Lane Johnson said he knew something was wrong with his right foot on the first play against the Detroit Lions in Week 11 last season.
At the snap, Johnson took a power step and attempted to anchor down against the opposing defender. Then he said he felt a pop in his foot.
He kept playing. But on the next series, Johnson took a bull rush from Lions defensive end Aidan Hutchinson and couldn’t anchor. The six-time Pro Bowl right tackle had played through several ailments throughout his 13-year Eagles career to that point, but he struggled to overcome this one.
Over halfway through the first quarter, Johnson exited the game with what was later diagnosed as a Lisfranc sprain that ended his 2025 season. Still, Johnson was determined to ensure that it wouldn’t be the last moment of his career on the field.
“I didn’t want to go out that way,” the 36-year-old Johnson said on Tuesday.
He didn’t. The two-time All-Pro was back on the practice field for the first practice of mandatory minicamp on Tuesday. Johnson didn’t appear to miss a step, taking every repetition in both individual and team drills with the starting offense.
At the end of the 2025 season, fellow tackle Jordan Mailata said he expected Johnson to return for a 14th season, but he added, “whatever happens, happens,” acknowledging the degree of uncertainty surrounding Johnson’s future. According to Johnson, though, he never doubted that he would return, staving off retirement for at least another year.
“I wanted to play,” Johnson said. “Only thing that’s keeping me thinking about retiring, just family. Mom and dad getting older. You miss a lot of time. But other than that, man, I love this game so much. I love competing with all my teammates. I love becoming an older player. A lot of guys trend down in their 30s. I feel like my career has been the opposite, where my career started to blossom in my 30s.”
Lane Johnson’s foot injury he suffered on Nov. 17 last season against Detroit kept him out of the Eagles’ final eight games of the year, including the playoffs.David Maialetti / Staff photographer
That positive career trajectory, Johnson said, had continued in 2025 up until the foot injury. He said he thought he was having a “really good season” at the time, and the stats back up that assertion. Johnson did not concede a quarterback hit through 262 pass-blocking snaps, according to Pro Football Focus.
Johnson said he also felt like the team was starting to “make a turn” for the best before his injury. The win over the Lions extended their winning streak to four games. The offense displayed flashes of dominance in the first two wins of that stretch against the Minnesota Vikings and the New York Giants.
But the Eagles’ season began to falter instead, as they lost their next three games. Johnson, meanwhile, did not go on injured reserve, with the hope of returning for the playoffs. However, he didn’t recover in time to play in the wild-card playoff loss to the San Francisco 49ers.
“I was trying to come back,” Johnson said. “I was rehabbing, I was practicing, and so toward the playoff game, I went out there to practice, and after a couple series, my foot would just swell up, and then the mobility piece became to where it was just I couldn’t function.”
Time was a luxury that Johnson didn’t have last season. He said he finally felt 100% healthy around February or March.
“I feel good,” Johnson said of his current health. “But it took a long time to get here. I wish I could have done this at the end of last year.”
Johnson is moving forward, and so is the rest of the offense. With Sean Mannion now at the helm, Johnson is acclimating to a plethora of changes, from the scheme to the man in charge of teaching its finer details to the offensive line.
For the first time since his rookie season in 2013, Johnson has a new offensive line coach in Chris Kuper. Jeff Stoutland, the Eagles’ offensive line coach for 13 years, left the organization this offseason.
Eagles offensive tackle Lane Johnson (left) was coached by Jeff Stoutland for his first 13 seasons in Philly. Now, Chris Kuper will lead the room.YONG KIM / Staff Photographer
Johnson called Stoutland’s departure a “shocking ordeal.” But he said he has had time to process the change. Kuper, he said, has garnered the respect of the offensive line room through his playing and coaching experience.
Throughout the offseason program, Johnson has mostly worked remotely, tuning into meetings via Zoom. Johnson has been encouraged by the new scheme, stating that he hopes that the offense “won’t be as stagnant as it was last year,” especially regarding the run game.
“You have the ability to stretch it front side, but also the running back has the ability to read backside blocks more than maybe what we did in previous years,” Johnson said. “It really does a good job of allowing us to run. We have a lot of athletic guys up front, so being able to stretch the field, make the D-tackles run, make the linebackers run, cover all this ground.
“And then I think setting up with the play action is just going to be a whole lot tougher to distinguish what we’re doing. Whole lot harder to catch on tells with stuff that we’re doing. So I think this stuff, we can disguise it more.
“I’ve watched this system, [Klint] Kubiak, [Kyle] Shanahan style of offense from afar, and I’ve always envied wanting to be a part of it. So here I am, after all these years, getting a chance.”
A chance to play in the Shanahan/Sean McVay style of offense will also give its tackles more help from guards in pass protection. Throughout most of Johnson’s career, he’s been left on an island to fend for himself.
“If I get beat inside, having a guard come out and help me is a big deal for me,” Johnson said. “So, me likey.”
Johnson likes the new blocking scheme, and his familiar opportunity to prove that he only gets better with age entering Year 14.
“I’m hoping this will be a great year for us, a great year for me, and we can right a lot of the wrongs that we had last year,” he said.
TORONTO — Most times when Jhoan Duran makes the jog from the bullpen to the mound, the result of the game seems like a foregone conclusion.
The Phillies closer had been perfect in his first 16 save opportunities of the season. But on Tuesday, the Blue Jays managed to end that streak, walking Duran off, 3-2, in the ninth inning.
“You know it’s going to happen at some point,” said interim manager Don Mattingly.
The first two batters Duran faced singled on ground-ball hits that found holes in the infield. The Jays used two pinch-runners, and a wild pitch brought the tying run home before Brandon Valenzuela hit an RBI single to end it.
