The Flyers’ quest to build on their promising showing of last season will include the customary preseason schedule. That slate will just be a bit shorter — and include fewer opponents — than in years past.
The team announced a four-game preseason schedule Monday that includes home-and-homes with the Washington Capitals (on the road Sept. 21, at Xfinity Mobile Arena on Sept. 26) and Boston Bruins (on the road Sept. 22, at home Sept. 24). Flyers training camp opens Sept. 17.
The 2026-27 season schedule will look different across the NHL, as the preseason has been shortened to four games and the regular season expanded to 84 games.
The Flyers played seven preseason games last season, going 3-4 ahead of their 43-27-12 regular season.
The complete NHL schedule will be released later this summer.
Thunderstorms are expected to make their way through the Philadelphia region later Monday evening, potentially interrupting the World Cup match between France and Iraq (5 p.m, Fox).
The strongest storms are forecast to move in beginning around 4 p.m., bringing with them heavy rain, wind gusts approaching 60 mph, and the potential for an isolated tornado.
“Storms will certainly have lightning with them,” said Zack Cooper, a meteorologist at the National Weather Service’s Mount Holly station.
An inch or two of rain could fall in and around the city, Cooper said, but depending on the storm’s severity that could all come in an hour or less, leading to flash flooding. Philadelphia and the surrounding region are under a flood watch.
“Exactly how much would fall on a given thunderstorm is impossible to know, but we could certainly see some pretty high rain rates in these storms tonight,” Cooper said.
For those going to the game, umbrellas aren’t allowed in the stadium, but you can bring a poncho.
FIFA will pause play if there is a lightning strike within eight miles of the stadium. The match will remain paused for 30 minutes, with any subsequent lightning strikes resetting the clock.
Six Club World Cup matches were delayed by severe weather last summer. A match between Chelsea and Benfica at Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte, N.C., was delayed multiple times due to lightning strikes, taking four hours and 38 minutes to finish.
The FIFA Fan Fest at Lemon Hill Park in Fairmount would close if lightning is detected within an eight-mile radius. Fans would need to exit the grounds and move to a safe location, and could re-enter after 30 minutes if no additional lightning is detected.
Festivities were interrupted Thursday evening, when high winds prompted the event to close early.
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.
France tops Iraq 3-0 in weather-delayed World Cup match
Kylian Mbappé scored two goals in France’s win.Jose F. Moreno / Staff Photographer
Kylian Mbappé scored two goals and reigning Ballon D’or winner Ousmane Dembele fueled a 3-0 win against Iraq inside Philadelphia Stadium, with Dembele’s goal and Mbappé’s second both arriving after a near one hour, 30 minute rain delay at Philadelphia Stadium.
The goals for Mbappe were his fourth and fifth of the tournament and the 16th of his World Cup career. He trails only Lionel Messi, who has 18 World Cup goals, after scoring two earlier today in Argentina’s win against Austria in Group J.
With the win, France secured its place in the knockout round, but have yet to win Group I outright with Norway on their heels. At the time of this report, the Norwegians were up 1-0 against Senegal.
As for the Iraqis, its World Cup hasn’t yet come to a close but they’d need to win their final match against Senegal on Friday (3 p.m., FS1) and hope for the misfortune of teams in other groups to work in their favor.
France will also play its final match on Friday against Norway (3 p.m., Fox29) with a chance to win Group I outright.
Ex-Villanova star Collin Gillespie get a few seconds of airtime during Fox’s broadcast of Monday’s World Cup match between France and Iraq, though fans watching at home might have been scratching their heads.
Mbappé scores second goal, extending France’s lead
Make that two goals for Kylian Mbappé.
The French star scored his second goal of the night shortly after play resumed, but it was largely due to a terrible mistake made by Iraq’s goalkeeper.
A MASSIVE mistake at the back for Iraq and Mbappé capitalizes 🇫🇷
Mbappé is now tied for No. 2 all time in men’s World Cup goal-scoring with Germany’s Miroslav Klose. Lionel Messi, who scored two more goals today, remains No. 1.
Thunderstorm threat subsides, but more rain expected for Philly
Fans seek shelter from the rain at Lincoln Financial Field.Kerith Gabriel / Staff
The severe thunderstorms storms have backed off in the immediately Philadelphia area, but soaking rains are expected to continue through the night, and perhaps Tuesday.
The National Weather Service has posted several flash-flood warnings, as near to the stadium as Center City.
IRVINE, Calif. – I am sitting in my hotel room here, where it is definitely not thunderstorming, but I’ve been waiting out the delay in France-Iraq like everyone else.
As it happens, an old friend of mine is in Philadelphia today to do one of the many radio broadcasts back to France of the game.
Julien Froment is the director of the sports department at Radio France, one of that country’s biggest broadcasters, and his team is perched in the outside media seats in the upper deck.
Or at least they’re supposed to be. When the worst of the storms hit, they had to evacuate the stands for a while along with all the fans who did. But they couldn’t take all their broadcasting equipment with them, and I can tell you from enough experience doing radio work that it’s expensive – and hard-to-find – stuff.
FIFA kindly provided plastic covers to all the TV and radio networks in the open seats. But Julien and his crew went a step further. The technician, Virginie Lorda, brought a folded tarp, some rope to tie it down with, and a roll of duct tape. When they all had to go back on air before the rain had fully stopped, they started broadcasting from under the tarp.
As Julien wrote on Instagram, MacGyver would be proud.
Alex Freeman’s fast rise with the U.S. team has no bigger fan than his father, former Eagles and Green Bay Packers wide receiver Antonio Freeman. When Alex scored the game’s second goal against Australia, he achieved the rare feat of scoring a World Cup goal in a stadium where his father scored two touchdowns 30 years earlier.
Antonio stopped by Monday’s practice to talk with the media and share his joy.
“I’m sure Alex has heard enough from other people about my success and my moments,” he said. “I don’t really talk about those moments too much. But it was definitely a full circle moment. to just have a father and son combination in any sport have an impact on a game in the same stadium, same state, it’s pretty amazing.”
He called it “a credit to all the work that Alex has put in, the commitment that he’s made. This is his ride, and I’m just happy to be his biggest supporter.”
And what was the father’s message to his son after the game?
“He just continued to amaze me, and that’s all it is,” he said. “When I see him, it’s like, ‘Yeah, boy, that’s what I’m talking about!’ — That’s our little thing. But just keep working, Alex, keep being you. People love who you are, don’t change, just keep working hard.”
He also praised soccer’s growth in the United States, saying this World Cup “has really heightened the awareness in the U.S., and people from all walks of life are getting involved, rallying behind the [U.S.] team.”
A fan services official speaks to a French fan during a weather delay at Lincoln Financial Field.Kerith Gabriel /
Loud cheers erupted twice from the steamy main concourse level of Philadelphia Stadium after it was announced that fans were able to return to their seats. A band of sunlight crept through and hit sections 118-121.
It looked like the game was set to return. However, public address announcer Kevin Casey notified fans that the match was still suspended, cheers changed to groans, but in true Philly fashion, people still milled to their seats.
During the downpour, a fan services official in section 106 was overheard saying, “these people paid good money for their seat, I can’t be the one to tell them to get up if they don’t want to, and if they want to get loud with me, that’s what Apex [stadium security services] is for.
France forward Kylian Mbappé walks off the field during a thunderstorm delay. The game remains suspended. Jose F. Moreno / Staff Photographer
Monday’s World Cup match between France and Iraq remains delayed as severe storms linger in and around Philadelphia.
“FIFA will follow the safety protocols established by the local authorities in the region, and will resume the match as soon as it’s safe to do so,” a FIFA spokesperson said. “The safety and security of all individuals is FIFA’s priority.”
It is unclear when the game will resume. Some fans have trickled back to their seats, even as they’re being told to seek shelter. Parts of the stadium remain empty as FIFA assess the situation.
Fans try to stay dry as storms pass over Lincoln Financial Field.Kerith Gabriel / Staff
Rain coming down in Philly as France and Iraq play on
Fans poncho up as rain begins to fall at Lincoln Financial Field as France plays Iraq.Rob Tornoe / staff
It’s pouring in South Philadelphia as severe storms move through the region.
FIFA will only pause play if there is a lightning strike within eight miles of the stadium. If that happens, the match will remain paused for 30 minutes, with any subsequent lightning strikes resetting the clock.
A storm warning is in effect until 6:15 p.m. if it rains like it did out in Valley forge way, this could turn into a swim meet.
France fans cheer in the stands at the Linc during Monday night’s match against Iraq.Jose F. Moreno / Staff Photographer
For the most part, French fans in Philadelphia for Monday’s game seemed to agree.
“The architecture looks quite French,” said French fan Tao Taumas, pointing to City Hall on Monday. “Yes, a lot, and we are living in Montreal now, and it looks exactly like the French part of Montreal.”
Vincent Magardeau, who traveled to Philadelphia with Taumas, did not fully agree with his friend’s conclusion.
“I’m pretty surprised that you say that,” Magardeau said after being informed of Philadelphia’s similarities to Paris. “But now that you say it, you can see the architecture here and there, but I wouldn’t say that this is the most French city that I could see.”
