When asked about his strengths as a leader, new 76ers president of basketball operations Mike Gansey mostly provided generic examples during Monday’s introductory news conference.
He called himself a “connector” who can build relationships with players, agents, and staffers at all levels of the organization. He said he managed the Cleveland Cavaliers’ day-to-day front office operations as the general manager under that team’s president of basketball operations, Koby Altman. Gansey added that he believed in creating “alignment” throughout the whole Sixers’ facility, along with a positive work environment.
Perhaps the one tangible responsibility Gansey revealed about his time in Cleveland?
Consider it fortuitous timing that this is Gansey’s first roster-building checkpoint with the Sixers. They have the 22nd overall pick on June 23, which was acquired in the controversial Jared McCain trade executed by former lead executive Daryl Morey. Now, Gansey will aim to blend in with a group of front-office executives who have already done significant prospect evaluation — and “drafted really, really well” in past years, he said — while infusing his own expertise.
“I’m excited to learn from them,” Gansey said, “and, obviously, put my vision and put my imprint on the draft. … We’re going to dive into that the next two weeks, and try to get the best person and player for the Sixers.”
This year’s draft is not as high-profile as when the Sixers selected VJ Edgecombe, who instantly became a standout rookie, third overall last summer. Still, there is a sense of urgency less than two weeks before this selection.
Gansey’s first task, according to Harris Blitzer Sports & Entertainment president Bob Myers, is getting his bearings with a Sixers front office that still features continuity even with former general manager Elton Brand expected to transition into a new role and title. Jameer Nelson was elevated to executive vice president of basketball operations, while vice president of player personnel Prosper Karangwa agreed to a contract extension, The Inquirer confirmed. Gansey also mentioned assistant general managers Ned Cohen and Fan-Hal Kuong and Blue Coats general manager Ariana Andonian by name during his introductory news conference.
Mike Gansey made his first appearance as Sixers president of basketball operations during a news conference on Monday.Tom Gralish / Staff Photographer
Myers said Gansey must learn nuances such as how much the Sixers lean on analytics in prospect evaluation in comparison to his 15 years working his way up with the Cavaliers, or how much input scouts and coach Nick Nurse will have. And though Myers added that the Sixers will explore possible trades for the pick, “usually you end up drafting, [that’s] the truth,” he said.
“It’s really getting an understanding,” Myers said of Gansey’s approach, “of, ‘OK, we did it this way in Cleveland. How do you guys do it?’ And working together to this group.”
The Sixers’ draft picks in recent years include McCain at 16th overall and Adem Bona in the second round in 2024. Recently anointed All-NBA third-teamer Tyrese Maxey went 21st in a bizarre, COVID-impacted 2020 draft, a pick Nelson on Monday acknowledged that, “We got lucky with the person. We got lucky with the player.” When the Sixers had the 23rd pick in 2022, they traded it for DeAnthony Melton, a successful two-way role player when healthy for two seasons.
“At 22, you want to get a combination of best player available and fit with our roster,” Gansey said when asked about his overall draft philosophy.
Gansey’s Cleveland draft successes include using the No. 20 pick in 2024 on Jaylon Tyson, who started 42 games this past season and was a tenacious defender against Maxey. The Cavaliers used a second-round pick last year on Tyrese Proctor, a veteran guard on the Cooper Flagg-Kon Knueppel Duke team who then played in 50 games as a rookie for Cleveland. The Cavaliers also signed Dean Wade as an undrafted free agent in 2019, then developed him into a rotation player.
Since Gansey was preparing to select 29th with the Cavaliers prior to landing the Sixers job, Myers assured that, “It’s not like he’s sitting there going, ‘I don’t know who any of these guys are.’” The new-look front office’s decision that night will then lead into how it approaches free agency, which opens June 30.
So it was understandable why Gansey was ready to move past the hubbub of Monday’s formal introduction in Philly.
Because his roster-building specialty awaits.
“I’m ready to kind of get today over with and go for the draft,” Gansey said, “because we’re two weeks away.”
While some of the world’s best soccer players will be coming to Philadelphia for the World Cup this summer, some of Philadelphia’s young soccer standouts will be leaving the country for an international tournament of their own.
The Anderson Monarchs’ team of 10- and 11-year-old girls punched its ticket to the Gothia Cup, which is July 12-18 in Gothenburg, Sweden. The Gothia Cup is the largest youth soccer tournament in the world.
The Monarchs pulled off a 2-1 shootout win — their first-ever shootout — over North Philly United in a Montgomery County-based “Meet the World” tournament sponsored by manufacturing firm SKF on April 18. This secured the Monarchs’ position as one of the 16 teams SKF would be sponsoring for the Gothia Cup.
The Anderson Monarchs were created to provide experiences for children “that normally wouldn’t get those opportunities,” coach Steve Bandura said. He added that these opportunities allow the players to grow socially and academically, and he expects an opportunity like this to have a lasting effect on the athletes.
“This is going to be an amazing experience for our girls to get out of South Philly,” he said. “It’s just going to open their eyes and change their perspective on the world, really. And we’re meeting girls from all over on common ground, on the soccer pitch, and I think it’s going to be an incredible experience for them.”
With the sponsorship from SKF, the Monarchs’ entire trip is taken care of. SKF has headquarters in Gothenburg and has been the main sponsor of the Gothia Cup since 2007. Over the years, SKF has brought over 5,000 players to the Gothia Cup, and the qualifying Meet the World tournaments remain their largest corporate social responsibility project, said SKF communications manager Jackie Rahmer.
“It’s more than just a sponsorship for us. It’s an opportunity to celebrate soccer and have kids come together and build friendships across borders,” Rahmer said. “We just think that’s something that’s very special.”
One of the Sweden-bound players, Rosanna Olsen, said she and her teammates are taking advantage of their opportunity by preparing as best as they can. Olsen, Mya Davis-Taylor, and some of their other teammates are using YouTube to learn basic Swedish phrases for the occasion.
And while phrases like “hello” and “goodbye” are harder to learn than Davis-Taylor, a midfielder and goalkeeper, expected, all 30,000 athletes participating in the tournament share one common language, no matter whether they call it soccer or football.
Olsen, a forward, believes that interacting with some members of these 1,900 teams from 75 countries can help with her own knowledge of the game.
“I think I’ll learn new ways of playing, and how their mindset is when they’re playing, and their techniques on shooting the ball and passing the ball and other things like that,” Olsen said.
For players like Olsen, Davis-Taylor, and Aasiyah Ellison, who’s also a goalkeeper and midfielder, this will be their first time leaving the country. And while Davis-Taylor said she’s eager to be on a plane and see the view from the airport, meeting new people and playing soccer is most exciting.
“We get to stay in the same rooms [as our teammates], we get to meet new people, and then instead of just staying with our teammates, we can make new friends with the other people that are there, too,” Davis-Taylor said.