“They just kind of got us in a bind at that point,” Mattingly said. “They run [Daulton] Varsho, and it’s hard to throw anybody out, really, with those guys. So, yeah, it’s one of those games.”
Duran entered the game after Bryson Stott drove in the go-ahead run in the top of the ninth against Louis Varland. The Blue Jays pitching staff confounded the Phillies’ offense for most of the game, as they struck out 15 times. But with two out in the ninth, Stott punched an opposite-field double to break the 1-1 stalemate.
It marked just the second earned run that Varland has given up this season.
The Phillies’ only other run came in the first inning when they strung together doubles from Trea Turner and Brandon Marsh to take a 1-0 lead against starter Dylan Cease. The ball only left Turner’s bat at 64.4 mph, but he was aggressive against Toronto’s rookie right fielder Yohendrick Piñango and wound up on second. He advanced to third on a wild pitch and then scored easily when Marsh laced a slider to right field.
After that, though, the Phillies couldn’t generate much against Cease. He only allowed one more hit — a single — and walked one while striking out 11. Cease generated 29 swings-and-misses from Phillies hitters, including 10 on his fastball.
“Just the way his hand is, he hides the ball well,” Stott said. “So you have a split second to see kind of what pitch it is. Usually when they’re not kind of cupping their hand, you can see the pitcher’s fingers or whatever it is, so you kind of have an idea of what’s coming the whole way. But with him, it feels like halfway there, you pick it up, and then he’s throwing 99 [mph]. So it makes a lot of guys late, and his pitches are moving all over the place.”
Zack Wheeler held Toronto to one run over six innings. He gave up some hard contact early, but managed to escape a few jams. Wheeler allowed a leadoff single in the second inning, but immediately erased the runner with a double play. Kazuma Okamoto followed that up with a double and Wheeler then hit Andrés Giménez with a fastball to put two on. But he stranded both runners with a strikeout.
“It wasn’t the best, wasn’t the sharpest,” Wheeler said of his outing.
Wheeler said he found the mound tough and wasn’t able to push off like he normally does, so he had to rely on his upper body more.
“I think that’s kind of why it wasn’t as sharp,” Wheeler said. “Velo’s down just a tick. So we kind of take those games and throw them out right away.”
Still, he held Toronto off the scoreboard until the sixth inning, when Wheeler’s cutter to Jesús Sánchez didn’t get high enough above the zone. Sánchez — who had also doubled in the third — sent it into the Phillies’ bullpen in right field for a solo shot that tied the game at 1.
J.T. Realmuto (left) loses the ball as the Blue Jays’ Brandon Valenzuela (59) waves Myles Straw in to score on a wild pitch during the ninth inning.Sammy Kogan
“Cease was really good; I thought Zack was good,” Mattingly said. “Obviously, it was one of those games that’s just not going to be a bunch of runs going up, with a guy like Cease and Wheels. … I thought the at-bats were OK. He’s just one of those guys that you’re going to have your hands full when you start the game.”
Although Cease was cruising, since he was making his first start after being reinstated from the injured list, Toronto manager John Schneider lifted him after six innings and 93 pitches. Former Phillie Jeff Hoffman pitched a scoreless seventh and Mason Fluharty retired the side in order in the eighth, before Stott came through against Varland.
The Phillies finished with five total hits. Bryce Harper drew their only two walks.
“You always want to score, especially when you get guys on base,” Stott said. “But felt like when [Cease] needed a pitch, he got it, and sometimes you just run into guys who have that stuff that day, and he kept us off-balance.”
Orion Kerkering took over for Wheeler in the seventh and pitched a 1-2-3 inning. He returned for the eighth to face Vladimir Guerrero Jr. and induced a line out. José Alvarado retired the next two batters before Duran entered in the ninth.
The Eagles held their first practice of minicamp on Tuesday at the Jefferson Health Training Complex. Here are my observations:
Pave the Lane
We had our first Lane Johnson spotting of the spring, and, really, since November when he suffered a season-ending Lisfranc foot injury. The right tackle also spoke with reporters after practice for the first time since October. He talked about former offensive line coach Jeff Stoutland’s departure, among other topics.
Johnson looked in fine shape. He opted to miss most of the Eagles’ offseason program, but returned for this week’s mandatory workouts. We also got our first look at defensive tackle Jalen Carter, who was absent from the two open organized team activities. He is believed to be fully recovered from his shoulder woes, but he didn’t participate in team drills. Outside linebacker Joe Tryon-Shoyinka was the only player from the 90-man roster who was missing.
Makai Lemon remained out with an apparent hamstring strain. The rookie wide receiver was initially sidelined last week. If he misses Wednesday’s session, he should be fully recovered in time for training camp. Tight end Grant Calcaterra was a new addition to the injury list and watched practice. Linebacker Jihaad Campbell is still working his way back from shoulder surgery.
Receiver Britain Covey was still out, as were fullback Carson Steele, linebacker Chandler Martin and safety Tucker Large. Edge Jonathan Greenard also wasn’t active. He, too, is recovering from shoulder surgery, but should be ready by late July.
Offensive start
It would be simple to focus on Vic Fangio’s defense considering how well it performed in seven-on-seven and 11-on-11 drills. His first two units outplayed the offense in my estimation. And maybe they should have since first-time offensive coordinator Sean Mannion is installing a new scheme. Fangio returns seven starters on his side of the ball with many entering Year 3 in his system.