Gabriel Sabinaud, who “never heard about anything in Philadelphia,” arrived in the city early Monday morning after staying in New York City. A local informed Sabinaud to try a soft pretzel before he leaves, so he headed to the Philly Pretzel Factory near City Hall before the game. Sabinaud, although having limited time to explore, definitely saw the similarities between the two cities.
“The east side of the U.S. is definitely more European than the west side,” Sabinaud said. “I’ve been to San Francisco as well, not European. No, it’s not. So [Philadelphia] is definitely more European and Parisian at some points. You’ve got tiny streets with lots of people making noise with their cars. Very similar, more similar to Paris than the west side.”
Many French fans explored Center City before taking the Broad Street Line to South Philadelphia for the game. For a moment, before it began to rain heavily, “Les Bleus” had taken over downtown.
“You can see the vibe of French people here,” Taumas said. “With the World Cup, I would say it’s a French city, because everyone is wearing French jerseys, so you might be the Frenchest city in the U.S.”
Iraqi social media star serves dolma outside the Linc
Fawzi Bedaweed serves dolma from his native Iraq outside Lincoln Financial Field Monday.Rob Tornoe / staff
Fawzi Bedaweed, an Iraqi native from Zakho, traveled to Philadelphia by way of Texas to watch his beloved “Lions of Mesopotamia” take on France.
A budding social media star, Bedaweed has built up a loyal following on social media sharing Iraqi culture during the World Cup. In Philadelphia, that took the form of handing out authentic Iraqi food like dolma to fans outside Lincoln Financial Field.
“We’re going to win! Iraq!” Bedaweed chanted, dancing on the sidewalk.
While France were clear favorites heading into the game, a strong contingent of Iraqi fans filled the southern stands behind the net at the stadium.
Iraqi fans cheers in the stands at the Linc. Jose F. Moreno / Staff Photographer
It could just be the time of day, or that fact that it’s a 5 p.m. match on a Monday, but the revelry, excitement, and energy that transpired on SEPTA’s Broad Street Line an hour before kickoff compared to Friday’s match between Brazil-Haiti has fallen off.
That’s not to say there won’t be a significant crowd in-stadium, but traveling the express subway down was not the method of choice at this hour.
The subway line was packed heading to the match after the City Hall stop on Friday at 8 p.m., a little less than hour before the game started. Let’s just say it was a vibe.
Fans pack the Broad Street Line ahead of the World Cup game between Brazil and Haiti on Friday, June 19, 2026.Kerith Gabriel / Staff
On the way in to France-Iraq one hour before kickoff after City Hall? Not so much.
Fans ride the Broad Street Line ahead of the World Cup game between Iraq and France on Monday, June 22, 2026.Kerith Gabriel / Staff
Philly will see France’s biggest stars in the starting lineup
Whenever the France-Iraq game kicks off, Philly fans will get to see some of soccer’s biggest stars on the field.
Les Bleus will have Kylian Mbappé, Bradley Barcola, Ousmane Dembélé, and Michael Olise as the front four in their attack, as fearsome a quarter as there is anywhere in the world’s game.
It’s a little bit of lineup rotation from the group that started France’s entertaining 3-1 win over Senegal in the Meadowlands on Tuesday, as Barcola comes in for Désiré Doué — another of the world’s brightest young talents.
Mbappé scored two brilliant goals in that game, playing his own role in the chase for the all-time World Cup scoring record. He now has 14, four behind Lionel Messi’s new record of 18. Messi scored twice in Argentina’s 2-0 win over Austria Monday, after having scored a hat trick in the reigning champions’ 3-0 win over Algeria.
Germany’s Miroslav Klose was the previous men’s World Cup record holder with 16. The overall World Cup record belong to Brazilian women’s legend Marta with 17, until Messi passed that mark Monday.
Iraq’s lineup includes a player from MLS, Nashville SC’s Ahmed Qasem, on the left flank in midfield. There will also be a familiar face from the league in the center circle, as veteran Canadian referee Drew Fischer takes charge of the whistle.
At least so far, FIFA has not delayed the kickoff time from the scheduled 5 p.m.
France and Iraq's starters are out.
Mbappé, Dembélé, Barcola and Olise all line up for France.
Nashville SC's Ahmed Qasem goes for Iraq.
Another familiar face from MLS, Canada's Drew Fischer, is the referee.
Fans ready for today’s Philly match: ‘I just enjoy that vibe’
The FIFA Fan Festival is shut down for the day, but the pre-match party is rolling on across the city.
Mahir Sanori and Gene Lazarraga staked out their spot across from the bar at Lion Sports Bar in Chinatown by 3:20 p.m., more than an hour before France and Iraq’s scheduled kick-off time.
Sanori and Lazarraga have no connection to France, aside from Lazarraga’s French classes at Delran High School in Burlington County, but the former high school classmates chose to cheer on Les Bleus.
“We were both free this day, so [we said], ‘let’s just do it,’” Sanori said.
Lazarraga was wearing a Nike-branded navy blue French kit, while Sanori sported a white T-shirt colored in with fabric marker to make the French tricolor.
The pair also picked up some France face stickers and a French flag at Walmart, the latter of which was draped over Sanori’s shoulders.
Sanori and Lazarraga arrived just after Lion Sports Bar finished hosting a group of French supporters for some pre-match festivities, but both said they appreciated the influx of global culture brought to the region by the beautiful game.
“Seeing all these different groups of people come together, that’s kind of a rare sight in America,” Lazarraga said. “Especially with the sports here, people just go at each others’ throats. But, different countries [are] coming together, everyone’s just having a fun time. I just enjoy that vibe. That’s why we’re here right now.”
IRVINE, Calif. – Star playmaker Christian Pulisic was back on the field in practice for the U.S. men’s soccer team on Monday, taking part for the first time since before the tournament opener against Paraguay.
That was a good sign as the Hershey native recovers from the calf injury that kept him out of the second group stage contest against Australia. But it’s just one step, and practice was open to the media for the first 15 minutes. So we don’t know what happened after that.
Since the United States has already clinched first place, there isn’t much reason to play Pulisic in Thursday’s group finale against Turkey (10 p.m., Fox29, Telemundo 62). There also isn’t much reason to play the players on yellow cards — defenders Chris Richards and Antonee Robinson, midfielder Tyler Adams, and striker Folarin Balogun — since a booking in that game would get them suspended from the round of 32.
Still, it was a good sign to see Pulisic making progress.
The other injury news is that midfielder Cristian Roldan is day to day with a muscle strain. If he can’t play against Turkey, that will leave the United States shallow. Balogun also got a lighter day of practice, with a U.S. Soccer spokesperson saying: “Extra recovery. No issues.”
Opening gate time delayed at Philadelphia Stadium ahead of Iraq-France game
France v Iraq – June 22, 2026
Due to inclement weather in the region, gates opening will be delayed. If you are not in the area, please do not travel to Philadelphia Stadium at this time. A new gates opening time will be communicated once the weather has passed. If you are near…
— Lincoln Financial Field (@LFFStadium) June 22, 2026
// Timestamp 06/22/26 2:17pm
Philly fan festival is closed the rest of the day
Due to inclement weather, FIFA Fan Festival will close for the remainder of Monday. pic.twitter.com/BajUl4whLk
— FIFA World Cup 26 Philadelphia™ (@FWC26Philly) June 22, 2026
// Timestamp 06/22/26 2:02pm
Fan fest at Lemon Hill shuts down due to weather
Stormy weather shut down the World Cup fan festival on Lemon Hill during the afternoon on Monday, June 22, 2026.Owen Hewitt / Staff
The broadcast screens at the FIFA Fan Festival went from showing the Argentina-Austria match to an orange screen with a warning that thunderstorms were approaching the area around 1:40 p.m.
Minutes later, the orange warning switched to a red warning, indicating that “a thunderstorm with lightning is approaching the park.”
Festival organizers said the grounds could re-open if the storm passes through the area quickly. The festival asked fans to pay attention to its social media feeds for further updates on Monday’s schedule.
Organizers would not make an official commitment on whether the grounds would open again, but a member of the festival staff was informing food vendors that they were to shut down for the day as fans were exiting the grounds.
France and Iraq will have to contend with forecast thunderstorms when they kick off at Lincoln Financial Field at 5 p.m.
‘This is Philly, man’: Gov. Josh Shapiro hits Fan Fest
Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro poses with volunteers at FIFA Fan Fest at Fairmount Park in Philadelphia Monday.Owen Hewitt / Staff
Gov. Josh Shapiro became the latest elected official to visit the FIFA Fan Festival when he stopped by Lemon Hill Park on Monday afternoon, ahead of France and Iraq’s meeting in Philadelphia this evening.
Shapiro, sporting a navy blue U.S. Soccer polo, walked the festival grounds before kick-off of Monday’s first match, between defending champion Argentina and Austria.
“What a unique event and historic moment for our city at this historic juncture of 250 years,” Shapiro said. “To be able to be together and just celebrate one another, celebrate this great sport and enjoy yourself… I think the world needs some more togetherness, needs some more cheer, and this is a great opportunity for that.”