She’ll also get to connect on a deeper level with her own teammates.
Bandura said there’s a natural sense of camaraderie that comes from playing three sports together year-round, but this tournament will create “bonds that are going to be pretty tough to break.”
“You’re in a strange environment, but you’re there together,” Bandura said. “I might be 100 years old when we get back from a whole week with the 13 11-year-old girls, but it’s so worth it. There’s so many benefits to this for them, and I think it’s going to draw them even tighter together as a family long-term, like lifelong.”
The Anderson Monarchs will compete in the Gothia Cup, which runs from July 12-18 in Sweden.Braithwaite Communications
Cali Nichols, the Monarchs’ striker, is looking forward to seeing how her team will connect on the pitch in Sweden and has been preparing for the adrenaline rush of the tournament. But she’s also looking forward to the downtime and exploring a new place.
Femi Awodesu, a former member of the Monarchs’ program, now plays for Helsingborgs IF in Sweden, so Bandura hopes a visit with him is on the agenda.
And for Nichols, seeing all the history of the country is on her personal agenda.
“Just driving around and seeing all of the monuments that Sweden has, and all of its history, as well as the food,” Nichols said.
Bandura compared the Monarchs’ opportunity to a rabbit in its hole that looks beyond to see the rest of the world. He hopes that similarly, this opportunity will expand his team’s perception.
“I want to explore and see what the whole world looks like,” Ellison said.
It’s been 32 years since the men’s edition of the FIFA World Cup was played on U.S. soil. The long wait culminates this week with Thursday’s tournament kickoff in Mexico City.
On Sunday, Philadelphia will host its first of six scheduled matches between June 14 and a knockout round finale on July 4 at Lincoln Financial Field, which was renamed “Philadelphia Stadium” by FIFA for the duration of the matches here in Philly.
Here’s everything you need to know …
The big picture
According to Visit Philadelphia, the city’s tourism arm, expect an influx of 500,000 visitors flocking into city bars, restaurants, hotels, and businesses throughout the city and surrounding suburbs. However, we’re hearing there are plenty of good Airbnb options to choose from.
But not all of those people have tickets or can afford to attend, with this being the most expensive World Cup ever. FIFA enacted dynamic pricing for the first time, which sent initial ticket prices soaring. And yes, that’s even for games that don’t feature nations that are favorites to win.
Good news for those people: there are a ton of events happening over the course of Philly’s time in the tournament. From bars to beer gardens, watch parties to pickup games, here’s a cheat sheet of what to do around town, whether you’re a native or you just dropped in for a match.
Lincoln Financial Field, known as “Philadelphia Stadium” is all set ahead of the start of Sunday’s World Cup opener in Philadelphia between the Ivory Coast and Ecuador.Kerith Gabriel
So you have a ticket. Congrats.
First thing you should know is that you’re going to find very few people calling Lincoln Financial Field (or the “Linc” as it’s known around here) by FIFA’s official name for the South Philly venue.
There are a host of different ways to get there, but the most efficient and direct path is jumping on SEPTA’s Broad Street Line (Orange Line) and taking it to the last stop, NRG Station. From there, FIFA has signs all over the South Philly sports complex and will have volunteers outside the turnstiles, directing you where to go. Subway trains should be running just fine — a miracle, considering SEPTA workers used World Cup traffic as leverage to potentially go on strike.
Once inside, you’ll see a colorful stadium retrofitted to support large crowds and a field designed with expert care.
Here’s hoping you got your tickets a bit cheaper than the initial asking price. Match prices in Philly and elsewhere have been astronomical.
Crew members make final preparations, including work on a 60-foot-wide screen, for a FIFA Fan Fest at Lemon Hill in Philadelphia on Tuesday, June 10, 2026.Jose F. Moreno / Staff Photographer
Don’t have a ticket? All good.
This section is for those who love the sport but just can’t fathom paying those prices — and affording rent this month. Not to worry, the same passion will be on display in Philly’s Brewerytown neighborhood thanks to the FIFA Fan Festival, the sprawling party taking over Lemon Hill Park. The festival is free to enter and opens June 11, and will last all 39 days of the tournament.
How to register — entry is free but you need to sign up first
What you can bring and what you should leave at home.
When the event will be open each day.
How to get there, and get out.
And what locals are saying about the event.
The festival is a great way to get into the World Cup mood without spending hundreds on a ticket.
Fans are expected to pack the city’s bars and restaurants for the 39 days of the World Cup. Tyger Williams / Staff Photographer
But if you’re looking to get a feel for the city’s soccer pulse without all the crowds, then we have a selection of bars and restaurants that are hosting watch parties, with some electing to stay open as late as 4 a.m. to accommodate soccer fans — so long as the Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board permits.
And if you’re looking to get past the basics while celebrating America’s 250th birthday, foodies can consider trying Philly’s 76 most iconic dishes or most essential restaurants. We dare you to try to catch them all like Pokémon.
Going to be in Center City? Check out the mini-soccer pitch in front of City Hall’s Dilworth Park.Jose F. Moreno / Staff Photographer
Who is playing in Philly and when?
Nine teams are coming through Philly, and one, Ivory Coast, has set up its World Cup headquarters just outside the city in Wilmington. The Ivorians are training at the new WSFS Sportsplex, which opened late last year in Chester, and on Monday, their fans brought quite the party.
Here’s the full schedule of the group stage matches in Philly, with guides for all the nations playing here, including what to know about each, how they qualified, and for some, their unique footprint in the city:
On July 4 at 5 p.m., Philly will host one final match, a round of 16 knockout game that has a very slim chance of including the U.S. men’s national team.
Walter Bahr, one of the most celebrated United States soccer players to emerge from Philly, competed on the cinder fields at Newt’s playground in Fishtown on his rise to Team USA fame.Pat Little / AP
Philly’s rich soccer scene and history
Chester is the city that hosts Philly’s professional soccer team, the Philadelphia Union. This club went from being one of the league’s best last season to the bottom of the standings heading into a seven-week break for the World Cup.
However, over the last several weeks, the team has cleaned house in preparation for the return of games on July 22, after:
In the meantime, the team is focused on the World Cup and plans to host a series of watch parties at Union Yards, its beer garden across from the stadium.
Electronic traffic information sign at Spring Garden and N. 21st Street informing people in town for World Cup on where to find information, Tuesday, June 9, 2026.Alejandro A. Alvarez / Staff Photographer
Players, referees, and fans have been subjected to massive checks, with either full or partial bans on over 70 nations, many with teams competing in the tournament.
Here’s what city officials are saying about the World Cup, and the lengths some city council members are going to educate visitors to know when it comes to concerns around Immigration & Customs Enforcement.
There has been no shortage of opinions about the massive levels of greed surrounding this larger edition of the tournament and the hypocrisy of FIFA by calling their approach to the game “Football for All.”
Experts this week warned World Cup fans traveling around North America to be aware of the these communicable diseases.
