{"id":127804,"date":"2026-03-02T23:20:37","date_gmt":"2026-03-02T23:20:37","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/127804\/"},"modified":"2026-03-02T23:20:37","modified_gmt":"2026-03-02T23:20:37","slug":"what-to-know-about-this-summers-games-teams-and-festivities","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/127804\/","title":{"rendered":"What to know about this summer\u2019s games, teams and festivities"},"content":{"rendered":"

Love Philly? So do we. Let\u2019s be friends. The Billy Penn newsletter keeps you informed about everything Philly, with a quirky vibe of healthy skepticism and persistent optimism.\u00a0Join us and sign up today.<\/a><\/p>\n

The 2026 FIFA Men\u2019s World Cup is almost here.\u00a0<\/p>\n

The spectacle of global soccer will bring 48 national soccer teams to 16 cities across Canada, Mexico and the United States, for 104 games.<\/p>\n

And Philly will be joining the party, hosting six games at Lincoln Financial Field, including one on the Fourth of July.<\/p>\n

There\u2019s a lot to take ahead of the tournament, and we\u2019re here to help. Here are the games, the teams and lots of other important info you need to be ready for the first game in June.<\/p>\n

What to know<\/p>\n

What games are in Philly?<\/p>\n

The Linc \u2014 which will go by \u201cPhiladelphia Stadium\u201d for the tournament, due to FIFA\u2019s sponsorship rules \u2014 will have six games of the tournament, five group stage games and a round of 16 knockout match on July 4.<\/p>\n

Here\u2019s how those break down, after the draw in Washington D.C. last December<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Group stage (all times are ET)<\/p>\n

June 14 at 7 p.m: Group E \u2013 Ivory Coast vs Ecuador<\/p>\n

June 19 at 9 p.m: Group C \u2013 Brazil vs Haiti<\/p>\n

June 22 at 5 p.m: Group I \u2013 France vs Iraq\/Bolivia\/Suriname<\/p>\n

June 25 at 4 p.m: Group E \u2013 Cura\u00e7ao vs Ivory Coast\u00a0<\/p>\n

June 27 at 5 p.m. Group L \u2013 Croatia vs. Ghana<\/p>\n

Round of 16<\/p>\n

July 4, 5 p.m.: Winner of Match 74 in Boston vs. Winner of Match 77 in New York\/New Jersey<\/p>\n

There\u2019s a lot of possible matchups for the Round of 16 game, including the U.S. Men\u2019s national team playing. But if everyone wins and loses as they are expected to, based on rankings, this game would be between France and Germany \u2014 two previous World Cup winners. Philly got to experience July Fourth soccer last year during the FIFA Club World Cup, with over 64,000 fans turning up to see Chelsea face Brazilian side Palmeiras<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Here is how the full draw looks for all 104 games. It\u2019s worth looking at the games at Boston\u2019s Gillette Stadium and East Rutherford\u2019s Metlife, given the close proximity to Philly:<\/p>\n

\"\"(Courtesy of FIFA)<\/p>\n

Back to the top<\/a><\/p>\n

How can you watch the games?<\/p>\n

If you want to catch any of the games live, the chances to get tickets are getting scarcer and more expensive. FIFA\u2019s official ticket site<\/a>, along with its ticket resale and exchange marketplace, is currently closed and will reopen for the Last\u2011Minute Sales Phase on April 2 at 11 a.m. If you haven\u2019t already, register an account and ID on FIFA\u2019s website<\/a> and to get notifications about the ticketing process.<\/p>\n

FIFA is still selling Hospitality packages<\/a> \u2014 with VIP spaces, food and beverage service added in \u2014 for single games, all the matches at one venue, or to follow a particular national team through its three group stage games and its first knockout stage game. Single game hospitality tickets<\/a> currently range from $1,450 a person for the the Cura\u00e7ao-Ivory Coast game to $3,725 for the July Fourth knockout round game.<\/p>\n

Tickets are also currently available through third-party sellers like StubHub<\/a>, Vivid Seats<\/a>, SeatGeek<\/a> and TickPick<\/a> \u2014 with third-party seller prices currently ranging from hundreds of dollars to thousands.<\/p>\n