He was greeted by lines of volunteers as he entered the festival, then followed in Mayor Cherelle L. Parker’s footsteps by customizing a charm bracelet at the Bank of America tent — Shapiro chose charms that read 250.
In a brief news conference in front of the festival stage, Shapiro hailed Philadelphia’s Fan Festival as the best “in the country.”
“This is Philly, man,” Shapiro said. “We know how to do big things. It’s extraordinary to see people come out happy and joyful, cheering for their team. Unlike a typical Philly sports event, our fans aren’t cheering against others. There’s just happiness and joy … I’m glad that Philly is a welcoming city and welcoming people from all across the world to be here.”
Shapiro stopped to chat with dozens of attendees inside Visit PA’s booth and play a large arcade-style video game with a young fan in a Paris Saint-Germain kit. He asked French fans in line if Argentina’s Lionel Messi or France’s Kylian Mbappé was the better player, and stopped with an Argentina fan to recount Messi’s performance in Argentina’s win over Algeria.
One of the people Shapiro introduced himself to was 18-year-old Esra Asfaw, who had a French flag draped over his shoulders. Asfaw, a George Mason student originally from Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, said he did not know who Shapiro was when the governor introduced himself.
“I was so surprised,” Asfaw said.
Asfaw traveled up from Virginia to Philadelphia to see Les Bleus face Iraq. He paid $1,089 on the resale market for his 200-level seats. Asfaw said he is not worried about France’s chances against Iraq, but instead about the weather, as looming thunderstorms in the evening could impact the match.
“Maybe the match might get delayed,” Asfaw said. “That’s the only thing I’m worried about. If it rains and they play, then that’s enough for me.”
That’s the front page headline today in L’Équipe, France’s national sports newspaper and one of the most influential sports outlets in Europe.
Whether or not they read The Inquirer (we hope they do!), the word is out that thunderstorms are on the way to South Philadelphia, and are expected to hit the stadium around the time that France and Iraq are on the field (5 p.m., Fox29, Telemundo 62).
The paper’s coverage setting the stage for the game includes some teaching of Philadelphia lore. And of course, it’s Rocky-themed, since Iraq’s challenge is a classic World Cup underdog story.
The front page of @lequipe-actu.bsky.social today:
“It’s the kind of moment that makes you want to strike up a fanfare, to sound the trumpets and the Rocky theme, to be ready to go up the Philadelphia Museum of Art steps four by four, before a run along the waterfront, a spar with a hunk of meat in a cold room, or a World Cup game at ‘the Linc,’ the Eagles’ stadium,” lead soccer reporter Vincent Duluc writes. “It’s been 50 years since visitors to Philly have raised their arms at the top of these steps, jumping in place. But it’s also a moment to remember that this piece of popular culture celebrates an unexpected hero – and that the France team that’s getting ready to face Iraq in Philadelphia feels more like Apollo Creed than Rocky Balboa.”
Elsewhere in the paper, there’s a little feature on the history of Lincoln Financial Field — Philadelphia Stadium during the World Cup — and its place in the city’s culture.
“Here, the Eagles aren’t just a NFL team, they’re a local religion,” reporter Hugo Guillemet writes. “Their logo is omnipresent on the streets, in shop windows, and in the bars of South Philly. Their hymn, ‘Fly, Eagles, Fly,’ is a popular chant on game days, and when it resonates in the stadium, the stands shake.”
As for social media, if you want a fun French perspective, check out Radio France’s sports reporter Julien Froment. He’s been posting lots of videos on his X and Instagram accounts as he travels around town. Here’s one from the France fans’ pep rally on the Art Museum steps yesterday.
Brazilian fans cheers before their country’s match against Haiti in Philadelphia Friday night. Jose F. Moreno / Staff Photographer
France, a favorite by many to win the whole tournament, will take on Iraq in the second game of Group I tonight, but if it’s anything like the previous two matches, the game itself will once again not be the story.
Because for the past two games, the attraction has been that of the fans, and the unbridled passion people have for not just a team and its players, but the nation so many have bought jerseys for, the emblem they proudly wear above their heart, or in the middle of their chest.
This spectacle of what will result in 104 matches of underdogs becoming story lines, a U.S. men’s national team exercising the type of dominance very few expected, has also seen Philly lead the way on the main stage, creating lasting memories for thousands of fans who have flocked to the city, all while becoming lore, in the process.
Soccer in its purest form has provided an escape for a nation that desperately needed one. And what it’s also proved in the process is that people of different races, colors, and creeds don’t hate each other as much as their social media algorithms might suggest.
Proof was on display right here in Philly in the form of fans who packed the stands over the last two matches.
Fans like Maxence Jeanty, a 41-year-old Haitian native living in Chicago who traveled to Philly from the Windy City, dressed in a suit depicting liberator Jean-Jacques Dessalines, a key figure of the Haitian Revolution.
Maxence Jeanty, 41, a fan from Chicago.Kerith Gabriel / Staff
“When I was growing up in Haiti as a kid, I watched the World Cup, and I’ll never forget watching the 1994 World Cup,” Jeanty said. “It’s been so long that my people haven’t made it to the World Cup that the choice was to choose either Brazil or Argentina [as the nation to support]. But now, we’re stepping on the field as equals, and no matter what happens, we’re stepping on the field as equals. The pride that brings to me and to every Haitian fan here, man, that’s indescribable.”
Benjamin Franklin Parkway is one example of urban planners borrowing from the French. Jose F. Moreno / Staff Photographer
Some have called Philadelphia the “Paris of America.” Really.
It might be hard for locals to wrap their heads around the title, but there is some truth to the comparison — mostly due to the cities’ similarities in architecture. With France in town to take on Iraq in the World Cup Monday night, here’s a look at some of Philadelphia’s Parisian connections.
The Benjamin Franklin Parkway is the most glaring example of Philadelphia borrowing from the French. Finished in 1929, the parkway was designed primarily by two Frenchman, architect Paul Philippe Cret and city-planner Jacques Gréber. Their inspiration? Paris’ Champs-Élysées, a similarly grand avenue that stretches throughout the city. The two also both boast similar end points. The Champs-Élysées concludes with the grand Arc de Triomphe while Philadelphians can spot the Philadelphia Museum of Art from the parkway’s start at City Hall.
French fans just need to know not to dress the Rocky Statue atop of art museums steps.
Shortly after the conclusion of World War I, but before the signing of The Treaty of Versailles, Gréber displayed hope that the construction of the parkway would bring in tourists just as the Champs-Élysées does.
“I am glad to say that, if by this work the city of Paris may be enabled to bring its sister in America the inspiration of what makes Paris so attractive to visitors,” Gerbner said in 1918. “It will be the first opportunity of Paris to pay a little of the great debt of thankfulness for what Philadelphia and its citizens have done for France during the last three years.”
Meanwhile, Cret was also the mind behind the Benjamin Franklin bridge and a redesign of Rittenhouse Square, which also get Parisian comparisons. City Hall also looks like it could have been picked up in Paris and plopped down in Philadelphia as it was built in the French Second Empire style.
— Conor Smith
// Timestamp 06/22/26 10:24am
World Cup teams that have qualified for the next round and been eliminated
The U.S. is already in the Round of 32 and have won two group stage games for the first time since 1930. Manu Fernandez
Heading into Monday’s World Cup matches, three teams have already punched their ticket to the next round of the tournament.
Among them is the United States, which have won two games in the World Cup group stage for the first time since 1930. The U.S. has one more group stage match – against Turkey Thursday night – and will play in the Round of 32 on July 1 in San Francisco Stadium at 8 p.m. Philly time.
Here’s a rundown of all the World Cup teams that have qualified for the next round, and those that have already been eliminated from contention:
Thunderstorms in Philly could interrupt tonight’s World Cup match
Scattered severe thunderstorms could move through the region tonight.Tom Gralish / Staff Photographer
Thunderstorms are expected to make their way through the Philadelphia region later this evening, potentially interrupting tonight’s World Cup match between France and Iraq.
The strongest of the storms are forecast to move in beginning around 4 p.m., bringing with them heavy rain, wind gusts approaching 60 mph, and the potential for an isolated tornado.
“Storms will certainly have lightning with them,” said Zack Cooper, a meteorologist at the National Weather Service’s Mt. Holly station.
An inch or two of rain could fall in and around the city, Cooper said, but depending on the storm’s severity that could all come in an hour or less, leading to flash flooding. Philadelphia and the surrounding region are currently under a flood watch.
FIFA will pause play if there is a lightning strike within eight miles of the stadium. The match will remain paused for 30 minutes, with any subsequent lightning strikes resetting the clock.
The FIFA Fan Fest at Lemon Hill Park in Fairmount would also be forced to close if lightning is detected within an eight-mile radius. Fans would need to exit the grounds and move to a safe location, FIFA said in a statement, and could re-enter after 30 minutes if no additional lightning is detected.
The Storm Prediction Center in Norman, Okla., which issues severe storm watches, listed a 2% chance of tornadoes, and an “isolated” twister can’t be ruled out, said Nick Guzzo, meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Mount Holly.