Sean Mannion (right), shown with Howie Roseman (left) and Jeffrey Lurie during mandatory minicamp on Tuesday. Mannion’s first-team offense struggled.Monica Herndon / Staff Photographer
But this offseason is mostly going to be about how quarterback Jalen Hurts and Co. adjust to learning a new offense. There are going to be some ugly moments early on. And we saw plenty on Tuesday. Hurts threw over and behind a covered (by Riq Woolen) DeVonta Smith on two pass plays during seven-on-sevens. The second could have been intercepted by post safety Drew Mukuba if he wasn’t intent on breaking up the pass. There was another toss into traffic that surprised receiver Hollywood Brown and bounced off his shoulder. In team drills, Hurts heaved one ahead of Smith, who had cornerback Quinyon Mitchell on his heels. He later just flicked a pass out of bounds rather than to an open Smith, who was near the line of scrimmage.
There were completions, with most of them of the check down variety to running back Saquon Barkley or tight end Dallas Goedert as a safety outlet. There were also a few over-the-middle hookups. But the first-unit pass offense, which often worked from under center and off play action, looked out of sorts. On a red zone play, Smith and receiver Dontayvion Wicks were run out of bounds by defenders and Hurts had nothing. Nevertheless, it’s way too soon to make any proclamations about the season. There were bound to be growing pains.
Dutch Dalton
The same thinking could apply to the apparent competition for the backup quarterback spot. Andy Dalton continued to get snaps ahead of Tanner McKee. We haven’t been to every workout this spring and were told that the two split time with the second offense. But McKee no longer has a firm grip on the No. 2 spot, which is mildly surprising.
Eagles linebacker Jalyx Hunt (center) intercepted Andy Dalton during minicamp practice on Tuesday.Monica Herndon / Staff Photographer
It’s not like Dalton has overly impressed. Like Hurts a week ago, Dalton’s first pass in seven-on-sevens resulted in an interception. Outside linebacker Jalyx Hunt dropped into coverage and undercut a slant route for the pick. Later on, Dalton was nearly intercepted by cornerback Jonathan Jones. He had some solid throws, too. Dalton found receiver Elijah Moore down the seam on a busted coverage. He twice hit receiver Johnny Wilson on crossers. And he found Danny Gray in the end zone after the receiver beat his man to the sideline.
Tight lies
As Goedert said after practice, the tight end position is central to the Shanahan/McVay style of offense. A lot of that has to do with deception and marrying the run with the pass. But Goedert and others have been featured a fair amount in what is essentially a passing camp. New guy Johnny Mundt might have been brought in primarily as a blocker, but he broke through the secondary and probably would have pulled in a Dalton deep ball had safety Michael Carter not held him.
E.J. Jenkins was on the receiving end of passes from Hurts and Dalton. He saw more time with Calcaterra out. Rookie tight end Eli Stowers has been quiet in the practices we’ve attended. He has a lot to learn.
Johnson’s return meant a slight change on the offensive line with rookie Markel Bell dropping from first-team right tackle to second-team left tackle. Here’s a look at the updated depth chart:
Drew Kendall was the lone O-lineman I didn’t spot in team drills.
Depth thoughts
Jordan Davis and Moro Ojomo were the first-team defensive tackles in nickel with Carter watching. Byron Young was the third interior lineman in base personnel and was still ahead of second-year defensive tackle Ty Robinson.
Jeremiah Trotter Jr. took most of the first-unit repetitions alongside Zack Baun at inside linebacker with Campbell out.
Trotter was around the ball all practice. He blitzed and forced Hurts outside the pocket in team drills. A play later, he filled the hole on a Barkley run. And he nearly picked off rookie quarterback Cole Payton when he worked with the third-unit defense. (Payton almost tossed another interception on the next play, but cornerback Tariq Castro-Fields couldn’t hang on to a ball that hit him in the hands.)
Eagles wide receiver Hollywood Brown is one of the new additions vying for a role in the remade position group.Monica Herndon / Staff Photographer
Receiving line
Coach Nick Sirianni didn’t have much to say about A.J. Brown, who was traded to the Patriots last week. He instead focused on the Eagles’ existing receivers when asked about Brown before practice. Sirianni first mentioned Smith, Lemon, and Wicks before he got to Hollywood Brown and Moore. He also mentioned Wilson and Darius Cooper, who didn’t partake in team drills, as “dirty work” receivers.
Brown and Moore were featured most on this day, partly because of the first-unit offense’s struggles. Brown caught several passes from McKee late in the session and flashed strong hands on low throws. Moore, playing with the starters, was set up on a screen pass, but Young wasn’t fooled by misdirection. The receiver later caught a seed from Hurts over the middle.
Highs and lows
McKee had some highlights with the third group. He connected with tryout receiver James Proche on a few occasions. He hit receiver Samori Toure over the middle off play-action.
There were defensive standouts, as well. Hunt and Ojomo teamed up for a would-be sack. Defensive tackle Ta’Quon Graham batted a Dalton pass. Rookie cornerback Maximus Pulley broke up a Payton toss. ChanceCampbell almost got to a Dalton misfire. And corner Kelee Ringo forced a wide throw in the end zone in man coverage.
Extra points
I narrowed my binoculars on the Eagles’ two international pathway prospects: defensive tackle Uar Bernard and edge Joshua Weru. Needless to say, getting those two acclimated to football at this level will be a process. … The Eagles return on Wednesday for the last practice of minicamp.
IRVINE, Calif. — Most of the time in soccer, one of the first things a team does is set its starting goalkeeper. But for the U.S. men, it appears that will be one of the last things that happens.
Leading candidates Matt Freese and Matt Turner have said in recent days that they don’t know who will get the nod for Friday’s group stage opener vs. Paraguay (9 p.m., Fox29, Telemundo 62).
“Not a ton of clarity,” Turner said Tuesday as he met with the media before the day’s practice. “It’s about training really well, keep fighting, and then the decision will be made on Friday.”
A day earlier, when Freese asked if he’d been told who the starter will be, he said, “No, just focused on training today.”