If you still want to catch it in a public setting, Philly will have a official fan-festival location at East Fairmount Park\u2019s Lemon Hill<\/a>, running from June 11 until July 19. The site will have a live broadcast of the action on a big screen, along with music, food and other entertainment.<\/a> The park will have a 25,000 person capacity, mostly standing based on the renderings.<\/p>\n

\"\"A rendering of the FIFA Fan Festival at East Fairmount Park\u2019s Lemon Hill. (Courtesy of Philadelphia Soccer 2026)\"\"A rendering of the FIFA Fan Festival at East Fairmount Park\u2019s Lemon Hill. (Courtesy of Philadelphia Soccer 2026)<\/p>\n

Want something lower key? The games will be broadcasting and streaming live in English on FOX\u2019s channels and app and that schedule can be found here<\/a>. FOX\u2019s streaming service TUBI is also streaming select games<\/a>.<\/p>\n

It won\u2019t be too hard to find the games at any of the city\u2019s sports bars, particularly the ones that already regularly put on soccer<\/a>. We\u2019ll have a watch guide available to help you find the best one for your taste.<\/p>\n

Back to the top<\/a><\/p>\n

How does the tournament work?<\/p>\n

If you\u2019re familiar with NCAA March Madness or the playoff formats of most major league sports in the U.S., sorry, the World Cup is nothing like them. Take some solace that the format will be slightly different from what soccer fans were accustomed to, mainly because the number of teams competing is going up to 48 from 32.<\/p>\n

Those 48 teams have been separated into 12 groups of four, labeled Group A through Group L. The teams in each group will play each other once in 90-minute games, earning three points for a win, one point for a draw (these games can end in a draw) and nothing for a loss.<\/p>\n

\"\"(Courtesy of FIFA)<\/p>\n

After each team has played its three Group Stage games, the field will be cut to 32 teams for the knockout bracket. Every team that finished first and second in its group gets to advance, along with the eight third-place teams with the best records. Where teams are tied on points, the \u201cgoal difference\u201d \u2014 goals scored minus goals conceded \u2014 will be used to break the tie,\u00a0 followed by who scored the most goals, a \u201cfair play\u201d score, and the team\u2019s FIFA world ranking.<\/p>\n

After some convoluted seeding placement<\/a> \u2014 there\u2019s 495 possible combinations<\/a> \u2014 that we\u2019ll spare you from, the knockout round is a standard winner-takes-all bracket, halving the field each round from 32 to a Round of 16, and eight-team quarterfinal round, four teams in the semifinal and a final between two teams to determine the champion.<\/p>\n

\"\"(Courtesy of FIFA)<\/p>\n

The knockout games can\u2019t end in draws, so if the score ends in a tie, the teams play two 15-minute periods of extra time. If no one takes the lead then, there\u2019s a penalty shootout where each team gets five shots at the keeper in the goal, which can continue past that until one side fails to score a goal \u2014 like sudden death in hockey.<\/p>\n

If all that sounds like Greek, trust us, it gets easier \u2014 and more fun \u2014 as you watch more. There\u2019s some soccer happening almost all of the year, so if you want to start getting your eye in you can find a bar to watch it with fan groups<\/a>, or catch it live at a Philadelphia Union game<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Back to the top<\/a><\/p>\n

More about the teams coming to Philly<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

FRANCE<\/p>\n

Nickname: \u201cLes Bleus,\u201d based on their blue home jersey.<\/p>\n

Current FIFA rank: 3<\/p>\n

World Cup Group I<\/p>\n

with Senegal, Norway and Iraq\/Bolivia\/Suriname<\/p>\n

Head coach<\/p>\n

Frenchman Didier Deschamps, who is one of just three men who have won the World Cup as a player and a coach \u2014 the other two are Brazil\u2019s M\u00e1rio Zagallo<\/a> and Germany\u2019s Franz Beckenbauer<\/a>. Deschamps and Beckenbauer won as the captains of their respective teams.<\/p>\n

The head coach\u2019s nationality is also weirdly relevant to the history of the World Cup because every team that has lifted the trophy has been led by a coach of the same nationality as the team, so far. Trust us, it gets interesting.\u00a0<\/p>\n