Also, know that you can follow the Inquirer’s coverage of all things “football,” “futbol,” “futebol,“ “voetbal,” or soccer right here.
IRVINE, Calif. — The first men’s soccer World Cup on U.S. soil in 32 years kicks off this week, with great anticipation in Philadelphia and nationwide. That’s true for the 26 players of the U.S. team, too, as they seek to make a lasting mark on the tournament and the sport.
Here’s what to know about each of the players whom manager Mauricio Pochettino picked for his squad. They’re listed by position, then in alphabetical order.
U.S. manager Mauricio Pochettino.Jonathan Tannenwald
Goalkeepers
Chris Brady
Jersey number: 26 Age: 22 Club: Chicago Fire Hometown: Naperville, Ill. Height and weight: 6-foot-3, 170 pounds Senior national team games (Caps): 1
A clear and understandable third on the depth chart, he was picked to gain experience for what should be more trips to World Cups in the future.
Chris Brady (left) is on the team to get experience for the future.Jonathan Tannenwald
Matt Freese
Number: 24 Age: 27 Club: New York City FC Hometown: Wayne, Pa. Height and weight: 6-3, 194 Caps: 15
His rise through Harvard, the Union, New York FC, and now the national team might be the most underappreciated story of this U.S. squad. Freese made his senior U.S. debut last summer and immediately became Pochettino’s No. 1 netminder. Now, he seems on the cusp of starting at the World Cup, though the manager has repeatedly not committed to naming the starter in advance.
Matt Freese in the U.S. net when the Americans played Paraguay at Subaru Park last November.Elizabeth Robertson / Staff Photographer
Matt Turner
Number: 1 Age: 31 Club: New England Revolution Hometown: Park Ridge, N.J. Height/weight: 6-3, 185 Caps: 54
The starter from the last World Cup until the start of last summer, when the last of a few subpar performances cost him his spot. He’s been better than Freese statistically in MLS this year, but wasn’t as good with the national team in March.
Until a few days ago, we’d have listed him as an outside back who can also play centerback. But he did very well in a more central spot in the two pre-World Cup warmup games. Now, he might take the role again, especially early in the group stage as Chris Richards finishes rehabbing an injury.
Alex Freeman is the son of former Eagles and Packers wide receiver Antonio Freeman.Jonathan Tannenwald
Mark McKenzie
Number: 22 Age: 27 Club: Toulouse, France Hometown: Bear, Del. (though born in the Bronx, N.Y.) Height/weight: 6-0, 183 Caps: 29
Talented, charismatic, humble, and owner of one of the best resumes of any U.S. defender. His path from the Union to Belgium’s Genk to a stalwart of France’s Ligue 1 is the ideal path for a player to follow. Though he’s prone to occasional big mistakes, he also does a lot to make up for them.
Mark McKenzie (center) is one of the best-performing U.S. defenders in Europe.Jonathan Tannenwald
Tim Ream
Number: 13 Age: 38 Club: Charlotte FC Hometown: St. Louis Height/weight: 6-1, 176 Caps: 82
He’s been the captain almost since the start of Pochettino’s tenure in late 2024. Age is catching up to him, but his role in the locker room is unquestioned. If Pochettino sticks with a 3-4-2-1 tactical formation, that will give Ream some cover for having slowed down.
Tim Ream’s experience made him manager Mauricio Pochettino’s choice for captain.Jonathan Tannenwald
Chris Richards
Number: 3 Age: 26 Club: Crystal Palace, England Hometown: Birmingham, Ala. Height/weight: 6-2, 192 Caps: 36
The most irreplaceable player on the back line, his absence from the warmup games due to torn ankle ligaments was crystal clear. He seems close to returning to action, but until he’s officially on the field, U.S. fans will be understandably worried.
It may be impolite to say he’s last on the depth chart at this position, but it’s true — and his performances in the warmup games didn’t help his case to change that. Facing Kai Havertz and Nicolas Jackson is a different level from MLS. If Robinson was picked as insurance against Richards having to withdraw, that’s understandable, but he was Pochettino’s most-criticized choice.
Eleven years ago, he was a fast-rising prospect in the Union and U.S. youth ranks. Only now, though, all this time and five clubs later, has he finally made it to the biggest stage. He still cherishes his Philly area roots, serving on the Union academy’s board.
He’s better as a left wingback in a 3-4-2-1 than as a left back in a 4-2-3-1, especially on defense. Other than that, he was an easy choice to be Antonee Robinson’s backup on that side of the field.
Simply put, a special talent. He’s a havoc-wreaking talent on the right flank, and can pitch in on the left if needed. Dest has also improved his defensive game lately. The 3-4-2-1 setup is perfect for unleashing him.
Sergiño Dest (left) is a dynamic force for the U.S. on the flank.Scott Kinser
Antonee Robinson
Number: 5 Age: 28 Club: Fulham, England Hometown: Liverpool, England Height/weight: 6-0, 152 Caps: 54
Not far from Richards on the irreplaceable ranking. Left back has long been the toughest position for the U.S. to find talent at, but Robinson has had it locked down for five years — at least when he’s healthy. He’s a big presence in the locker room, too.
Antonee Robinson is a key player on the field and in the locker room for the U.S.Jonathan Tannenwald
Joe Scally
Number: 23 Age: 23 Club: Borussia Mönchengladbach, Germany Hometown: Lake Grove, N.Y. Height/weight: 6-0, 174 Caps: 26
For a while, it seemed he wouldn’t make the cut, with Dest and Freeman ahead of him at right wingback. Then he did enough at club level down the stretch of the Bundesliga season to earn the call. It also helps that he can also step in at centerback or defensive midfielder if needed.
He’s officially listed on the roster as a forward, but could play attacking midfield or wingback — and he’s done all three over time. The last of them feels likely in a 3-4-2-1 setup, so that’s why he’s listed here for now. If Pochettino switches to a 4-2-3-1, Weah’s best fit is as a winger instead of an isolated right back. But while that’s for arguing over, his talent, creativity, and pedigree are unquestioned.
Tim Weah (left) is the son of Liberian soccer legend George Weah, but has now carved out his own career in the world’s game.Jonathan Tannenwald
Central/defensive midfielders
Tyler Adams
Number: 4 Age: 27 Club: Bournemouth, England Hometown: Wappingers Falls, N.Y. Height/weight: 5-9, 159 Caps: 54
No longer the official captain, but the unofficial one for years. On the field, on camera, and in the locker room, the U.S. doesn’t have a better leader. Unfortunately, as we’re about to get into, a lack of depth at this position puts him in a tricky spot. Can he avoid yellow cards in the first two games so he isn’t suspended for the big finale against Turkey’s stars?