Four Frenchmen skipped work to go to the World Cup in Philly
Fans react during France’s opening match against Senegal on June 16. Some of those fans have taken up residence in Philadelphia ahead of Monday’s match against Iraq.Hiroko Masuike
Eight years ago, when FIFA announced that the World Cup would be coming to the United States in 2026, a student in France felt a rush of excitement. He and his friends had been watching the international soccer tournament on television since they were kids.
They’d never seen it in person. The last time their native country hosted the competition was in 1998, before all four Frenchmen were born. In the years since, they’d tried to make it to a game, but to no avail.
Russia hosted in 2018, but the four friends were unable to get visas. Qatar hosted in 2022, but this time, they were attending different colleges, which made traveling logistically complicated. So, they looked ahead to 2026 and started saving money.
One man picked up extra work shifts at his Parisian brasserie. Another taught English lessons on the side. All four made a conscious effort to cut back on drinking and eating out.
There was one problem. The men worked in upscale restaurants, and summers were extremely busy. The Parisians knew that they wouldn’t be able to get a few days off, let alone a few weeks.
In the spirit of Ferris Bueller, the 20-something-year-olds decided to tell a white lie. And now, three years and $12,000 in savings later, they are in Philadelphia, enjoying everything it has to offer (unbeknownst to their employers).
“Momo,” the Parisian waiter who organized this trip, participated on the condition that he and his friends’ last names would be omitted (out of fear of losing their jobs).
Fans navigate the stairs in the upper concourse of Lincoln Financial Field, rebranded as Philadelphia Stadium.David Maialetti / Staff Photographer
Philadelphia has hosted two World Cup matches so far – Ivory Coast’s upset of Ecuador, and Brazil’s blowout of Haiti.
Philadelphia Stadium, as it’s called during the tournament, will host four more World Cup games, including a Round of 16 matchup on July 4.
Unfortunately, Philly won’t host the U.S., which clinched a first-place finish in the group stage. They needed to finish in third place to even have a chance of winding up the the Linc.
Here’s Philly’s remaining World Cup schedule:
France vs. Iraq: Monday, June 22, 5 p.m. (Fox)
Curaçao vs. Ivory Coast: Thursday, June 25, 4 p.m. (FS1)
Croatia vs. Ghana: Saturday, June 27, 5 p.m. (FS1)
Franklin Field played host to the New Balance Nationals Outdoors Championship this weekend, where it brought some of the most talented high school track and field athletes in the country to Philadelphia.
The keyword is some. Two other high school track competitions were happening at the same time. The Nike Outdoor Nationals were held in Eugene, Ore., and the Adidas track nationals came to Greensboro, N.C.
This is not a new occurrence. There has long been an overlap between open, registration-based national championships. Besides medaling, these meets serve as a massive marketing opportunity for their sponsors. Famously, competitors at all three meets are given free backpacks with the title sponsor’s logo on them. Penn’s Rockwell Gym was converted into a pop-up New Balance store this past weekend.
What is semi-new to the landscape — and high school sports — is the role that name, image, and likeness deals are playing in these three championship meets. If a student-athlete is signed with Nike or New Balance, he or she would compete at their respective meets.
For example, Eastern Regional senior runner Natalie Dumas, who’s heading to Arkansas, is one of only 20 female high school track and field athletes signed to Nike Elite. Because of this, Dumas competed this past weekend in Eugene a day after running in the USATF U20s on the same track. At the Nike Nationals, she ran a 52.21-second time in the 400-meter dash, placing first.
Meanwhile, 18-year-old Olympian Quincy Wilson, of the Bullis School in Potomac, Md., is signed to New Balance. Wilson also ran in the USATF U20s, clocking a second-place finish of 44.84 seconds on Friday to qualify for the World U20 Championships.
But shortly after, Wilson got on a flight back to the East Coast to compete at Franklin Field due to the meet’s title sponsor. He ran the final leg in the 4×400-meter boys’ championship on Sunday and led his school to a second-place finish.
Outside of NIL deals, New Balance Nationals’ prestige seemed to play the biggest role in winning over competitors from Nike and Adidas.
“I’ve always had just like a natural draw to the New Balance Nationals,” said senior Blake Cook, who attends Corry Area High School in Erie County and placed sixth in the boys’ 110-meter hurdles championship. “It was the first nationals I ever watched knowing that Nike and Adidas did it, they just never appealed as much to me. Just knowing how grand that this meet makes everyone feel. Even if you’re dead last in your heat, you feel elite just walking in and being able to say that you got your [backpack].”
The New Balance Nationals have only operated since 2022, following a split from the National Scholastic Athletic Foundation, a nonprofit that operates and supports high school track competitions. New Balance had partnered with the NSAF from 2010 to 2019 as the national meet’s title sponsor. Then, it was New Balance that called Greensboro home — not Adidas. Nike has been partnered with the NSAF since the nonprofit split from New Balance. Today, many see Nike and New Balance as the “premier” national meets with Adidas trailing behind.
“In general, I think New Balance has the most competition,” said Patrick Logan, who attends Grafton High School in Virginia and ran in the boys’ 400-meter dash. “Nike has some big names, but I think, in general, New Balance is just a more competitive meet and it’s on the East Coast, so it’s easier for me to get to.”
Bullis School’s Quincy Wilson competes in the 4×400-meter relay on Sunday.Isaiah Vazquez / For The Inquirer
‘Bring it back to Jersey’
The weekend brought competition from all over the country, but two runners from South Jersey showed out.
On Friday, Pennsauken senior Sianni Wynn won the 100-meter girls’ championship with a personal-best 11.27 seconds. To finish out Friday, Wynn anchored Pennsauken to a first-place finish in the 4×200-meter championship relay. Then, on Sunday, Wynn finished third in the 200-meter championship.
“It’s been a super long weekend,” said Wynn, who is committed to Florida. “I’m happy to cap it off now, and you know, it’s been a great last high school track for me.”
Sunday was Jasmine Jackson’s day. The Winslow Township High sophomore shattered her personal-best in the 100-meter hurdles, clocking in at 13.04 seconds to place first in the girls’ championship.
South Jersey’s Jasmine Jackson poses after winning the 100m hurdles at the New Balance Nationals.
“I’m feeling great,” Jackson said. “I woke up today, I said, ‘I’m not losing.’ I lost indoor, I got second, I got second in middle school, I got second as a freshman. So today I just knew I was not losing. That was not an option.”
Jackson’s finish also beat the New Jersey state record of 13.18 seconds, which was held by Union Catholic’s Taylor Cox. After the race, Jackson made sure to show love to Cox, who now runs at Georgia.
“Taylor dominated New Balance when she was still in high school,” said Jackson. “I knew I had to bring it back to Jersey.”
BUFFALO, N.Y. — Alexander Command sees a lot of parallels between himself, the city of Philadelphia, the Flyers, and their fans.
“I’ve heard that it’s where the communities, like the people, are pretty hard-working. They do right by themselves, take no [stuff], kind of like me,” the Swede said with a grin and a twinkle in his eye.
Called one of the most competitive players in this draft class by Elite Prospects, the just-under 6-foot-1, 187-pound center commands — pun slightly intended — attention whether he has the puck on his stick or not.
A confident player with a big personality, the recently turned 18-year-old is a self-described hard-working two-way center with a high hockey IQ and compete level who is not afraid to get to the dirty areas. Although other pivots in the draft class are not projected to play the position at the NHL level, no one doubts that Command will play down the middle in the middle-six.
Alexander Command, the No. 11-Ranked International Skater, grew up a Rangers fan in Sweden.
He averaged a point-per-game at both the 2026 Under-18 World Championship and the 2025 World Junior A Challenge. #NHLDraftpic.twitter.com/PRcwDMAEAl
And yes, the Flyers, who met with Command at the NHL scouting combine — he said they mentioned how much they likedhow he plays the game — have drafted eight centers — not including Denver Barkey, who played some center this past season — in the last three drafts.
The only problem for the Flyers, a team he feels a close connection with, is that middle-six centers seldom linger on draft day. And with the consensus that every team has him high on their list, the chances of Command being there at 21 don’t look promising.
Christian and Joanna Command first got Alexander on skates at the age of 3 or 4 in the northern Stockholm suburb of Danderyd, Sweden. They brought him to a public ice rink not far from their home because “they thought it was common knowledge to learn how to skate on ice,” Alexander told The Inquirer at the scouting combine.
“I found it very fun, but when I started playing hockey, I loved it even more.”
It didn’t hurt that his friends were also playing in a municipality that has produced four NHL players, with Edmonton Oilers center Mattias Janmark and retired goalie Jonas Gustavsson having played the most.
At first, Command was a small, skilled player who relied on his skating. But as his NHL dreams began to percolate, he was getting a little anxious about whether he was going to hit the imaginary bar that teams set when it comes to height.
Alexander Command finished in the top-25 of two bike tests, but while he said the dreaded Wingate test was “pretty fun,” he did confess he threw up afterward; to be fair, it is a common result.Staff/Jackie Spiegel
That worry didn’t last too long because in the past two years, he hit a growth spurt. He added almost eight inches and more than 48 pounds right as he was moving two hours west of home to play hockey in Örebro.