World Cup history<\/p>\n

The World Cup began in 1930 and has been held every four years \u2014 excluding 1942 and 1946 because of the Second World War \u2014 gradually growing in scale and popularity along the way. This summer will be the 23rd edition of the tournament and the biggest, with an unprecedented three host countries and 48 competing nations. The U.S. has hosted the tournament once before in 1994, while Mexico has held the tournament twice already, in 1970 and 1986, and Canada will be a first-time host.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n

France has only missed six of the 22 World Cups and has lifted the trophy twice, in 1998 and 2018. They\u2019ve finished runners-up twice, in 2006 and at the last World Cup in Qatar.<\/p>\n

Players to know<\/p>\n

Past
Picking just one can also turn into a full-day debate, but we\u2019ll say Zinedine Zidane. The elegant and mercurial playmaker was Le Bleus\u2019 star player in two World Cups, scoring twice in the 1998 final in Paris, and leading the side to the 2006 final in Berlin, where he scored a goal and was later sent off for headbutting Italy\u2019s Marco Materazzi. His enigmatic legacy as a player and a coach also made him the main focus of a 2014 earworm<\/a> by Australian funk band Vaudeville Smash and broadcaster Les Murray. Zizzou, as he\u2019s known, reportedly has made a \u201cverbal agreement\u201d to coach the national team<\/a> after Deschamps steps down this year.<\/p>\n

Present
Captain Kylian Mbapp\u00e9 has been one of the world\u2019s best players and was on France\u2019s 2018 World Cup-winning squad when he was 19 years old. He became the second teenager to score in the final game, after Pel\u00e9, and remains the youngest French goalscorer at the tournament. His hat-trick in the 2022 final against Argentina sent the game to a penalty shootout, which Lionel Messi\u2019s side won to deny Les Bleus a third trophy.<\/p>\n

\"\"FILE \u2013 France\u2019s Kylian Mbappe kisses the trophy after the final match between France and Croatia at the 2018 soccer World Cup in the Luzhniki Stadium in Moscow, Russia, Sunday, July 15, 2018. France won the final 4-2. Mbappe has told Paris Saint-Germain he will leave the club at the end of the season, it was reported on Thursday, Feb. 15, 2024. (AP Photo\/Matthias Schrader, File)<\/p>\n

Future
It\u2019s too hard to choose between Warren Za\u00efre-Emery and D\u00e9sir\u00e9 Dou\u00e9, who will turn 20 and 21, respectively, just before the World Cup starts. The pair featured heavily in Paris Saint-Germain\u2019s 2024-25 season, where the club won the French league, cup and UEFA Champions League. It\u2019s not guaranteed they\u2019ll make the star-packed squad, but if they do, they\u2019ll both be watched as two of the brightest prospects in France\u2019s next generation.<\/p>\n

Back to the top<\/a><\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

BRAZIL<\/p>\n

Nickname: \u201cSele\u00e7\u00e3o,\u201d Portuguese for the Selection, or \u201cCanarinho,\u201d meaning little canary, in reference to the team\u2019s yellow jerseys.<\/p>\n

Current FIFA rank: 5<\/p>\n

World Cup Group C<\/p>\n

with Morocco, Haiti and Scotland<\/p>\n

Head coach<\/p>\n

Carlo Ancelotti, an Italian coach and former player. See, told you that factoid would get interesting! Brazil could be well-placed to break that streak since Ancelotti is one of the most successful football managers ever, being the only manager to have won league titles in all of Europe\u2019s big five leagues. He has not lifted the World Cup trophy though, coming as close as third as a player in 1990 and a runner-up as part of Italy\u2019s coaching staff in 1994.<\/p>\n

World Cup history<\/p>\n

Brazil is the most successful World Cup team ever, having won it five times \u2014 in 1958, 1962, 1970, 1994 and 2022 \u2014and finished second and third twice each. The nation has also competed in every single edition of the tournament.<\/p>\n

Philly already got a taste of what Brazilian supporters are like during last summer\u2019s FIFA Club World Cup<\/a>, which had four Brazilian clubs playing in South Philly. Much of the fan bases of those teams travelled in from various parts of the Northeast U.S.<\/p>\n