Matt Turner (right) watches Matt Freese in a drill at Friday’s practice.Jonathan Tannenwald
This is despite the fact that Freese has started 15 of the Americans’ 18 games since his debut last June, including a Gold Cup tournament that cemented his rise and U.S. manager Mauricio Pochettino’s demotion of Turner.
That demotion, in turn, came despite Turner having been the starter at the 2022 World Cup and for a long time afterward. Now, he’s the only goalkeeper on this World Cup squad with experience in the tournament.
With the clock ticking toward Friday night, what happens now — or at least until Pochettino is asked about it at his news conference on Thursday?
Even then, he might choose not to name a starter publicly.
If Mauricio Pochettino has made his decision about his starting goalkeeper, he hasn’t said so publicly.Jonathan Tannenwald
From most of the indications we have so far, Freese is ahead. The fact that he started the final tuneup game vs. Germany signaled that after Turner played the first half of the first tuneup vs. Senegal.
What is certain is that each is laser-focused on trying to win the race and on his individual tasks to get there.
After two years on campus, he left to turn pro with the Union, and served as Andre Blake’s backup for four seasons before getting a trade to New York City FC so he could become a starter. He has kept improving since then, combining his saves, passing, and a work ethic that Pochettino appreciates.
Matt Freese (center) during the U.S. team’s game against Paraguay at Subaru Park in November. The teams will meet again in their World Cup opener on Friday.Elizabeth Robertson / Staff Photographer
“I think the mentality that I always have, and I always will have for the next 15 years of playing, is to never expect to be in a roster,” Freese said in a recent news conference. “You always want to chase it, no matter what. And even if you’re a guy who’s played 100 games in a row for the national team, I’m going to be someone that is chasing that next one.”
As cliché as it is to say, consistency is key, and Freese lives it intentionally.
“I think every player has his own routines and strategies, but what works for me is taking every game the same and doing the same routine,” he said, “and doing the same preparation, same mind work, same physical work. Because then you arrive into the game in your standard situation.”
Matt Freese has started 15 of the U.S. men’s soccer team’s last 18 games.Jonathan Tannenwald
Freese acknowledged that “it’s obviously a World Cup, and it’s obviously different, and it’s obviously special: a once, twice hopefully, in a lifetime experience. And so that excitement will be there, naturally.”
But he persists, all the way down to what he packed for the trip.
“I bring my tea kettle, so I make the same tea. I’ve brought my own alarm clock from home,” he said. “The exact same stuff. I love keeping things consistent because if it works for you in small moments, then the game itself doesn’t change. So it helps me, at least, deal with those big moments and that pressure.”
And there undoubtedly is pressure: to make a historic impact at this World Cup, and on him personally to continue the legacy built by Tony Meola, Kasey Keller, Brad Friedel, and Tim Howard. Howard often wore No. 24, the same one that’s on Freese’s back this summer.
Matt Freese with his No. 24 jersey at the introduction of the U.S. World Cup team last month.Eduardo Munoz Alvarez
“I was a fan of that goalkeeping corps for much of my life — still am,“ Freese said. “And so it’s an honor to be on this team and be part of that group, to hopefully continue that great legacy.”
He summed it up this way: “The ones that work hard without the promise of reward are the ones that usually succeed.”
Now to Turner, who has his own remarkable story. The 31-year-old North Jersey native wasn’t well-known when the New England Revolution signed him undrafted out of Fairfield in 2016, but he quickly became a stalwart. That led not just to being the 2022 World Cup starter, but to a $6 million move to England’s Arsenal earlier that year.
But he failed to establish himself there, so he moved across England to Nottingham Forest, then Crystal Palace on loan, then France’s Lyon. None of those moves brought stability, and his U.S. stock started falling as a result.
Matt Turner played just seven games for Arsenal in his short time with the English Premier League giant.Julio Cortez
So he returned to New England on loan last summer, and this year has finally regained his form. By some statistical measures, he has done better than Freese in MLS this year.
With the U.S., Freese looked better in the March games vs. Belgium in Portugal. If Turner looked slightly better against Senegal than Freese did in conceding an early free kick goal to Germany, the fact that Turner only played half of his game means a full comparison isn’t possible.
“I think playing consistent minutes at the level that I’ve been playing at this year has helped me tremendously with staying ready,” Turner said, “unlike in the past, where I was kind of scrapping for minutes at the club level, and then when you show up to the national team, you’re not as sharp when your number is called. So it’s obviously been really great to be playing consistently, be an important player for my team as well, and, of course, that just helps with my preparation on a weekly basis, daily basis.”
One of Pochettino’s goals in his tenure has been to foster competition across the roster, so no player feels assured of a place — which can breed the complacency that sank the team at the 2024 Copa América. In that context, Turner was asked to expand on his “lack of clarity” remark: Is it a good dynamic or too unsettling?
Matt Turner (left) with the Union’s Andrew Rick, who’s serving as a guest player for U.S. practices this summer.Jonathan Tannenwald
“I think it’s a great thing, and I think he’s constructed a roster of guys that buy into that,” he said. “And it creates competition in training for spots on a weekly basis. Just because [a group of] 11 starts one game doesn’t mean the next 11 is going to be the same. Everybody knows that they’re looked at in the same light in the coach’s eyes, and if they merit and deserve an opportunity with this coach, they’re going to get one.”
And asked if he prefers to not have the starter at his position set yet, Turner was just as direct.
“Well, given the fact that I haven’t played a ton in the last year for the national team, of course, for me, that makes me feel like the door is always cracked [open] — everyone has a chance,” he said. “But I think the coach will always pick the guy that’s playing the best, and he’s going to make the right decision for the team. And whatever my role is going to be, I’m going to be ready to do it to the best of my ability.”
Adding more turmoil to a chaotic World Cup buildup for Iran, the national soccer federation claimed Tuesday that FIFA revoked the ticket allocation for fans at the team’s three group-stage games in the United States.