Although Tyler Adams (left) isn’t officially the U.S. captain anymore, he remains one of the team’s biggest leaders.Jonathan Tannenwald
Sebastian Berhalter
Number: 14 Age: 25 Club: Vancouver Whitecaps Hometown: Columbus, Ohio (born in London, England) Height/weight: 5-9, 154 Caps: 13
He’s another unlikely success story, but the son of former U.S. manager Gregg Berhalter earned his spot. Sebastian helped the Vancouver Whitecaps reach last year’s MLS Cup and Concacaf Champions Cup finals, and with the national team combines hard work with great skill at set pieces. In fact, he might be the best at them on the roster. Could that earn him a starting spot next to Adams?
The veteran was so far out of Pochettino’s picture that he went on vacation at the start of the September FIFA window. Then the manager suddenly needed him, and Roldan answered the call. It immediately felt like he’d never left, and he hasn’t left since then.
It isn’t his fault that this is the end of the depth chart. Will Pochettino regret not bringing Tanner Tessmann or Aidan Morris, both of whose talents merited inclusion? World Cups have a habit of nailing managers on the biggest risk they take. Jürgen Klinsmann learned it the hard way by leaving Landon Donovan home in 2014, and Gregg Berhalter bet a lot on benching Gio Reyna in 2022.
Cristian Roldan (center) has been a familiar face to U.S. fans for years.Jonathan Tannenwald
Attacking midfielders
Brenden Aaronson
Number: 11 Age: 25 Club: Leeds United, England Hometown: Medford, N.J. Height/weight: 5-10, 150 Caps: 58
Making his second straight World Cup team makes him the standard-bearer for Philadelphia on soccer’s global stage. So does earning a stalwart role at one of England’s most historic clubs, even if the first priority has been just staying in the Premier League. He’s happy to embrace being a role model for everyone back home, and now has the added emotional boost of a new wedding ring.
He’s a near-lock as a starter, but where will he play? The obvious answer of on the field can’t be enough. Will he be an attacking midfielder, the role he probably fits best, but potentially exposing the lack of depth behind him? Or will Pochettino slot McKennie next to Adams to try to get another playmaker on the field, and hope it doesn’t unbalance things?
He isn’t officially Captain America, but he knows better than anyone that that’s his unofficial designation. It took much of his decade-long national team career to become comfortable in that spotlight, and it still doesn’t always fit him easily. But he also knows better than anyone that if he delivers when it counts at the World Cup, he can carry his country to greatness.
Christian Pulisic remains the biggest star on the U.S. men’s team.Jonathan Tannenwald
Gio Reyna
Number: 7 Age: 23 Club: Borussia Mönchengladbach, Germany Hometown: Bedford, N.Y. (born in Sunderland, England) Height/weight: 6-1, 174 Caps: 38
For all his talent — and it’s up there with Pulisic — he only just did enough for club and country to make this squad. If he comes off the bench as expected, he might not have much time in games to make an impact. There will be real pressure to deliver.
His raw talent isn’t in question. Whether he can show it at a World Cup might be. Pochettino clearly likes Tillman, giving him lots of playing time. But things don’t always work right when he and McKennie are on the field. If Berhalter goes next to Adams and McKennie starts, Tillman might be relegated to a supersub — and have to compete with all the other candidates for minutes.
Malik Tillman has a lot of skill, but we’ll see how he shows it in the World Cup.Jonathan Tannenwald
Alejandro Zendejas
Number: 26 Age: 28 Club: Club América, Mexico Hometown: Juárez, Mexico and El Paso, Texas Height/weight: 5-6, 146 Caps: 14
He gets two hometowns because he grew up on both sides of the border, carrying the dreams of being a child of immigrants. The world’s game opened doors, and he charged through them from FC Dallas’ youth academy to Mexico’s Club America. Add a mix of skill and graft on the field, and you get a popular pick for this team.
Alejandro Zendejas autographing a fan’s American flag during the U.S. team’s open practice a few days ago.Jonathan Tannenawld
Forwards
Folarin Balogun
Number: 20 Age: 24 Club: AS Monaco, France Hometown: London, England Height/weight: 5-10, 161 Caps: 27
He was recruited in 2023 with all the pomp of a college football team chasing a star quarterback. Though injuries since then limited his appearances, he has shown overall why U.S. Soccer was right to push for him. Now the biggest payoff moment of all has arrived.
The last and most controversial cut from the 2022 World Cup team, he has finally made it four years later. He put in a terrific amount of work in that time, including having to overcome a move from FC Dallas to Germany’s Augsburg that didn’t work out. But he was always strong with the national team, scoring big goals and hustling all over the field. Like Zendejas, a lot of U.S. fans will root for him in particular.
Ricardo Pepi (right) and Folarin Balogun (left) running together during a U.S. practice.Jonathan Tannenawld
Haji Wright
Number: 19 Age: 28 Club: Coventry City, England Hometown: Los Angeles Height/weight: 6-3, 174 Caps: 20
The last player to score a goal for the U.S. men at a World Cup, and the first formally listed as a striker to do so in 20 years. At club level, he was a key player for Coventry this season to help the Sky Blues earn promotion back to the Premier League after 25 years in lower leagues. Though he’s third on this U.S. depth chart, his size and speed should ensure he gets on the field.
The U.S. men’s national soccer team is about to embark on one of the rarest privileges in sports — playing a World Cup on native soil.
We’ve written extensively about many of them, particularly the ones with ties to the region. Now, the time has come. The World Cup kicks off today with two Group A games, and the U.S.’s Group D opener is against Paraguay on Friday (9 p.m., Fox29).
We’ve known for a few weeks who was on the team. But now’s your chance to really get to know the 26 players suiting up for their country in our detailed breakdown and analysis of each member of the World Cup roster.
One of the most important members of that squad is Chris Richards, who says he’s good to go after an ankle injury in May — though he knows it’s not fully his call.
Looking for somewhere to keep the World Cup party going into the wee hours in the morning? Your options might be limited — less than 20 bars have been approved to stay open until 4 a.m.
Eagles quarterbacks Andy Dalton (14) and Jalen Hurts work out during mandatory minicamp on Wednesday at the Jefferson Health Training Complex.Monica Herndon / Staff Photographer
OK, so remember back in April when ESPN published a report detailing friction between Jalen Hurts and the Eagles? The quarterback felt no need to set the record straight, saying, “so just let it live and go do my job.”
How about that “four verticals” play that sealed the wild-card loss to the San Francisco 49ers. Did he ask for that? Another no.
Hurts is embarking on another season of change as he adjusts to yet another play-caller in Sean Mannion. He’s also adjusting to life without top wide receiver A.J. Brown. That may seem like a lot of change, but Hurts says he’s maintaining focus.
The guys protecting Hurts have been through it, injury-wise, in recent seasons. But his center, Cam Jurgens, finally had a (somewhat) normal offseason and is eagerly learning Mannion’s new offense.
