He lamented a future where LeSean McCoy doesn’t dash through the snow for 217 yards in a snowy game vs. Detroit in 2013. Or a future where Saquon Barkley isn’t running through a snow globe-like scene pushing the Eagles to the NFC championship game two seasons ago.

    Where are tourists traveling to Philadelphia from for the World Cup?

    “It gives you the memories,” Weidinger said. “You’re not going to have that.”

    It is not just the cold that has recently impacted Eagles games. The 2025 season opener was delayed for more than an hour in the third quarter due to a thunderstorm.

    “At first I was a purist, but now I’m giving in to the idea,” Weidinger said. “Now that the weather is so extreme each season.”

    Eagles fans have long had to resist extreme elements; the question now is whether the rise of extreme heat and cold places more pressure to consider a roofed stadium in Philly.Monica Herndon / Staff Photographer

    There will be a faction of fans who strongly resist a roof. Football, they will say, is meant to be played outside. But the current stadium isn’t just a football stadium, and Lurie may have aspirations to make the future one capable of hosting more marquee events.

    “For the city, with what they can do, you see the college playoffs going places, the Super Bowl,” Weidinger said. “If you’ve got a roof you can do it all.”

    ‘The best of both worlds’

    By halftime, most of the field and more than half the seats inside the stadium were protected from the sun with shade. The real feel in the city was still 100 degrees when Kylian Mbappé scored his seventh goal of the tournament — and third in Philadelphia — on a 70th-minute penalty kick that gave France its eventual 1-0 win and a ticket to the quarterfinals.

    This is the World Cup, and the announced sellout crowd of 68,324 paid a lot of money for tickets, so most of the seats in the sunny east side of the stadium were full. But there were empty seats visible on that side of the field, their owners likely watching from a shadier, cooler spot.

    The fan experience, Lurie said in March at the annual league meeting, will be a priority for any future stadium or renovation.

    “We’re so focused on fan amenities,” Lurie said. “To me, that’s the No. 1 thing. Just as a boy growing up, you want to have as best a fan experience. The rest is architecture, design, and where it ends up.”

    The fan experience was on the minds of Kurt and Trish Neff as they drove to the stadium Saturday from Boothwyn.

    Did they find themselves wishing they were driving to a stadium that was air-conditioned?

    “Today, right now? Absolutely, yes,” Kurt said.

    In that vein, Kurt said he “would be more likely to come to a game sitting in some warmth during the winter for a football game. Sometimes you’re thinking about selling your tickets in January or the end of December.”

    Trish, a soccer coach, wanted to play devil’s advocate.

    “The weather is part of a coach’s strategy for the game,” she said. “Whether it’s cold or hot, you might change your game plan depending on it. But for the fans, temperature control would be better.”

    Perhaps stadium discussions can be like a healthy marriage. There’s always a chance for compromise.

    How about a retractable roof?

    “It’s the best of both worlds,” Kurt said.

  • For the USMNT, being in the World Cup on July 4 is a special honor

    For the USMNT, being in the World Cup on July 4 is a special honor

    SEATTLE — The players of the U.S. men’s World Cup squad came together from 13 states and homes in four nations abroad. The club teams they represent span 10 leagues around the world’s game.

    They are not the same, in many ways. But they are American, and that never feels more true than on the Fourth of July.

    This time, it isn’t just the nation’s Independence Day. It’s the first one since 1994 in which the U.S. men are active in a World Cup. And like that one, it happens to be on their own soil.

    “It is special,” centerback and team captain Tim Ream said. “It’s double-special because it’s during the World Cup, and triple-special because it’s here in the U.S.”

    It was a working holiday for Tim Ream (center) and the U.S. men’s soccer team.Jonathan Tannenwald

    The St. Louis native then made a point of highlighting his belief that the team’s diversity is a strength.

    “We’ve said this: With all our different backgrounds, where we all have grown up, it’s a true representation of what America is,” he said. “It’s a melting pot of personalities, of characters, and, like I said, it’s a perfect representation of what the U.S. is and what it’s about.”

    Baseball and soccer cross paths as Seattle welcomes the USMNT back in the World Cup

    Ream has even seen manager Mauricio Pochettino, a fiercely proud Argentina native, embrace the national spirit.

    “He’s obviously taken to the culture, and at the same time, has added his bit of culture to us as well,” Ream said, which makes Pochettino the latest of many Argentines to do that in this country. From players and coaches to broadcasters like Telemundo’s famed Andrés Cantor, the country has a long history of sharing its passion — and immigrants — with the U.S.

    U.S. manager Mauricio Pochettino got to sample a classic piece of American culture by throwing out the first pitch at the Seattle Mariners baseball game on Friday.Lindsey Wasson

    “As he said after the first here in Seattle [the U.S.’s group stage win over Australia], he felt something with ‘Country Roads’ being played and blasted through the stadium [postgame],” Ream said. “The group is such a melting pot [with] staff, players, and, again, it’s just an incredible representation of who we are as people. But, yeah, he definitely won’t let us forget that he’s still Argentine at the end of the day.”

    The 38-year-old Ream has experienced the holiday in multiple ways, too. When he played in England from 2012 to 2024, he spent some Fourths over there instead of over here. Then he returned to MLS to join Charlotte FC, where he’s now in his third season.

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    “It’s a little bit different celebrating here than over there,” he said. “A lot of people [in England] don’t actually know why we celebrate the Fourth, which is crazy to me because they were a big part of why we celebrate.”

    That line drew a round of hearty laughs, even from the English media who have been following the U.S. team during the World Cup.

    At the U.S.-Australia group game in Seattle, some fans brought a banner that read “IT’S CALLED SOCCER” to poke fun at England.Lindsey Wasson

    “The memories for me are just the typical standard: barbecue, enjoy time with family all day, fireworks in the evening, and just celebrating, obviously, what it means to have freedom, to have independence,” Ream said. “It doesn’t have to be this big, extravagant thing, but just acknowledging why we are a country, and how we became a country, and how we became independent is enough for any of us.”

    There wasn’t going to be much extravagance for the team as it worked through the holiday. But there would be time in the evening to gather with friends and family and watch Seattle’s big fireworks show from a rooftop downtown.

    The big games to watch in the World Cup round of 16

    Then they’ll be back at it, trying to give the nation one more festival in Monday’s round of 16 game against Belgium (8 p.m., Fox29, Telemundo).

    “We are, as we all continue to say, very aware of the impact that we’re having around the country, the impact we’re having on generations of people and fans and supporters,” Ream said. “Aware, but it’s not something that is at the forefront of our thinking at the minute. It’s more the game, and what we have to do to continue to move on.”