Each federation for the 48 World Cup teams taking part is entitled to receive and distribute 8% of stadium capacity for each of its games, adding up to several thousands of tickets per game.
Those allocations typically went on sale to each team’s most loyal fans soon after the tournament draw in December, when Iranians for five months already had been subject to a travel ban by the U.S. government.
Now, just days before Iran opens its World Cup in Inglewood, Calif. — on June 15 vs. New Zealand at the 70,000-seat stadium used by the Los Angeles Rams and Los Angeles Chargers — the federation claimed in a statement reported by semiofficial state media that it now was unable to provide tickets to its supporters.
The claim adds to the tensions among Iranian soccer, FIFA, and tournament cohost the United States, which began military attacks on Iran on Feb. 28. Some federation officials have been denied visas to enter the U.S.
FIFA has total authority over ticketing operations at the World Cup, yet the Iranian soccer body suggested “the United States has now taken steps to obstruct the presence of Iranian supporters at the stadiums.”
“This incident raises serious questions about the influence of non-sporting and political considerations on the organization of the world’s biggest football event,” the Iranian soccer federation said.
Iran, appearing in its seventh World Cup, also plays games June 21 in Inglewood and June 26 in Seattle.
FIFA said in a statement Tuesday it is “working closely with the IR Iran Football Federation to identify compliant solutions that maximize opportunities for Iranian supporters to attend matches.”
FIFA President Gianni Infantino and secretary-general Mattias Grafström promised logistical support in face-to-face meetings with Iranian soccer officials in Turkey in recent weeks.
Most of Iran’s 26-member squad has not had a competitive game since February because they play for clubs in the domestic league that was shut down by the war.
Omar Artan, a referee from Somalia who was denied entry to the U.S. at Miami International Airport on Saturday is not the only person connected to World Cup teams stopped by U.S. Customs and Border Protection.
The Iraqi team’s official photographer, Talal Salah, was detained and denied entry after arriving at Chicago O’Hare International Airport on Friday as part of the country’s 53-member delegation.
“U.S. authorities asked for his phone; he gave it to them. After 12 hours’ detention, they decided to ban his entry,” said a member of the Iraqi soccer federation, who spoke on the condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to speak to the media.
Iraqi striker Aymen Hussein also was detained by U.S. immigration authorities for seven hours upon arrival before being released, another Iraqi soccer federation member said.
CBP confirmed in a statement that two people with the Iraqi national team were subject to “additional inspection” to verify their information or “determine admissibility.”
Iraq’s Aymen Hussein (left) is congratulated after scoring his side’s second goal against Bolivia in March.Fernando Llano
Artan, one of Africa’s top referees, was denied over “vetting concerns,” CBP said in a statement without giving details of those concerns. Artan was issued a visa to travel to the U.S. last week, according to the Somalia Embassy in Kenya that processed it.
The move to deny a FIFA-appointed match official permission to enter a World Cup host country is highly unusual. Artan was due to meet up with other World Cup referees at their training base in Miami.
Andrew Giuliani, the executive director of the White House FIFA Task Force, said Tuesday the referee was denied admittance for “very good reason” but also declined to go into details.
Contract deal in LA
Southern California stadium workers who threatened to strike for the U.S. men’s soccer team’s opening World Cup match on Thursday against Paraguay said Tuesday that they expect to stay on the job after reaching a tentative contract deal with higher wages and more labor protections.
Workers will vote Wednesday on whether to ratify the deal.
The union represents 2,000 bartenders, servers, cooks, and dishwashers at SoFi Stadium. The deal came after workers last week voted to authorize a strike as contract talks had stalled with the stadium’s food service provider, Legends Global.
No matter what social media tells you, Saquon Barkley and Jalen Hurts are still pretty popular.
For the second year in a row, the Eagles’ offensive duo ranked in the top 10 in jersey and merchandise sales, according to the NFL Players Association’s year-end list. Barkley’s jersey was the third highest-selling overall, while Hurts finished seventh. In fact, this year marked the third straight that a pair of Eagles appeared in the top 10 — in 2024, Hurts and Jason Kelce placed first and second, respectively.
The list took into account all officially licensed player products purchased from March 2025 through February 2026. The merchandise, which sold for more than $1.9 billion across more than 50 countries, according to the NFLPA, includes jerseys, drinkware, bobbleheads, accessories, and more.
“Fans have more choices than ever when it comes to the players they follow and support, and the Year-End Top 50 gives us a real look at who they’re showing up for,” president of NFL Players Inc. Matt Curtin said in a release.
After surpassing 2,000 rushing yards during the Eagles’ 2024 Super Bowl season, Barkley finished with 1,140 and seven touchdowns last season. The running back’s drop in production coincided with a slight dip in popularity. Barkley was ranked the top-selling player a year prior, but he still topped all running backs in total merchandise sold for the second straight year.
Barkley also finished in the top five in almost nearly every other listed category, including jersey sales, FOCO bobbleheads, Fathead wall decals, and shirts from BreakingT and 500 LEVEL.
Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts ranked seventh in jersey sales last seasonJose F. Moreno / Staff Photographer
Hurts, who passed for 3,224 yards and 25 touchdowns in 2025, suffered a dip in sales as well, falling from third to seventh overall. In terms of quarterbacks, Hurts trailed Buffalo Bills’ Josh Allen (No. 1), Patriots’ Drake Maye (No. 2), Washington Commanders’ Jayden Daniels (No. 5), and Kansas City Chiefs’ Patrick Mahomes (No. 6).
The Eagles quarterback did prove to be especially popular with the next generation of rabid fans. He ranked second in youth apparel sales, trailing just Mahomes. Barkley was fourth in the category.