Hurts and the Eagles offense were able to strike back at Vic Fangio’s defense during the final minicamp session. On defense though, Riq Woolen continues to shine this spring, Jeff McLane writes in his practice takeaways.
Next: That’s it from Jefferson Health Training Complex (wow, what a mouthful) until late July, when the Birds report for training camp.
Max Scherzer, the Blue Jays’ ace, was making his first start since April 27 on Wednesday, and the Phillies made him pay. Homers from Bryce Harper and Alec Bohm chased Scherzer out of the game after 3⅓ innings in the Phillies’ 7-4 win over Toronto.
Meanwhile, Johan Rojas, who was serving an 80-game PED suspension, won’t play for the season after imaging revealed a torn ulnar collateral ligament in his right elbow, which will require surgery.
Next: After an off day on Thursday, the Phillies return to the States to open a road series vs. the NL Central-leading Milwaukee Brewers on Friday (7:40 p.m., NBCSP). Phillies rookie Andrew Painter (1-7, 6.21 ERA) will oppose Jacob Misiorowski (7-2, 1.50).
Mike Gansey is ready to get to work as the Sixers’ president of basketball operations.Tom Gralish / Staff Photographer
You’ll have to forgive Mike Gansey for being kind of over his introductory press conference.
You see, the NBA draft is about two weeks away. And it’s kind of his thing.
Gansey, the Sixers’ new president of basketball operations, brings his draft expertise from Cleveland and is working to blend it with the preparations already underway on the Sixers’ end. They’ll draft 22nd, which isn’t nearly as flashy as last season, but there’s still a sense of urgency.
Next: Gansey’s first draft as the Sixers’ top executive is June 23-24.
General manager Danny Brière is gearing up for his fourth draft with the Flyers.Jose F. Moreno / Staff Photographer
The NHL draft is fast approaching, and Flyers general manager Danny Brière and Co. It’ll be Brière’s fourth with the team for which he played six seasons, and we had questions.
Brière and our Jackie Spiegel sat down to discuss strategy for the June 26-27 draft, particularly in light of this season’s postseason appearance, the ever-present need at center, and more in Part 2 of our Q&A with the GM.
Next: After the draft, Flyers of the present and future will be back on the ice locally on June 29, when development camp opens.
Sports snapshot
A “spectacle”: This Philly fighter says he will show off his “dad strength” as he prepares for a bout on the White House lawn.
Kind of a big deal: Time recently dropped its list of the 100 most influential people in sports, and it had plenty of Philly-area ties.
What you’re saying about the best Birds
We asked: Who is the “best” to ever play for the Eagles in your opinion?
The Bests. Let’s start off with the best player — Reggie White. The best one single game — Nick Foles. The best disrupters — tie between T.O. & A.J. —Ronald R.
26 Eagles in the Pro Football Hall of Fame and of those Reggie White and Brian Dawkins were the two best and absolutely dominant in their performance. And one of the dumbest decisions in Eagles history was letting Reggie White go to the Packers for want of a few bucks. — Everett S.
A.J. really thought highly of himself. Best to ever play here????? NOT … — Bill M.
This will be a generational response. Though I was born in 1959, I would have to nominate Chuck Bedbarik, for leading the Eagles to the 1960 NFL Championship, and Vince Lombardi’s only playoff loss. A 21st century pick would by Donovan McNabb for leading the Eagles to 5 NFC title games and one Super Bowl appearance. He had a sustained Eagles career of excellence. — Bob C.
Chuck Bednarik — Joe R.
Dawkins best ever. Owens best receiver. Bye A.J. You can quit your routes for NE now. — Brian C.
So many players, so many choices but the one player that encompasses everything the “best” Eagle should have — talent, grit, determination, brashness,perseverance,will to win — is Chuck Bednarik. “The Hit” and the stop on Jim Taylor say it all. — Joseph W.
We compiled today’s newsletter using reporting from Jonathan Tannenwald, Henry Savage, Beatrice Forman, Jeff Neiburg, Olivia Reiner, Jeff McLane, Lochlahn March, Gina Mizell, Jackie Spiegel, Ariel Simpson, Mia Messina, and Ethan Kopelman.
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.
Thanks for reading along! Bella will be back tomorrow to close out the week. — Maria
The ‘Nova Knicks, all heart and grit and chilling composure, completed the greatest comeback in NBA Finals history, erasing a 29-point second-quarter deficit to take a one-point lead on a floater by — who else — indomitable point guard Brunson with 1 minute, 22 seconds left to play. With 1.2 seconds remaining, trailing by one, OG Anunoby tipped in Brunson’s missed three-pointer.
It was Brunson’s 36th point. It was Anunoby’s 33rd.
It was a 107-106 win over the Spurs, forever enshrined as the NBA’s biggest chokers. The Knicks know all about that.
However, they now stand 48 minutes away from ending a 53-year drought. Only one NBA team has blown a 3-1 lead in the Finals, and those 2016 Golden State Warriors faced prime Kyrie Irving and LeBron James in his prodigal return to Cleveland.
This was a momentum win. A historic win. A fairy tale win that carved the hearts out of a team with far better players but with far less backbone.
It was a last-second, never-say-die win in the Mecca of basketball, Madison Square Garden, accomplished in front of stars ranging from Jerry Seinfeld to Jay-Z to Taylor Swift to Timothée Chalamet.
A win delivered by divine intervention, perhaps; after all, a nun blessed the Garden with holy water after the Game 3 loss, and Villanova is a Catholic university, after all.
OK, it might not have been miraculous, or even sacral, but it’s probably the best win in the history of the franchise. The kind of win that 19,812 attended but 1.9 million will claim to have witnessed in the flesh.
It was that epic.
It was the sort of statement game that gets a number retired, hung from the rafters in the Garden alongside Walt Frazier and Bill Bradley and Patrick Ewing and Willis Reed. A number like the No. 11 that Brunson wears. He carried the Knicks all season, all playoffs, and all night.
He was drafted 33rd in 2018 having won two NCAA titles at Villanova, both with Knicks teammate Mikal Bridges, one with Knicks teammate Josh Hart. Asked recently what the NBA teams missed that draft, Brunson replied:
“Everything.” He looked down. “Humph.”
Bridges was largely absent Wednesday, and Hart actually missed a dunk and failed to box out on a play that gave the Spurs their last lead, but that’s hoop. They just hoop.
All three have overachieved, but no one has overachieved in the NBA like Brunson in decades.
Maybe ever.
He’s 6-foot-1-ish. He can’t jump. He’s not super fast.
But he is everything that New York loves about itself, and everything Villanova was in the Jay Wright era.
The Coach was there, by the way. Brunson, towel over his shoulders, found him on the court after the game. They hugged.
As they were in Finneran Pavilion and what’s now called Xfinity Mobile Arena and all those NCAA tourney sites, the ‘Nova Knicks were indefatigable. Relentless. Resilient.
The opposite of San Antonio.