“I was like, all the other guys that are moving [to play hockey] are like 10 centimeters [approximately 4 inches] taller. How am I going to manage? But once it came [and I got bigger], I was really happy,” he said, noting he was still the same player but was able to use his body more to his advantage and that, with the growth spurt, he still needs to work on his skating.
“I never went to the gym and ate so much food as I did in that period of time when I started noticing that I can build muscle.”
Command worked out with his uncle Christophe, who has been a personal trainer for 20 years, and as he grew, he started adding weight training. “It was a big difference,” he said, “and I think it’s from there that I gained so much muscle, because I trained the right way, ate all the right stuff, had my good night’s sleep every day, and had my mom’s home-cooked meals.”
He likes his mom’s stuvade makaroner, a recipe that calls for macaroni boiled in milk before it is eaten with sausage and ketchup, and the tacos she makes with chicken and mango. He used to struggle to finish two tacos, but in the last few years he’ll easily chow down on three.
All the work has built an inner belief that Command can succeed as he continues to take steps in his career. It shines through with his big personality, which is a little uncommon in reserved Sweden, and has given him the mentality that he can compete no matter who he is facing.
It’s why Karl Kling, his coach for Örebro’s U20 squad, which plays in Nationell, Sweden’s top junior league, called his biggest strength his mindset.
“He always wants to go to the next level, so he’s always like hunting that next thing in his career, or in his game,” Kling told The Inquirer during a recent phone interview.
“It’s his mentality, because a lot of kids can shoot and pass a puck, but he’s very competitive, and he believes in himself. So, I think it’s his biggest strength.”
This past season, Command led his junior team with 44 points (17 goals, 27 assists) and 61 penalty minutes despite playing in 30 of the team’s 36 regular-season games. Kling said he was among the league’s best in the faceoff circle, that he plays with an edge and is intense, and that he was one of his most important players on the power play. Command added he likes to get under his opponent’s skin.
The then-17-year-old added another 13 points in 14 playoff games before the Vipers lost in the semifinals to Flyers prospect Max Westergård and Frölunda; they’d lose in the final.
During the season, Command, who says his comp is Patrice Bergeron, a former Boston Bruins center and six-time Selke Trophy winner, as the NHL’s top defensive forward, earned a six-game promotion to Örebro’s SHL squad in Sweden’s top league. He did not register a point.
However, he scored a bunch when he helped Sweden win gold at the Under-18 Men’s World Championship, notching seven points in seven games — the same numbers for another gold medalist, Jett Luchanko, in his draft year — while centering the top line.
Like the other men in his family, Alexander Command has his last name tattooed on his arm, noting, “family is important, and it’s those around you who make your day better.”Staff/Jackie Spiegel
“I think people were impressed by how he played at the U18s, in part because he had these two really skilled one-way wingers on his line, and he kind of had to do all the hard work — that would be [Elton] Hermansson and [Marcus] Nordmark, who are highly ranked players in this year’s draft,“ The Athletic’s senior NHL prospects writer Corey Pronman told The Inquirer in Western New York.
“That line had a lot of success, in part due to how Command played at both ends of the ice.”
In May, Command signed a two-year extension with Örebro that will carry him through 2027-28. The expectation is that he will play in the SHL, but Kling would welcome him back to the U20 team if he needs more ice time to work on finding a balance with his game.
Or maybe the next stop is the NHL? And could that be in orange and black?
“I’ve gotten to know their organization good, and we stand for the same things,” he said.
He added with a smile: “My cockiness and maybe a bit of my personality I think fits the Flyers organization and the people.”
Alexander Command’s coach with Örebro HK U20, Karl Kling, called him a game-breaker.Courtesy of Örebro HK U20/Erik Widlund
IRVINE, Calif. — On any given day in Seattle, there are a lot of things in the air: the breeze off Puget Sound, the seagulls that steal your french fries, and other substances for which the city is well-known.
It wouldn’t be fair for an outsider to ask if the last of those factored into the sudden outbreak of hype around the U.S. men’s soccer team. The atmosphere at Friday’s U.S.-Australia game needed no enhancement, with that crowd showing the nation and the world why Seattle’s soccer culture is the real deal.
But something has caused people to start asking if the U.S. men can win this World Cup. So let’s answer it.
No, this team is a long way from such a … height, let’s say.
A sign from U.S. fans at the game against Australia, with two teams that call the sport “soccer” instead of England’s “football.”Lindsey Wasson
Yes, the Americans have won two games in a men’s World Cup group stage for the first time since 1930. Yes, they have won their group for the first time since 2010, and clinched qualification for the knockout rounds with a game to spare for the first time in the program’s modern era, which started in 1990.
But the teams they’ve beaten so far, Paraguay and Australia, looked the part of the 41st- and 27th-ranked teams in FIFA’s global standings, which they were when the tournament kicked off. The U.S., meanwhile, has done something that should be within reach for a No. 17 team with home-field advantage on the world’s biggest stage.
When the U.S. faces Turkey in the group stage finale on Thursday in Inglewood, Calif. (10 p.m. Fox29, Telemundo 62), the hosts will again face a team ranked below them. Turkey is No. 22. How much will that actually prove, compared to a potential matchup with Belgium in the round of 16 or Spain in the quarterfinals?
Even the first knockout game in the round of 32 could be a trap. Though the U.S. is already set to head to the Bay Area for a game on July 1, the team across the field won’t be known until the group stage ends. It will be the third-place team from group B, E, F, I, or J, depending on which eight of the 12 third-place finishers in the tournamentadvance.
A U.S.-Bosnia game would be a reunion for Bosnia’s Esmir Bajraktarević (left), who grew up in Wisconsin and played for the New England Revolution.Stephanie Scarbrough
The Athletic has a forecasting formula that projects Bosnia & Herzegovina, ranked No. 64, as the most likely candidate right now. As they’d say on “Let’s Make A Deal,” you take the offer right there. Upcoming games could put Ivory Coast, Ecuador, Japan, Sweden, Norway, or Senegal behind the other doors.
But if it is Bosnia, it would still be a measuring stick, and not just because the U.S. men have won just one knockout-round game in their history (against Mexico in 2002).
The Americans’ all-time record against European teams in World Cups is 3-14-7, and the only win of the modern era was against Portugal in 2002. The other two were against England in 1950 and Belgium in 1930. (Coincidentally, both games had heroes from Philadelphia, Walter Bahr and Bart McGhee.)
Sometimes, the insistence on measuring American soccer against Europe is just a thing in the heads of fans and media. But the results record is still long and one-sided, even compared to other continents. The U.S. is 3-2-0 against teams from South America, 2-2-0 against teams from Africa, and 2-1-1 against teams from Asia.
Weston McKennie (center) and the U.S. men recorded their third World Cup win over a South American team by beating Paraguay.Jayne Kamin-Oncea
Why it’s different for the players
If reading this makes you feel like it’s spoiling the party, sometimes that’s the job of a professional cynic. So we’ll balance it by saying the warning only applies to outsiders. It’s perfectly fine for the players and coaches to believe they can go all the way, because they need that belief along with everything else to win games on the biggest stage.
“Obviously, we take it one game at a time, but every game, every tournament that we play, we want to win,” centerback Chris Richards said. “So I don’t think it’s ridiculous to say that we want to win it.”
Nor was it outrageous, even if it was certainly headline-grabbing, when manager Mauricio Pochettino told The Athletic last week that “we should dream without limits.”
“If I dream of touching the moon, of being up on the moon, maybe I can get close to the moon,” he said. “If I only dream of getting close to it, I’ll stay on Earth. It’s so powerful, isn’t it? Believing that you can do it.”
Mauricio Pochettino embracing Folarin Balogun after the U.S.’ win over Australia.Ted S. Warren
It had to help Friday. The players found out that morning, just a few hours before kickoff, that its catalyst, Christian Pulisic, wasn’t healthy enough to play.
“We were all ready to prepare for this game, and whenever we heard that the coach gave us the lineup, the next player, the next man up was ready,” said Ricardo Pepi, who was that next man.
“I think that we built the victory in our attitude,” Pochettino said after the Australia game. “I told the player: the first action when we started the game, did you see how Pepi and Balogun go to press?”
We sure did, and it set the tone that led to the game’s first goal in just 11 minutes. Australia had to boot the ball out to beat it, and one of those clearances led to the throw-in that started the scoring play. The U.S. worked the ball around the back line, Antonee Robinson sprung Balogun down the left wing, Pepi charged up the middle, and Cameron Burgess put the ball in his own net.
They didn’t let up, either, as physical as the game got. After winning the first game with style, the U.S. won the second with grit, as the teams combined for 28 called fouls and plenty more uncalled.
How the Turkey game will go is impossible to know right now, with the U.S. already group winners and Turkey already eliminated. It’s the first game without qualification stakes for the Americans since 1998, when they lost their first two games and were eliminated before the third.
Will Pochettino rotate his lineup a lot? It makes sense at first, but there are caveats. There’s a history of teams that rest players in their third game ending up rusty in their first knockout game, and this time there are six days between the second and third group contests — then another six between the round of 32.