The only other team to boast two players in the top 10 overall was the Green Bay Packers. Quarterback Jordan Love ranked ninth overall while linebacker Micah Parsons, who the team acquired last season from the Dallas Cowboys, rounded out the top 10.
But Barkley and Hurts weren’t alone. Two more Eagles also made the NFLPA’s top-50 highest sellers list.
Cooper DeJean topped all NFL defensive backs in total merchandise sold last season.Yong Kim / Staff Photographer
At No. 22, Cooper DeJean topped all NFL defensive backs in total merchandise sold. After a breakout rookie year, DeJean logged 93 total tackles and two interceptions during his sophomore season, which also resulted in his first Pro Bowl and All-Pro selections. DeJean climbed 20 spots from No. 42 last year.
Former Eagles receiver A.J. Brown, on the other hand, fell 26 spots and just made the list at No. 50. There is also likely a bit of buyer’s remorse for Birds fans who recently bought the wideout’s gear. Last week, Brown was traded to the New England Patriots. He caught 78 passes for 1,003 yards and seven touchdowns during his final season with Philadelphia.
But now that he’s playing in a new team’s uniform, there’s a good chance Brown skyrockets back up this list next season. Perhaps his departure will have a similar effect on new Eagles No. 1 wideout, DeVonta Smith, who was 29th last June but fell off this year’s list.
As Philadelphia prepares for a summer of pageantry with the World Cup and celebrations to mark the country’s 250th anniversary, a public safety hub is opening on Market Street to coordinate police responses in the area.
The center at 1011 Market St. will be a place for three police forces — Thomas Jefferson University police, Philadelphia police, and SEPTA police — to coordinate.
Officials expect that the hub will enable police to respond faster to incidents in the area both ahead of the World Cup and as part of a long-term effort to revitalize Market Street. Without an established place for collaboration, officers’ ability to work with different departments was hampered by the lack of physical infrastructure to coordinate.
“We’ve never had anything like this before,” said Kevin Seta, the director for public safety for Jefferson. Before this hub, he explained, “everyone’s kind of working in silos. We do work very well together with these partner agencies, and we share as much as we can. But in this case, this will allow us to be all in the same room at the same time.”
With the new center, police presence will increase on Market, Filbert, 11th, and 12th Streets. The hub will become the main headquarters for the Jefferson police force, which was previously on the other side of the Jefferson campus. Twelve officers from the Philadelphia Police Department have been assigned to East Market Street and will use the hub as needed, along with SEPTA officers who patrol the area. Jefferson CEO Joseph G. Cacchione said that with the new officers, he has already noticed a difference in vagrancy and panhandling.
The city has allocated $1 million for the hub. Jefferson, which has a large presence in the area with its university and health system, will provide additional funds for the project.
A holding cell at the new public safety hub for Market Street on June 9, 2026.Isabel Maney / Staff
Mayor Cherelle L. Parker emphasized that the public safety hub was part of a larger project to make Market Street “safer, cleaner, and greener.”
“We are strengthening our work here in Center City, creating a vibrant and thriving corridor where we have more than 60 partners from across the business, civic, and community sectors,” Parker said. As an expected tens of thousands of visitors begin to arrive, “this coordination right now is more important than ever.”
Nick Sirianni offered his final words on the A.J. Brown saga on Tuesday.
Speaking for the first time since Brown was traded to the New England Patriots last week, Sirianni reminisced about the fond times he had with the superstar wide receiver, before offering some glowing words about his current wideouts.
“I would say there was a lot of good years here, and done a lot of good things with A.J. here,” Sirianni said before Tuesday’s mandatory minicamp practice. “Two times in the Super Bowl, I think he was [an] All-Pro multiple times, Pro Bowl multiple times. So I would say it was a good run.
“But, [I am] really excited about that room that we have. DeVonta Smith has had a really good offseason, has had five good years of being an Eagle as well. Very, very productive. And excited that he’s going to get extra opportunities that he works so hard to get. … Really excited about Makai [Lemon] and where he is this offseason and just his ability to catch the football, his toughness. I think that’s a great addition to that room.”
Sirianni highlighted the unit’s depth — which general manager Howie Roseman spent the offseason improving, knowing that Brown likely would be dealt — and gave shout-outs to Dontayvion Wicks, Hollywood Brown, Elijah Moore, Darius Cooper, and Johnny Wilson.
Nick Sirianni (left) is shown with Jalen Hurts (center) and A.J. Brown (right) after their NFC championship win in 2023.Yong Kim / Staff Photographer
Sirianni also was asked if he ever had trouble managing the once-close relationship between Brown and quarterback Jalen Hurts, which frayed throughout their time together in Philadelphia.
“No,” Sirianni said. “Relationships are so, so important. But that doesn’t mean everybody — sometimes that can get misconstrued that everybody has to be best friends. That’s not the case.”
What influence, if any, did Sirianni have on the deal, which brought a 2028 first-round pick and the better of New England’s two fifth-round picks in 2027 to the Eagles? The sixth-year head coach mostly deflected the question.
“What a good teammate that I have with Howie Roseman to be able to go to battle with,” Sirianni said. “So many things that [Brown] did that [were] good for our football team, and always will wish him the best of luck. But like I said, really excited about the guys in that room and where we are. But this is a team game, to your question, and every decision that I make and decisions that Howie makes, we talk to each other about it.”
The World Cup officially lands in Philly on June 14, when the Ivory Coast takes on Ecuador at the temporarily-renamed Philadelphia Stadium (aka Lincoln Financial Field) in South Philly, with five more games to follow.
But let’s be real: Getting into a match is going to be difficult. And besides, nothing screams Philly more than taking in a game at a local bar alongside strangers and Citywides that will give you the courage to cheer even louder.
Here are 19 bars in Philly and the suburbs that are going all-in on the World Cup, including four planning to be open until 4 a.m. for late-night matches.