The Spurs were probably the most talented team in the NBA this season, and for 24 minutes, the played like it. They also are the second-youngest team in NBA Finals history, and, for the final 24 minutes of Game 4, they played like it.
What was the game like? It was like the Patriots, nine years ago, in Super Bowl LI, when Tom Brady erased a 25-point deficit. That’s the only thing that comes close.
Jalen Brunson.
Tom Brady.
Seriously.
If Brady had done it in Foxborough, Mass., in front of a home crowd that hadn’t won a title since Richard Nixon was president.
Just before his game-winning putback, Anunoby blocked a layup that, with 11 seconds to play and a one-point lead, De’Aaron Fox inexplicably and inexcusably took, so he will get more shone today. Fine. Let him have his moment.
This is Brunson’s team. These are the ‘Nova Knicks.
The ‘Nova Knicks lead the best-of-seven series, 3-1.
It feels like 5-1.
“One word that captures that all is just ‘believe,’” Brunson told ESPN afterward. “Just believing in each other. Believing in the process.”
It felt impossible early, especially considering the officiating in the series, and the signature play so far, which, of course, involved Brunson.
The play happened in the first quarter of Game 3 on Monday, which the Knicks lost by four points, and it was seismic at the time and it is seismic today. It was a no-call on Victor Wembanyama that the NBA reviewed to determine if it was flagrant. It was not.
Had the foul been deemed a Flagrant 2, it would have been Wembanyama’s second of the playoffs. Flagrant 2 fouls carry two flagrant points. Four total flagrant points carry an automatic one-game suspension.
The NBA simply could not have that. Wemby’s just too important.
Why does that matter now, several days later?
Because in Game 4 on Wednesday, Wembanyama was assessed a Flagrant 1 when he cracked Karl-Anthony Towns in the jaw with an elbow.
That gave him three flagrant points. Which means had the foul Monday been deemed a Flagrant 1, Wembanyama would have been disqualified for Game 5 on Saturday.
Again: He’s too important.
Towns? Not so much.
Within the first 62 seconds on Wednesday, KAT, who carried the Knicks in Games 1 and 2, was on the bench with two questionable fouls. Less than two minutes later, the Knicks trailed, 12-2.
It changed the complexion of the game, the series … everything.
The series is pulling crazy ratings thanks in part to the Big Apple’s Big Three, but Brunson, Hart, and Bridges operate on a thin margin for error. To beat a team like the Spurs, who won nine more regular-season games than the Knicks, they need Towns on the court and on his game.
He picked up his third foul less than five minutes into the second quarter, another phantom infraction considering the physicality of these Finals.
The Wemby Show, the NBA’s most wholesome narrative since Steph Curry, continues, even though he missed two late throws.
Wembanyama finished third in MVP voting in his just his third season. An elegant Frenchman of Congolese descent with the comportment and habits of a Renaissance man — he plays competitive chess and sketches in the park — Wembanyama is the NBA’s best vehicle for basketball globalization since Joel Embiid. That one hasn’t really worked out.
At the time of Wemby-Gate, the Knicks led the series, 2-0. A bit later, at halftime of Game 3, the Knicks led the game by seven.
And then … the Spurs were awarded 16 more free throws than were the Knicks in the second half of Game 3. Afterward, when asked about the altercation, Brunson replied, “Whatever you saw is what you saw.”
The refs saw nothing in real time. The NBA saw a catastrophe if Wembanyama missed Game 4. He’d scored 32 in Game 3, and even with all that free-throw help, the Spurs still barely won.
He missed two free throws late Wednesday. Karma.
Then, that horrid first half for the home team. If it seemed like everything was going against the Knicks, well, it was.
TORONTO — Max Scherzer motioned for a mound visit.
The Phillies had put two runners on against him, and the 41-year-old Blue Jays pitcher just ran to cover first base on a fielder’s choice. He wanted a breather before facing Alec Bohm.
But it didn’t work. After play resumed, Scherzer hung a slider to Bohm, and he crushed it for his eighth homer of the season. The three-run shot to left field gave the Phillies some early separation in the third inning as they went on to beat Toronto, 7-4, and win the series.
The Blue Jays made things interesting late, clawing back against the Phillies bullpen to pull within three runs and make it a save situation. But a day after blowing his first save of the season, Jhoan Duran made his third appearance in as many nights in the ninth inning. He sidestepped two singles to seal the win, recording his 17th save in the process.
“It was great to see him bounce back,” said interim manager Don Mattingly. “And you like to get a guy back out there if you can, right away.”
Adolis García left the game in the seventh inning with a pulled muscle in the right shoulder area after making a throw to the plate. Steward Berroa took over in right field.
Mattingly said García will get imaging on Thursday’s off day, after which the Phillies will know more about the severity of the injury.
“Hope for the best, and we’ll see what happens,” Mattingly said.
According to StatCast metrics, García has posted a fielding run value of 5 this season, which is second-highest in the league among corner outfielders.
Bryce Harper hit a solo home run off Blue Jays pitcher Max Scherzer during the first inning.Chris Young
“Obviously, you lose a defender like that, it changes things a little bit,” Mattingly said. “But everybody deals with stuff all the time, so somebody’s going to have to pick it up.”
Scherzer was making his first start for Toronto since hitting the injured list on April 27. He had struggled this season before that, and the Phillies stayed patient in their approach against him, working at-bats and driving up his pitch count.
Bryce Harper set the tone in the first inning with a solo homer that bounced off Toronto’s bullpen railing that put the Phillies up, 1-0.
“Everyone’s excited, and then [he gets] back out there, and then we kind of jumped right back on him, and got Max’s pitch count going up,” Kyle Schwarber said. “And Bohmer had a really great swing there, three-run homer, and we just were able to keep tacking on.”
Once Scherzer’s night ended after 3⅓ innings, Schwarber didn’t let up against Toronto’s bullpen. He launched his eighth homer of the season off a left-hander in the fourth inning, with Mason Fluharty becoming his latest victim.
It marks Schwarber’s first homer since June 3. He took batting practice on the field pregame Thursday, which is not always part of his routine. He often hits inside in the cages.
Jesús Luzardo racked up eight strikeouts and held Toronto to four hits, all singles, in 5⅔ innings.Chris Young
“I wanted to go out there and work on something, see the ball fly a little bit,” Schwarber said. “So I was able to get that result and felt comfortable about it.”
It all gave Jesús Luzardo a sizable cushion to work with as he cruised for the first five innings. He racked up eight strikeouts and held Toronto to four hits, all singles.
Luzardo did lose his command in some spots. He issued back-to-back walks in the third, but was able to reset after a mound visit and struck out Ernie Clement to end it.
“I think it was good and bad. I think the walks are obviously very frustrating,” Luzardo said. “I beat myself up about that. I don’t like giving free passes, but I limited hard contact. Pitch count relatively stayed low, until the walks.”