There’s a clear case to rest Pulisic and players on yellow cards: Tyler Adams, Robinson, Richards, and Balogun. If they get another booking in this game, they’re out of the round of 32 contest. But beyond them (and it’s a lot, for sure), Pochettino might want to keep the rest in a good rhythm.
At least it’s a good problem to have. The results so far and the manner of earning them signal that the U.S. can make a run in this World Cup. But winning the title is a different question. That still feels too high of a task, and it will eventually become clear.
The tale of the tape is no tale at all for Mike Gansey and Bob Myers. The last month-and-a-half has yielded about 60 minutes of on-the-record comments from the Sixers’ new personnel regime and about zero seconds of actual insight into their immediate plans for the roster.
Perhaps there is some gamesmanship involved. In a world where information is currency, the first goal is to keep your competition in the red. More likely, the Sixers realize that they need to be in read-and-react mode.
“These answers are not simple,” Myers said last month after the Sixers announced the hiring of Gansey as their new president of basketball operations. “You wake up in the middle of the night thinking about these things. And when you get fortunate enough to win, it’s all that work and toil that make it worth it.
Bob Myers, president of sports for Harris Blitzer Sports & Entertainment, says that right now the moves being made within the Sixers organization need to be methodical ones. Matt Rourke
“But there’s nothing more challenging than winning. You can’t buy championships. You have to go through it together. Each decision you make, each transaction you make, is hopefully moving in that direction. But that’s why you do it. That’s what makes it fun.”
The Sixers’ lack of clarity about their short-term direction has added a layer of intrigue to Tuesday night’s draft. Most years, the No. 22 pick wouldn’t be a major plot point in the trajectory of a roster. The last three players drafted at No. 22 overall have combined to play 116 games in their six NBA seasons. This is not the range where a team expects to draft a future playoff rotation player, let alone a star.
This year’s draft is better than most. Maybe not to the extent the experts once projected, especially given the lack of a clear No. 1 between BYU’s AJ Dybantsa, Kansas’ Darryn Peterson, and Duke’s Cameron Boozer. But the draft is clearly deep, with Michigan’s Morez Johnson Jr. projected to go toward the back end of the Top 15, and for Houston’s Chris Cenac Jr. and Washington’s Hannes Steinbach to go even later than that.
Johnson is exactly what the Sixers need at the wing right now, so much so that they would have to think long and hard if presented with an opportunity to move aggressively up the draft board.
Michigan forward Morez Johnson Jr. is a player who would fit the Sixers’ scheme. But would the team consider moving up to get him?Jeffrey T. Barnes
Cenac and Steinbach both have the potential to become such a player, though both could be gone by the time the Sixers pick at No. 22. More likely to be there is St. John’s wrecking ball Zuby Ejiofor, who would be perfect for the team the Sixers hope to become, at the expense of some ceiling.
The big question is the one that Gansey and Myers have both avoided thus far.
What is the timeline?
What is the three-year plan?
“I don’t look at it as a timeline,” Gansey said. “I just look at it like we have those four, and we [have] got to maximize those four. Obviously, VJ [Edgecombe] and Tyrese [Maxey] are younger, but Paul [George] and Joel [Embiid] can still play at a high level … Like, we gotta rely on those four, and obviously keep on the floor, and then just build around them.”
Your interpretation of that comment hinges on your interpretation of one word.
Build.
When Daryl Morey acquired a first-round pick from the Thunder as part of a package for second-year guard Jared McCain, he acknowledged that he did not make the trade with the thought that the Sixers would hold onto the pick long enough to use it. Even Morey, who once upon a time drafted Maxey at No. 21, understood that the No. 22 overall pick is typically more valuable as a trade chip than as a building block.
The one-two punch of Sixers guard VJ Edgecombe (left) and Tyrese Maxey is a duo that Mike Gansey and the Sixers can build around for the future.Monica Herndon / Staff Photographer
In 2022, the former Sixers president traded the No. 23 pick to the Grizzlies (in the form of David Roddy) for fifth-year guard De’Anthony Melton. Three years later, Melton signed as a free agent with Golden State, and Roddy ended up playing a few games with the Sixers on a 10-day contract after having been traded by the Grizzlies and later waived by the Hawks.
Is there a world where the Sixers “build” for next year rather than taking their chances at No. 22?
A lot could depend on what unfolds across the NBA over the next few weeks. We could be on the verge of an arms race that can create plenty of interesting opportunities for wise teams searching for value.
There’s a belief that Milwaukee star forward Giannis Antetokounmpo (center) could be trade bait this offseason. Jeffrey Phelps
One superstar — the Bucks’ Giannis Antetokounmpo — is almost certain to be traded. A second — the Celtics’ Jaylen Brown — has generated enough smoke to conclude that a deal is possible. The Clippers’ Kawhi Leonard and the Mavericks’ Kyrie Irving are potentially in play. So are younger building blocks like the Pelicans’ Trey Murphy III. After a relatively tepid couple of offseasons, the circus is rolling back into town.
All of this would be true even without the competitive pressures that should exacerbate and expedite this summer’s decision-making. As it happens, those pressures are at an all-time boil. The Knicks just rattled off one of the great postseason runs in NBA history. The Spurs and the Thunder are both well-positioned to consolidate their talent and make a major move.
Each is aware that a major move by the other could reduce them to the Harden-era, second-ran Rockets. Both would be wise to get ahead of the curve, like the Knicks did with OG Anunoby, and then Mikal Bridges, and then Karl-Anthony Towns. Both will be drafting ahead of the Sixers, the Thunder twice (at No. 12 and No. 17).
Zuby Ejiofor fits the mold of a player the Sixers could benefit from. If he’s still on the board with the No. 22 pick, the Sixers should strongly consider using their pick.Adam Hunger
There’s a sense that the Sixers will likely need to play it straight and to make the best of what is there at No. 22. In which case, we should consider some of the keywords that Gansey and Myers both used when describing their vision, as abstract as it was.
Character. Work ethic. Competitiveness. Accountability. Teamwork. Identity. Culture. Rebounding.
“I want fountains, not drains,” Gansey said.
Ejiofor checks off a lot of those boxes. He navigates the court like a linebacker in pass coverage. He rebounds and relocates and screens and drops like a man who just wants to win. He has the makings of a jump shot, the footwork of a seasoned pro, and the quick-twitch bounce of a guy who is more wing than big.
If he is there at No. 22, Gansey shouldn’t hesitate, whatever the mock drafts say.
It marked the 11th time a Phillies player hit for the cycle, but Harper ranfor it, too. Overaggressive base running has always been part of Harper’s game, and it paid off.
To add on to the historical night, Kyle Schwarber crushed three homers and became the fourth Phillies player to homer twice in one inning.
Their performance was quite spectacular. The two stars put on a dueling talent show for the ages. It almost makes you wonder what Schwarber and Harper could have in store for an All-Star encore.
Neither will commit to the Home Run Derby until they know if they’ll be named to the All-Star team. But is there any doubt? If anything, they just gave everyone one heck of a preview.
How Eagles general manager Howie Roseman (left) might tinker with the personnel on Vic Fangio’s defense — particularly as it applies to the safety position — remains an open question.Jose F. Moreno / Staff Photographer
The Eagles still are more than two months away from cutting their roster down to 53 players by the Aug. 30 deadline. A lot can change between now and then.
With that being said, we’re going to make our roster predictions throughout training camp, and since the Eagles just finished their offseason program and have some downtime, it’s worth taking a shot at the roster now.
A Brazil fan waves his national flag before Friday’s FIFA World Cup Group C soccer match between Brazil and Haiti.Jose F. Moreno / Staff Photographer
As Philadelphia gets ready for another World Cup game today — France vs. Iraq at 5 p.m. — let’s look back on this past weekend’s festivities, where a true spectacle was on display.
For the past two games in the city, the attraction has been about the fans and the unbridled passion people have for a team, its players, and the nation they represent.
The World Cup came at the perfect time in an America that felt fractured into sides and factions — it’s the escape we didn’t know we needed, writes Kerith Gabriel.
And can the USMNT really win this World Cup? People are starting to ask after the U.S. team’s wins at the World Cup. The truth is the games to come will be much harder than the ones so far.
In case you missed, Delco was very much mentioned on the world’s biggest stage as Matt Freese and Auston Trusty helped the U.S. win two games in a World Cup group stage for the first time since 1930.
Center Jack Hextall finished among the top 25 in five fitness tests at the NHL’s scouting combine.Staff/Jackie Spiegel
The NHL draft is looming. Starting on Friday, the Flyers will select their next generation in the 2026 NHL draft.
They have 21st pick in the first round, and will be making their selctions in Atlantic City. So let’s roll the dice here with another mock draft — which is only two rounds since the Flyers traded away their third-rounder to Toronto.
Sports snapshot
Athletes prepare to take the field during the New Balance Nationals Outdoors Championship at Franklin Field on Sunday.Isaiah Vazquez / For The Inquirer
Changing landscape: Franklin Field played host to the New Balance Nationals this weekend, but that wasn’t the only major high school track meet happening.
More than a title: La Salle’s ‘super special’ boys’ lacrosse season ended with its first state crown since 2019.