🍺 Bars allowed to stay open until 4 a.m.
Earlier this year, Gov. Josh Shapiro signed a bill into law permitting Philly bars to stay open until 4 a.m. for the duration of the World Cup. Just over 50 bars in the city thus far are eligible to apply for a permit to stay open that late, according to a list from the City of Philadelphia, and several told The Inquirer that extending their hours just wasn’t worth it.
On the eve of the World Cup, several bars were still waiting to get permit approval to stay open late.
These are four spots that plan to be open until 4 a.m. in Philly, from a bowling alley to a Latin American club-staurant.
The bar at Cavanaugh’s Rittenhouse, 1941 Sansom St., on Aug. 31, 2022.MICHAEL KLEIN / Staff
While Cavanaugh’s Headhouse location has a rep among Newcastle United and Liverpool fans as a solid bar for soccer matches, the sports bar’s Rittenhouse location is the one that will be open until 4 a.m. during the World Cup. Cav’s will be serving daily drinks and food specials, and is one of more than 20 bars participating in the Crawl for the Cup, a citywide World Cup-themed bar crawl, including a scavenger hunt, on June 20.
The World Cup is practically a 24 / 7 event at Mamajuana. The Latin American Northern Liberties club-staurant will be staying open until 4 a.m. on match days while also hosting Sunday brunches and watch parties for 10 games from June 13 through July 19. The club’s World Cup special promises mascot appearances, daily food specials, and limited-edition cocktails, such as the Golden Cup, an old-fashioned served in a gold globe-shaped goblet. A full schedule can be found on Mamajuana’s Instagram.
This lively Hunting Park institution will be open until 4 a.m. during the World Cup to broadcast games in its downstairs bar and upstairs night club. Tierra Colombiana’s menu spans Latin America, which means you can have arepas while Colombia plays, ceviche during Ecuador’s matches, and extra large mojitos all tournament long.
Soccer at a bowling alley? That’s literally the vibe at Oregon Avenue’s South Bowl, a bowling alley and bar (with an outdoor lounge) that is staying open until 4 a.m. to broadcast the following matches: Australia vs. Turkey on June 14, Austria vs. Jordan on June 17, and Tunisia vs. Japan on June 21. Games will play on the screens above each lane, which means there’s the potential to land a strike while watching pro athletes score goals.
If the 4 a.m. crowd isn’t your speed, these 10 Philly bars are hosting World Cup watch parties that don’t skimp on the fun — even if they aren’t going all night long.
Scenes from the opening night of Bok Bar — initially called Le Bok Fin — in 2015.Michelle Gustafson
The Black Taxi
This Irish pub in Fairmount has long been a host for English Premier League matches, at one point even displaying the trophy for an afternoon of photo ops. Roughly a half-mile from the FIFA Fan Fest at Lemon Hill, this is the spot to take in a game with a perfect pour of Guinness.
📍 745-747 N. 25th St., 📞 215-232-1086, 🌐 theblacktaxi.com
All of Philly’s tournament matches will be simulcast on screen’s atop Philly’s most famous rooftop bar, which is hosting Puyero Venezulean Flavor for a monthlong food pop-up in June that includes arepas, empanadas, and bite-sized churros. Where else can you see the lights from the Linc — I mean, Philadelphia Stadium — twinkle in distance during a knockout game on July 4?
The crowd at Brauhaus Schmitz in Philadelphia cheers USA’s first goal against the Netherlands in the World Cup on Dec. 3, 2022.Tyger Williams / Staff Photographer
Bella Vista’s sprawling German biergarten is taking the party to the streets, closing down the block for free outdoor watch parties for matches on June 25, June 27, July 3, July 4, and July 19. Games will be broadcast on 20-foot-tall TVs in the middle of South Street, while indoors will feature 34 beers on tap, surprise giveaways, and burgers with novelty soccer ball pretzel buns. And on non-block party days, Brauhaus Schmitz will be still be airing World Cup matches indoors.
This Brazilian sports bar in Northeast Philly is the place to be for fans of team Brazil and is hosting not one, but two lively watch parties during the team’s match against Morocco on June 13 and Haiti on June 19. And if you’re only there for the vibes, Guanabara has a rooftop, three types of caipirinhas, and Brazilian-style cheesesteaks.
Known for its supremely satisfying smashburger, this neighborhood bar with a French twist has big plans for the Group Stage. Good King Tavern will open daily starting at 3 p.m. with an extended happy hour that features mini cocktails and street food-style snacks. Its upstairs wine bar, Le Caveau, will also be getting in on the action, which means you can sip a draft negroni and nosh on a fancy hot dog while watching your team of choice.
A bar where you can play 18-holes of mini golf between matches? Sign us up. Libertee Grounds will be gamifying its World Cup watch parties with the Pitch Passport, a punch card that rewards guest for watching every game at the bar-slash-indoor-mini-golf-course. How it works: Earn a punch for each nation when you a watch a match, which are redeemable for rewards such as a free beer, mini golf passes, or a lifetime membership. Drink specials will also be available.
This Chinatown sports bar is committed to soccer year-round, airing everything from Premier League matches to La Liga games on its 35 TVs. Expect the World Cup to be no different. Lion Sports Bar will be airing all matches at its original location and taking over Yamitsuki Ramen across the street for a ticketed open bar and buffet. Also available at both locations: a signature World Cup pink margarita garnished with collectible Lionel Messi stickers.
This longstanding Irish Pub in Center City is the official home of Philly’s Chelsea FC and Manchester City FC clubs, so you can expect that it will be a hub for World Cup games. The bar will air all 104 matches (with the sound on!) across 14 TVs and two projectors. Weeks one and two of the tournament are bringing specials on Michelob Ultra and Stella Artois, plus a ticket giveaway on June 13 for a future match.
