Philadelphia leaders are looking to capitalize on the momentum generated by the FIFA World Cup, saying the global event put the city in the international spotlight and created new opportunities for economic growth.

Mayor Cherelle Parker spoke Monday to local, state and global leaders at a U.S. Global Leadership Coalition event, saying visitors who came to Philadelphia for the World Cup left with a new perspective on the city.

“Just maybe for a moment, Philadelphia, we saw ourselves the same way the world saw us. They came to experience our history, but they left believing in our future. That’s what happens when our city believes in itself,” Parker said.

The mayor said major international events can have a lasting impact because people who experience Philadelphia often decide to invest here.

“If you need proof, I want you to think about Bonduelle. I want you to think about Hanwha. I want you to think about Rhoads Industries, TerraPower — different industries, different countries, one decision: Philadelphia,” Parker said.

Local leaders are now discussing how to make the most of the attention while the World Cup experience is still fresh.

Officials pointed to Boston as one example. After hosting Scotland during this year’s World Cup, the city is planning a new partnership with Glasgow.

Rep. Brendan Boyle, D-Philadelphia, said Philadelphia should also work to strengthen international relationships formed during the tournament.

“One of the great things about the World Cup was the relationship that fans from abroad developed for one particular city where their country happened to be hosted. So I look forward to expand sister cities we have,” Boyle said.

Boyle also said Philadelphia should begin planning now to host future major international sporting events after successfully hosting several high-profile events in 2026.

“It does seem as though the U.S. has a great chance to host the next available World Cup in 2038. We need to start planning right now to make sure Philadelphia is absolutely a part of the next U.S.-hosted World Cup,” Boyle said. “Why can’t we host the championship game?”

This story was originally reported for broadcast by NBC Philadelphia. AI tools helped convert the story to a digital article, and an NBC Philadelphia journalist edited the article for publication.