Luzardo trains at Cressey Sports Performance in Florida during the offseason, the same facility that Scherzer does, and the two pitchers are friends.
“We talked about it a little bit when we got here,” Luzardo said. “So, I know he wanted that win, and I wanted it too, so it was a fun one.”
In the sixth, Luzardo issued back-to-back walks for the second time, but this time he couldn’t get out of it unscathed when backup catcher Brandon Valenzuela — who walked-off Duran on Tuesday night — singled to right field to score a run.
The Phillies got the run back in the top of the seventh inning, when Harper drew a walk, then Bohm and Bryson Stott hit back-to-back singles.
“We kept coming. I know this club enough, that they’re not going to stop playing, they’re going to keep going, and they’re dangerous,” said Mattingly. “They keep playing for nine innings.”
The Jays started to make things interesting in the seventh. Chase Shugart made his first appearance since Saturday and struggled with his command, issuing a leadoff single and then three consecutive walks to force in a run before recording an out. A deep sacrifice fly to the right field warning track brought home another run, and Brad Keller took over. Keller gave up a sacrifice fly that scored another run.
“Everything really went pretty well tonight, other than the one inning where we walked some guys,” Mattingly said. “Shug’s been really good, throwing strikes, pitching well. So that was a little out of the ordinary for us.”
José Alvarado pitched a scoreless eighth and struck out Valenzuela to reach 500 for his career. Duran took over for the ninth.
Mattingly felt comfortable using his closer for the third night in a row after Duran told him he felt good after his pregame catch routine.
“Jho’s pretty good about telling us,” Mattingly said. “There’s been times when we thought he’d be available, and he says he needed a day. Today was not one of those days, and he was adamant, and we kind of go with that.”
The Eagles held their second and final practice of minicamp on Wednesday at the Jefferson Health Training Complex. Here were my observations:
Bell bottom
Markel Bell was the most notable addition to the Eagles’ injured list. The rookie tackle, who repped with the starters in Lane Johnson’s absence during organized team activities, watched practice. Bell joined the following who continued to sit out with injuries: linebacker Jihaad Campbell (shoulder), wide receiver Makai Lemon (hamstring), tight end Grant Calcaterra, receiver Britain Covey, fullback Carson Steele, linebacker Chandler Martin (who was later released), and safety Tucker Large.
The Eagles had several players who were limited to varying degrees. Defensive tackle Jalen Carter and edge Jonathan Greenard (shoulder) sat out team drills again. Eagles coach Nick Sirianni declined to say whether Carter’s reduced workload was due to his health or ongoing contract negotiations. The Eagles seem intent on getting one of their more important players, who dealt with shoulder woes all last season, to training camp 100%. Receiver Darius Cooper was also limited.
Receiver DeVonta Smith was excused for a personal reason. Edge Joe Tryon-Shoyinka was missing again.
Eli Stowers was in full uniform, but he didn’t partake in most drills. The rookie tight end wore a sleeve on his right leg. I mentioned on Tuesday that he had been relatively quiet during the competitive periods that reporters witnessed this spring, but it seems likely he’s been held back by injury. Sirianni had glowing things to say when I asked about the second-round pick before practice, but conceded that he has plenty to learn. The Eagles aren’t sounding the alarms, but it wasn’t ideal to have all three of their top draft picks — Lemon, Stowers, and Bell — injured during minicamp.
Saquon Barkley got dinged up during seven-on-seven drills. The running back stretched out for a Jalen Hurts pass he couldn’t haul in near the sideline and landed awkwardly. He got checked out by trainers and returned.
Eagles tight end Dallas Goedert (right) made a nice catch on a crossing route during Wednesday’s minicamp.Monica Herndon / Staff Photographer
For the offense
I’m going to lead with the first-unit offense because I thought it had its best set of the four open practices during team drills. The first three plays came with Hurts under center and two were well executed. On the first play, the offense was in 13 personnel with all three tight ends with their hands in the ground. Hurts’ play-action fake and a deep post route by receiver Hollywood Brown seemingly created space for tight end Dallas Goedert on a crossing route. Hurts hit him in stride. On the second, Barkley bounced outside through a gaping hole and was off to the races. There was also a successful pass play out of shotgun with Hurts layering a throw over the outstretched hand of a defender to receiver Dontayvion Wicks.
The first-team defense rebounded during the next team period. Riq Woolen has a been a clear standout. He added to his spring resumé with a sack on a corner blitz and followed with an interception on the very next play. Hurts’ pass went right to the cornerback. There had to be a miscommunication between the quarterback and intended target Goedert.
There was also some confusion on where to line up so the offense had to re-huddle a play later. Hurts’ last two attempts fell incomplete: a dropped checkdown by tight end E.J. Jenkins and a throw wide of receiver Danny Gray on a comeback route.
Eagles defensive back Riq Woolen has a been a clear standout during practices open to the media this summer.Monica Herndon / Staff Photographer
Deep impact
Spring workouts offer the chance to glean early information on new players and schemes, but the Eagles won’t get a better sense of where they’re at until full pads are on in training camp. It’s difficult to put stock in competitive portions when plays are prescripted, but the first-unit offense didn’t get much going downfield in the four open workouts.
Hurts, despite being without Smith, went deep twice during seven-on-sevens. Both passes weren’t close to being completed. The first went to receiver Elijah Moore. He might have had a half step on Woolen, but the cornerback accelerated and muzzled Moore from making a play on the ball. Hurts also heaved one to Quez Watkins. But safety Michael Carter was in prime position and the ball floated out of the back of the end zone.
If I was asked to give a short list of players trending up after watching four spring practices, I’d rank them:
Woolen: His length and speed really stood out.
Running back Tank Bigsby: He displayed juice with the ball and should be utilized more this season.
Linebacker Jeremiah Trotter Jr.: He made the most in Jihaad Campbell’s absence.
Edge Arnold Ebiketie: He seemed to always be around the ball.
Linebacker Chance Campbell: He could make the roster if he proves he’s valuable on special teams.
Backing up
Sirianni confirmed that Tanner McKee is no longer the unquestioned backup quarterback. He said that Andy Dalton and McKee were rotating at the No. 2 spot and declined to make any further declarations about the depth chart. While Dalton had gotten more snaps with the second offense in the open sessions, McKee ran with the twos on Wednesday. It was mostly checkdown city during seven-on-sevens, which might have been all that was there.
But the quarterback didn’t get much going during team drills either. McKee one-hopped a throw to Watkins off play-action, although his receiver could have run a better route. He got sacked by a blitzing Campbell. And McKee had a play effectively blown dead when he dropped and seemingly had nothing.