Nick Sirianni (left) has always had stability at quarterback with Jalen Hurts. Is that about to change?Yong Kim / Staff Photographer
It’s rare that, in the same week in June, you see three separate stories that pull back the curtain on the most secretive team in town, the Eagles. That’s what’s happened over the past few days.
And it brought some revelations: Just 16 months ago, the coach and the quarterback were celebrating a Super Bowl LIX win. Now, there are concerns about their futures and legacies, and the owner’s kid is in the middle of it, writes columnist Marcus Hayes.
We compiled today’s newsletter using reporting from Scott Lauber, Jeff Neiburg, Kerith Gabriel, Jonathan Tannenwald, Marcus Hayes, Jackie Spiegel, Devin Jackson, Conor Smith, Mia Messina, Ethan Kopleman, and Lauren Jones.
By submitting your written, visual, and/or audio contributions, you agree to The Inquirer’s Terms of Use, including the grant of rights in Section 10.
Happy Monday ☀️ — thanks for getting your morning started with me. I’ll be back in your inbox tomorrow. — Bella
It goes without saying, but we’ll say it anyway. The Eagles still are more than two months away from cutting their roster down to 53 players by the Aug. 30 deadline for the 2026 NFL season.
A lot can change between now and then.
It’s almost a guarantee that there will be some player movement on and off the 90-man roster between now and then, and probably even before the Eagles take the field for the first time at training camp at the end of July.
Who’s going to be on that initial 53-man roster? We’re going to make predictions throughout training camp, and since the Eagles just finished their offseason program and have some downtime before camp begins, it’s worth taking a shot at predicting the roster now. Future iterations of this list will be more informed (not that this one isn’t!).
Without further ado, here is our initial 53-man roster prediction for the 2026 Eagles — and a first guess some players who will stick around on the practice squad, too.
How much would Cole Payton’s presence on the roster factor into what the Eagles do ahead of him at QB2? Jose F. Moreno / Staff Photographer
Quarterbacks (3): Jalen Hurts, Andy Dalton, Cole Payton
Traded: Tanner McKee
Practice squad: TBD
Something’s got to give, right? The Eagles aren’t going to use four roster spots at the quarterback position. They also may be reluctant to expose a fifth-round pick (Payton) to waivers unless his camp is that uninspiring. But Kyle McCord was a sixth-round pick last year and the Eagles were able to pass him through waivers. Still, the Eagles have been rotating Dalton and McKee with the second-team offense throughout the offseason program, which means McKee’s grip on the No. 2 spot has loosened. The Eagles probably are hopeful McKee plays well at camp and in preseason games so they can deal their 2023 sixth-round pick for a draft asset.
As for that TBD spot in the practice squad, if McKee is dealt, count on the Eagles bringing in another body late in camp with the goal of keeping that player on the practice squad.
Running backs (4): Saquon Barkley, Tank Bigsby, Will Shipley, Cameron Latu (fullback)
Count Barkley and Bigsby as locks, but behind them is a real competition for roster spots. Shipley gets the nod here, but we’ll see what happens when camp starts rolling. Pierce and Mitchell bring some experience. Steele, meanwhile, is a fullback. Latu is listed as a tight end by the Eagles, but he transitioned to fullback last year and his best path to the roster is at that position. Whether the Eagles keep a fullback or not remains to be seen, but Latu is a pretty solid blocker and has made an impact on special teams.
Darius Cooper (left) and Dontayvion Wicks are part of a crowded receiving corps. Monica Herndon / Staff Photographer
Wide receivers (6): DeVonta Smith, Makai Lemon, Dontayvion Wicks, Hollywood Brown, Darius Cooper, Elijah Moore
Cut: Johnny Wilson, Britain Covey, Danny Gray, Quez Watkins, Erik Ezukanma, Samori Toure
Practice squad: Covey, Wilson
The Eagles have begun life after A.J. Brown. There’s a pretty clear pecking order as things stand right now. The top four receivers seem pretty etched in stone, but there will be healthy competition for the back end of the depth chart. They could end up keeping five instead of six, too. Cooper and Moore slot in on this first pass and get the nod over Wilson, who should be easy to get through waivers since he’s coming off injury.
The Eagles liked what they saw out of Cooper, an undrafted free agent, last season and Nick Sirianni raves about the “dirty work” Cooper and Wilson bring to the table. Having them both may be a little redundant. Moore may be considered a relative long shot to make the team, but he has had his moments in the NFL and could push for a spot for a team that might need some more playmaking at wide receiver with A.J. Brown gone. Covey, meanwhile, could slot in on the practice squad and be called upon in the punt return game.
Can Grant Calcaterra stick on a team with bolstered depth at the tight end position? Monica Herndon / Staff Photographer
Tight ends (3): Dallas Goedert, Eli Stowers, Johnny Mundt
Cut: Grant Calcaterra, Stone Smartt, E.J. Jenkins, Dae’Quan Wright
Practice squad: Wright
If all goes as planned for the Eagles, this position might be the most boring one in camp when it comes to figuring out who to keep and who to cut. Mundt was brought in to provide a big boost in the blocking department, and the Eagles drafted Stowers in the second round. There’s a world where they keep four, but Calcaterra, who has been a mainstay on the team over the last four seasons, seems like a long shot to make the roster given his deficiencies as a blocker and his slot work being superfluous with Stowers in the mix.
Offensive linemen (11): Jordan Mailata, Landon Dickerson, Cam Jurgens, Tyler Steen, Lane Johnson, Markel Bell, Fred Johnson, Drew Kendall, Michael Jordan, Micah Morris, Cameron Williams
The five starters are pretty set unless someone wows in camp and pushes Steen for a spot. Behind the starting unit is more talent than there was at season’s end. The Eagles made a concerted effort to add some depth to the offensive line. They brought back Fred Johnson and drafted Bell. The third-round pick might have first dibs on the swing tackle job. They also added some more experience on the interior in Jordan, who started 20 games over the last two seasons. Having Jordan makes it so that Kendall and Morris aren’t the primary backups on the interior. The Eagles likely will have a decision to make on the two tackles they drafted last season: Hinton and Williams. It seems unlikely both make the team.
Can Uar Bernard progress quickly from major project to a spot on the active roster?Monica Herndon / Staff Photographer
Defensive tackles (5): Jalen Carter, Jordan Davis, Moro Ojomo, Byron Young, Uar Bernard
Cut: Ty Robinson, Gabe Hall, Zion Wilson, Ta’Quan Graham
Practice squad: Robinson, Wilson
This is a tricky one. How likely is Bernard to be claimed by another team if the Eagles waive him? Remember, the claiming team needs to put the claimed player on the 53-man roster. The first-time football player has some elite athleticism, but he doesn’t know how to play football. It’s hard to justify keeping a player on the 53 that is unlikely to dress for a single game. But Bernard is unique. Robinson is the roster casualty here, but last year’s fourth-round pick gets through waivers in this prediction and gets onto the practice squad, where he can be elevated for game days. Wilson is an intriguing prospect the Eagles probably would like to keep around.
Edge rushers (5): Jonathan Greenard, Jalyx Hunt, Nolan Smith, Arnold Ebiketie, A.J. Epenesa
Cut: Keyshawn James-Newby, Jose Ramirez, Joshua Weru
Practice squad: James-Newby, Weru (IPP)
The first four spots offer little intrigue. There’s an obvious trio at the top in Greenard, Hunt, and Smith, and Ebiketie, who signed a one-year deal worth more than $7 million, slots in as a rotational rusher. The last spot likely will come down to James-Newby, a seventh-round pick in this year’s draft, and Epenesa, who signed with the Eagles on the day minicamp ended after his free-agent deal with Cleveland fell through following a physical. We’ll give the nod to the experienced Epenesa and put the rookie on the practice squad for now, where he’ll join Weru, who won’t count against the 17-player limit on the practice squad due to his International Pathway Player (IPP) designation.
Jeremiah Trotter Jr. should see a lot of action at LB during the preseason. David Maialetti / Staff Photographer
With Jihaad Campbell recovering from shoulder surgery, Trotter got a chance to shine during the offseason program. The Eagles have two clear starters and a very capable backup in Trotter. Mondon had some moments on special teams last season. Could Chance Campbell push for a roster spot? Special teams would get him there. But the Eagles went heavy at offensive line in this projection and don’t have the space to keep five off-ball linebackers. Chance Campbell should get through waivers cleanly and onto the practice squad.
The Eagles should have one of the best defensive backfields in the league in 2026. Mitchell and Woolen will man the outside and DeJean, an All-Pro in 2025 like Mitchell, slots into the nickel spot, though he’ll play safety in base. Jones was brought in to provide some more depth on the outside. Ringo has had his chances and seems like a change-of-scenery candidate, but he’s been great on special teams and should earn his spot that way.