The real fun at this rowdy, double-decker sports bar comes during the USMNT’s matches against Paraguay on June 12, Australia on June 19, and Turkey on June 25. The American Outlaws — the official support group for Team USA — will be taking over Top Tomato during those games for block parties with a live DJ that are open to all, no RSVP required.
The newly renovated (and re-christened) Stateside Live! now includes a rooftop bar and beer garden. Just steps away from the action at Philadelphia Stadium, what will it offer soccer fans? The entertainment complex is hosting the official World Cup pregame for ticketholders. A match ticket and $50 will get you expedited entry and access to a tailgate with a food voucher, while $175 buys a spot at a prematch buffet with cheesesteaks, roast pork sandwiches, and open bar.
Stateside Live! will also be open to the general public during all six of Philly’s World Cup games. Matches will be simulcast on the venue’s new outdoor stage alongside a selection of food trucks.
But if you’re looking to keep it extra local during the World Cup, these bars in the Philly suburbs are going above and beyond for the World Cup, from erecting a pop-up beer garden to brewing a special IPA.
The Landing Kitchen, an all-day cafe created by Nicholas Elmi and Fia Berisha at the riverside redevelopment of the Pencoyd Ironworks on July 10, 2021.CHARLES FOX / Staff Photographer
Located in Bala Cynwyd, just across the Pencoyd Bridge from Manayunk, this all-day riverside cafe with a family friendly vibe will be broadcasting all quarterfinal, semifinal, and finals matches outdoors on a 164-inch screen. Chef Nicholas Elmi will be firing up a smoker for barbecue specials during the games, and guests are strongly encouraged to play bocce or relax at a fire pit during halftime.
Named one of the 10 best bars for watching soccer in the U.S. by the Men in Blazers, Bucks County’s Villa Capri is one of the only bars in the Philadelphia suburbs that has committed to airing all 104 World Cup matches — with the sound on. The Doylestown bar is also rolling a limited-edition cocktail menu for the tournament that includes drinks such as the $14 Equalizer margarita, which comes in passionfruit, pineapple, strawberry, or pomegranate.
This haunt for West Chester University students already has a reputation in Chester County as a Liverpool bar that airs Philadelphia Union games. During the World Cup, Kildare’s is going all in on USMNT. The bar will be shutting down a portion of Gay Street for a free, 21+ watch party during Team USA’s matchup against Paraguay on June 12. Kildare’s will also be showing a selection of other games starting at noon daily, with to-be-announced drink and food specials on offer.
Malvern’s Locust Lane Craft Brewery is hosting a pop-up World Cup beer garden in Upper Merion’s Nor-View Farm Park with free entry from June 11 through July 19. Games will be broadcast on TVs under the park’s pavilion, where attendees can bring their own chairs and enjoy a selection of $8 beers on tap, plus food from the Epicurian Garage Truck. The beer garden will open one hour before the first broadcast game and close before midnight; schedule can be found here.
A former New Jersey Brewery of the Year, Zed’s Beer takes the World Cup as seriously as it takes its brews. The Marlton bar will be airing all Team USA matches, alongside several other key games as designated on the bar’s digital calendar. Also on offer: Soccer-themed quizzo and a new limited-edition IPA called the “48 hops for 48 teams.” Made with hops from each country with a qualifying FIFA team, this beer will be available for the duration of the tournament.
📍19 N. Maple Ave., Ste. A, Marlton, N.J. 📞 856-872-7632, 🌐 drinkzeds.com
“Thank God it’s over,” Jordan Mailata said last week. “It was a slow pain of just, is he in, is he out?”
But NFL Network’s Mike Garafolo reported Tuesday that Brown, who caught passes from Drake Maye at Patriots camp less than 24 hours after the trade, stopped into the Eagles’ facility after the deal to pick up a few items, say his goodbyes, and leave a parting message on the wall.
Throughout the Jefferson Health Training Complex, the team has lifesize photos of franchise greats lining the walls. Underneath his picture alongside other Eagles Pro Bowlers, Brown reportedly wrote: “The best to ever play here. Always open.”
In an organization that’s had wideouts like Terrell Owens, Harold Carmichael, DeSean Jackson, and Mike Quick — not to mention DeVonta Smith still on the roster — that’s high praise he’s giving himself.
From @gmfb: A.J. Brown stopped by the #Eagles’ facility last week to pick up some items, say goodbye and leave a parting message on the wall.
Meanwhile, as for the conspiracy theory floating around on what led to the Brown-Hurts rift, Big Dom and others are adamant it’s bogus. pic.twitter.com/M134pe9j8d
Despite rumors of a rift between Brown and quarterback Jalen Hurts, the veteran wide receiver told NBC’s Maria Taylor in his first interview after the trade that he and Hurts had “no beef” — even if they are not as close as they once were.
In four seasons in Philadelphia, Brown had 5,034 receiving yards, 32 touchdowns, two Pro Bowls selections, and three All-Pro nods — plus two Super Bowl appearances and one win.
So how do those numbers compare to other Eagles receivers? Here are the team’s all-time receiving leaders, sorted by total yards. Fifteen players have recorded at least 4,000 yards with the Birds, and Brown ranks ninth, although he likely will be passed this season by both Smith and Dallas Goedert.
In addition to being ninth in total yards, Brown ended his Eagles career 13th in receptions and tied for 12th in receiving touchdowns. Where he really stands out is in yards per game — his 81.2 yards rank second behind Owens (93.5) among players to appear in at least 20 games. However, Owens, who i played parts of just two seasons in Philly, also averaged nearly a touchdown per game (0.95), while Brown averaged a little more than half of one (0.52).
The Eagles will next see Brown at joint practices with New England on Aug. 19 and 20 in Foxborough, Mass.