Sean Mannion’s (right) scheme will bring more changes to the Eagles’ running game than any other aspect of the offense. Monica Herndon / Staff Photographer
Scheme theory
There’s a lot of new from Sean Mannion’s scheme if you look close enough. There’s been more under-center and play-action passes. There’s been more motion. But I think the biggest changes will come once we see more of the run game. The wide zone blocking scheme employed in the Shanahan-McVay system is completely foreign to some Eagles offensive linemen. I asked center Cam Jurgens if he had any prior experience with it — maybe in college? — and he said only in watching.
We should see more bunched sets in the Mannion offense. Wicks got wide open out of a three-by-one formation and Hurts found him in stride on a short crossing route. I think we’ll see more diversity in the screen game, too. Mannion dialed up back-to-back screens with the second unit in team drills. Bigsby knifed through a crowd of bodies on the first. Jenkins had two blockers and space on the second.
Third-and-10
Dalton got just one set under center with the third-team offense in team drills. His first throw was late and cornerback Ambry Thomas jumped the out route for an interception. Rookie quarterback Cole Payton had more success with the group. He completed back-to-back throws with the second going to tryout receiver Joaquin Davis on a second-level dig route.
Defensive tackle Marlon Tuipulotu, who was drafted by the Eagles in 2021 and played three seasons in Philly, was a tryout participant. … The Eagles had Family Day on the last day of minicamp. It was the first time I recall that happening. … The spring program is over. The Eagles will reconvene sometime in late July for the start of training camp. The official schedule has not yet been released.
A crowd packed with thousands of cheering fans, the 60-foot-wide screen playing the latest fiery matchup, and dozens upon dozens of food vendors await the FIFA Fan Festival, the cheapest and most immersive way to enjoy the 2026 World Cup in Philadelphia.
Starting Thursday, the Fan Festival opens daily to 15,000 fans, for free, to roam the million square feet of festival grounds that have transformed quaint Lemon Hill into an almost unrecognizable extravaganza of global soccer.
Here’s what you need to know before you go:
Watching the game
The main spectacle is the 60-foot screen that takes over the main stage in Lemon Hill, where the majority of fans will congregate to watch the match. But, throughout the festival are multiple smaller screens playing the game, so fans don’t miss a moment when they roam for food, fun, or the bathroom.
“Even if you’re not a soccer fan, you can still come out and have a great time,” said Michael DelBene, executive producer of FIFA Fan Festival for Philadelphia Soccer 2026. “You can come and listen to music or eat delicious food, or shop.”
The festival is intended for fans of all ages and promises to be kid and family friendly.
Amenities
Crew members make final preparations, including work on a 60-foot-wide screen, for a FIFA Fan Fest at Lemon Hill in Philadelphia on Tuesday, June 10, 2026.Jose F. Moreno / Staff Photographer
The Fan Festival delivers what many large-scale music festivals offer, with ways to enjoy the main attraction while also having side activities to keep you busy during a lull.
Food and drink
More than 80 local food trucks will serve up meals based on dishes from the many cultures across Philadelphia and, of course, the city’s very own, like cheesesteaks, pretzels, and more.
Outside of food trucks, there will also be vendors selling beverage basics, such as water, soda, and beer, to the small bites like tacos and sandwiches. Pricing varies. Some vendors have beer and beverage prices at $10 or less. Many will also sell food menu items in the $15 to $25 range.
A Michelob Ultra beer garden will welcome those 21 and over to a variety of brews, and the Coca-Cola corner has all the tasty carbonated beverages a fan could ask for.
No outside food or beverage are permitted besides a reusable water bottle that can be filled at hydration stations. For a full list of what you can’t bring, visit phillyfwc26.com/fifa-fan-fest.
Live music
Throughout the festival, more than 50 live acts will grace the stage at Lemon Hill, including the opening night concert with headliner Luis Fonsi of Despacito fame. Festival showrunner DelBene said that while they’ll kick off the event with one of the biggest global artists, many local Philadelphia musicians and acts will rotate through the 39-day event.
“It’s a really cool juxtaposition of global talent and the juxtaposition of local talent and culture,” DelBene said.
Crew members make final preparations, including work on a 60-foot-wide screen, for a FIFA Fan Fest at Lemon Hill in Philadelphia on Tuesday, June 10, 2026.Jose F. Moreno / Staff Photographer
Shopping and giveaways
The Philadelphia Festival Marketplace will showcase the best artisans and makers the region has to offer with distinctive soccer swag, accessories, jewelry, original artwork, and more.
Philly’s fan festival will also host the largest World Cup retail space across all 11 U.S. host cities. Sitting at 10,000 square feet, the Fanatics World Cup shop has everything a soccer fan needs for official tournament gear.
Outside of shopping, many sponsors have built elaborate exhibits with interactive games and chances to win giveaways. Some of those sponsors include Kia, Bank of America, and The Home Depot.
Accessibility
ADA-accessible ramps are located throughout the festival and accessible public transportation is available entering and departing the venue. A golf-cart shuttle will also be available from the welcome center.
Attendees have access to nursing stations, sensory booths, prayer booths, and meditation booths. ASL interpreters will be present throughout the event. Any questions can be directed to the welcome center booth or to staff with shirts.
Inclement weather
The festival will run rain or shine and will be canceled in case of any dangerous weather (thunder, lightning, high winds, or very high temperatures.)
Getting around
Crew members make final preparations, including work on a 60-foot-wide screen, for a FIFA Fan Fest at Lemon Hill in Philadelphia on Tuesday, June 10, 2026.Jose F. Moreno / Staff Photographer
The Eagles are bolstering their edge rusher corps by signing six-year veteran A.J. Epenesa on Wednesday.
Epenesa, 27, had spent his entire NFL career with the Buffalo Bills, the team that drafted him in the second round, No. 54 overall in the 2020 draft out of Iowa. He became an unrestricted free agent this offseason.
According to ESPN, the 6-foot-6, 260-pound Epenesa was set to sign a one-year contract with the Cleveland Browns in March. However, that deal reportedly fell through following his physical.
Epenesa was mostly a rotational player throughout his career in Buffalo, making 19 starts (91 games total). He posted 24 sacks in that span, including back-to-back seasons of 6½ sacks each in 2022 and 2023. Last year, Epenesa played 47.1% of the defensive snaps through 16 games (two starts), notching 2½ sacks, two interceptions, four pass breakups, and two tackles for a loss.
Come training camp, Epenesa is set to have an opportunity to compete for a role in the edge rusher rotation behind Jonathan Greenard, Nolan Smith, and Jalyx Hunt.
A.J. Epenesa (right) had 24 sacks across six seasons with the Buffalo Bills.Adrian Kraus
The Eagles also signed 28-year-old guard Michael Jordan and released linebackers Isiah King and Chandler Martin. According to the transaction wire, the Eagles waived Martin with a failed physical designation.
Additionally, the Eagles released Za’Darius Smith from the reserve/retired list. Smith, 33, abruptly retired from the NFL in mid-October last year, roughly one month after he signed in Philadelphia. Smith’s release from the list indicates he could be seeking a return to the league.