Will Marcus Epps (right) break camp manning a de facto starting role at safety?Monica Herndon / Staff Photographer
Safety (3): Drew Mukuba, Marcus Epps, Michael Carter II
Cuts: Cole Wisniewski, Andre’ Sam, Kapena Gushiken, J.T. Gray, Max Pulley, Tucker Large
Practice squad: Wisniewski, Sam, Gushiken
We’re going light here for now since DeJean will play some safety. When the Eagles aren’t in base, which is the majority of the time, Epps is, as it stands, the guy who will play next to Mukuba. Carter II is a converted nickel corner who the Eagles will slot in a backup safety spot. Wisniewski was a seventh-round pick who could have some upside. If the Eagles keep 10 offensive linemen, or five receivers, Wisniewski likely makes the team if four safeties are kept. Keeping four is the more orthodox route. But it’s June, and we’ll start our first roster prediction with a little twist.
Special teams (3): Jake Elliott (kicker), Braden Mann (punter), Rocco Underwood (long snapper)
No cuts, no practice squad. These are the only three specialists on the roster.
Eight years ago, when FIFA announced that the World Cup would be coming to the United States in 2026, a student in France felt a rush of excitement. He and his friends had been watching the international soccer tournament on television since they were kids.
They’d never seen it in person. The last time their native country hosted the competition was in 1998, before all four Frenchmen were born. In the years since, they’d tried to make it to a game, but to no avail.
Russia hosted in 2018, but the four friends were unable to get visas. Qatar hosted in 2022, but this time, they were attending different colleges, which made traveling logistically complicated. So, they looked ahead to 2026 and started saving money.
A heavy France contingent was part of an announced attendance of 68,274 at New York/New Jersey Stadium for their first game of the World Cup. Vincent Alban
One man picked up extra work shifts at his Parisian brasserie. Another taught English lessons on the side. All four made a conscious effort to cut back on drinking and eating out.
There was one problem. The men worked in upscale restaurants, and summers were extremely busy. The Parisians knew that they wouldn’t be able to get a few days off, let alone a few weeks.
In the spirit of Ferris Bueller, the 20-something-year-olds decided to tell a white lie. And now, three years and $12,000 in savings later, they are in Philadelphia, enjoying everything it has to offer (unbeknownst to their employers).
“Momo,” the Parisian waiter who organized this trip, participated on the condition that he and his friends’ last names would be omitted (out of fear of losing their jobs).
It was a risk traveling here but one he says has been “absolutely” worth it. For more than a week, the Frenchmen have been exploring the city, rating each experience on a 1-to-3 scale.
Eating through Philadelphia
Their first stop was Pat’s. Momo and his friends — Micha, Anto, and Titi — accidentally ended up at Geno’s. They asked customers where they could find Pat’s, to which he said they responded, “What the [expletive].”
“We turned around and there’s the building,” Momo said. “And we’re like ‘Ohhhh.’”
They each bought two cheesesteaks, with a soda and fries, to compare the difference. It was negligible. Pat’s edged out Geno’s in their rating system, just because they thought the “crown on the cup was cooler.”
What did stand out were the condiments.
For these four Frenchmen, a trip to Pat’s Steaks was on the menu which they gave the edge to over Geno’s. Joe Lamberti
“We had what you call Cheez Whiz,” Momo said. “I’ve never had something like this. It was good. Interesting flavor. It’s not cheese, but it was good anyway.”
He added: “Micha wanted me to mention that we enjoy ranch sauce. It is very good. We had this brand, Hidden Valley.”
They’ve since gone to Ricci’s for hoagies. Grandma’s Pizza, Del Rossi’s, and Parc are also on the agenda (that is, if they can get a table at Parc).
“Somebody told me what the hoagie was yesterday,” Momo said. “I had never heard hoagie. So, I got the hoagie today. It was good hoagie, I think it was Italian hoagie.
“We gave Ricci’s a 3 [rating]. It was unique. There’s nothing Italian about it. But it was so good. The sandwich itself, you’d never find it in Italy, but it was so unique that we just enjoyed it. So we gave it three stars.”
This is a substantial amount of food — and the portions are much bigger than they are in France — but the Frenchmen are quickly burning off the calories. They say they are walking approximately “five miles a day” to see the sights (and save some money).
Exploring the city by foot
The four friends are partially doing this out of necessity. They are staying at an Airbnb in South Philadelphia. SEPTA isn’t as comprehensive as the train system in Paris. But exploring the city by foot has led to some enlightening experiences.
One of the first things they saw were “Philadelphia 250″ signs on buildings and billboards. After conversing among themselves, and coming up with no answers, Momo decided to ask a passerby.
“We said, ‘What is 250?’ ” he said. “‘What are these numbers?’ I asked the man on the street, ‘Sir, what is 250?’ He was like, ‘Our anniversary this year, 250.’
“And I was like, ‘Oh, OK, yes, yes, yes. I understand.’ Because then I remember the whole Revolutionary War stuff. They were telling me fireworks and baseball and all of this other American stuff that we’ve never seen before. So, we said we’ll stick around and we’ll go to it.”
Fans of France were in full force during the team’s World Cup match against Senegal. They head to Philly to face Iraq at 5 p.m. Monday.Hiroko Masuike
Other areas of confusion have included Uber delivery robots (“in Paris, we just have guys on mopeds”) and knowing where you can and cannot smoke a cigarette.
The smoking alone has led to some interesting encounters. Last Sunday night, while at dinner in Fishtown, the Frenchmen tried to take a smoke break outside a restaurant.
They were promptly told to relocate, and met another local who had been told the same. They started talking about the Eagles — Momo and Micha want to buy a jersey — and he gave them some recommendations.
A few minutes later, they said goodbye, and the man signed off with a “Go Birds.”
“And I was like, ‘Go Birds?’” Momo said. “And he’s like, ‘Go Birds.’ I thought he meant pigeons or seagulls. I didn’t know he meant Eagles.
“He’s like, ‘People say Go Birds all the time here.’ I was like, ‘Even when the Eagles are not playing?’ He said, ‘Yeah.’ That’s interesting. That would be like saying, ‘Allez Paris Saint-Germain’ when Paris Saint-Germain are not playing. Why would you say it now? Just say it later, when they are playing.”
A ‘devastating’ encounter with Rocky
While on another five-mile walk on Wednesday, the Frenchmen decided to see Rocky. They were very excited; Micha and Momo had both watched the film for the first time on their flight over. They weren’t expecting a statue, though.
The four friends said that they thought Rocky was a real person, and assumed they were en route to meet a world-class boxer.
Finding out he was fictional was “devastating,” in Momo’s words. But the visit still earned high marks.
“Me and Micha gave Rocky statue a 10, even though 3 is the highest rating,” he said. “Because we just watched the movie, so we think, ‘Oh this is a 10 rating.’”
Brazilian and soccer fans climb the steps of the Rocky statue, marked with a FIFA World Cup logo, on Thursday, June 18, 2026, in Philadelphia, ahead of Friday’s FIFA World Cup Group C match between Brazil and Haiti.Jose F. Moreno / Staff Photographer
While they were there, the Parisians heard about the Rocky curse. Unlike Ecuador’s fans, they will not be falling victim to it.
“I said, ‘Sir, we’ve paid too many American dollars to come this far now to watch France lose to Iraq in Philadelphia, so that will not be happening,’” Momo said. “If people come here and I see it happen, I’ll take [the jersey] off myself. I’m not watching France lose here.”
The four friends, who are staying through the Fourth of July when Philly will host its final World Cup game, have a lot of sights to see until then. On Saturday, they headed to Citizens Bank Park. This week, they’ll try to visit the Philadelphia Museum of Art.
But the main attraction, of course, is Les Bleus, who will play Iraq at Lincoln Financial Field at 5 p.m. Monday (Fox 29). Anto found himself getting emotional about this earlier in the week.
His friend asked what was wrong; Anto said he was in disbelief that the Frenchmen were finally on the precipice of their first World Cup.
“Then I thought about it,” Momo said. “We’ve sacrificed going out with our friends to save up for this. We said on the plane ride, even if something goes wrong we’re going to try to enjoy, because we’ve been saving forever.
“Even seeing France play one game at the World Cup … I’ll be telling my kids about that for the rest of my life. It’s something that I’ll never forget.”
The four friends could’ve gone to other American cities. France has also played in New Jersey, and will play in Boston next Friday. But they chose Philadelphia, and are glad they did.
“It’s funny,” Momo said. “If New York were a little cheaper, we would have gone to New York, and never gotten any of the experiences here. But I’m happy that we picked a city that I feel like most Europeans don’t think about.
— Equipe de France ⭐⭐ (@equipedefrance) June 19, 2026
“They think about New York and Miami and LA. But now I can go home and tell people, ‘Yo, go to Philadelphia. It’s interesting.’”
He added: “They say that people in Philadelphia are mean and rude. They say the same thing about Paris. It’s not true; the people are very helpful. I feel like people here would help you if you need help, just in the way that people in Paris would do the same. If you need help, people would help you.
“I have not met one mean person. Super helpful and accommodating and hospitable to me and my friends.”
The Frenchmen have enjoyed it so much that they are already planning their next trip, to the Linc in the fall.
It’ll be tricky because the Eagles’ season overlaps with Paris Saint-Germain’s (and the four friends are season-ticket holders). But they’re determined to find a way to make it work.
“We’ve heard of Eagles before,” Momo said. “I’ve heard of Jalen Hurts and Saquon Barkley, when he jumped over that football player. We will definitely come back. And if not for Eagles, just to explore the city.”