Players to know<\/p>\n

Past
Pel\u00e9 is the obvious name to pick out from decades of Brazilian superstars. He was the only player ever to win the tournament three times, winning his first at age 17, and was one of the most influential athletes of the 20th century. His time playing for the New York Cosmos in the North American Soccer League also helped to raise the profile of soccer in the U.S.<\/p>\n

Present
Vin\u00edcius Jr. is Brazil\u2019s current star player, taking over from the 34-year-old Neymar. The winger will be looking to improve on the team\u2019s quarter-final exit in his debut World Cup and pick up his first winner\u2019s trophy in Brazil\u2019s colors. The Linc was treated to Vini Jr.\u2019s talents last summer when Real Madrid played in the FIFA Club World Cup<\/a>.<\/p>\n

\"\"Brazil\u2019s Vinicius Junior, left, celebrates with Brazil\u2019s Bruno Guimaraes after scoring his side\u2019s opening goal against Paraguay during a World Cup 2026 qualifying soccer match at Neo Quimica Arena in Sao Paulo, Tuesday, June 10, 2025. (AP Photo\/Andre Penner)<\/p>\n

Future
Philly was also treated to one of the \u201cSele\u00e7\u00e3o\u2019s\u201d rising stars last summer in Est\u00eav\u00e3o when the teenager was playing for Brazilian club Palmeiras against his future club, Chelsea<\/a> \u2014 and even scored against them. He\u2019ll still be just 19 when the World Cup starts.<\/p>\n

Back to the top<\/a><\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

CROATIA<\/p>\n

Nickname: Two options here: \u201cVatreni,\u201d which translates to \u201cthe Blazers\u201d, or \u201cKockasti,\u201d which describes the team\u2019s distinctive red and white checkered shirts.<\/p>\n

Current FIFA rank: 11<\/p>\n

World Cup Group L<\/p>\n

with England, Ghana and Panama<\/p>\n

Head coach<\/p>\n

Croatian Zlatko Dali\u0107, who is managing the team for his third straight World Cup.<\/p>\n

World Cup history<\/p>\n

Croatia will be playing in its seventh tournament, having made every World Cup since 1998, apart from 2010. They have finished in third place twice and runners-up once, falling short to France in the 2018 final in Moscow.<\/p>\n

Players to know<\/p>\n

Past
At the 1998 World Cup in France, Croatia\u2019s all-time top scorer Davor \u0160uker was awarded the Golden Shoe, given to the tournament\u2019s top goalscorer, and the Silver Ball, awarded to the second best player in the tournament.<\/p>\n

Present\u00a0
Captain Luka Modri\u0107 has also been outstanding in his previous World Cups, having won the Golden Ball in 2018 and the Bronze Ball in 2022. He\u2019s also one of only four players since 2008 to have been awarded the Ballon d\u2019Or, an annual award for the best soccer player in the world, that wasn\u2019t Cristiano Ronaldo or Lionel Messi. Modri\u0107 is 40 years old, so it\u2019s almost certain this will be his last tournament as a player.<\/p>\n

\"\"Croatia\u2019s Luka Modric, left, celebrates with teammates after scoring his side\u2019s second goal during a World Cup 2026 group L qualifying soccer match between Croatia and Czech Republic at the Opus Arena in Osijek, Croatia, Monday, June 9, 2025. (AP Photo\/Darko Bandic)<\/p>\n

Future
Luka Vu\u0161kovi\u0107 is a Tottenham Hotspur player on loan with German side Hamburger SV, where the 6-foot-4 defender is drawing attention for both his defensive stats and his headed goal threat on attacking set pieces<\/a>. He has only played two games for Croatia so far, the most recent being his first game as a starter in the team\u2019s World Cup-qualifying victory over the Faroe Islands.<\/p>\n

Back to the top<\/a><\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

ECUADOR<\/p>\n

Nickname: \u201cLa Tri\u201d<\/p>\n

Current FIFA rank: 23<\/p>\n

World Cup Group E<\/p>\n

with Germany, Cura\u00e7ao and Ivory Coast.<\/p>\n

World Cup history<\/p>\n

Ecuador is heading for their fifth World Cup, having previously appeared in 2002, 2006, 2014 and 2022. The team\u2019s best showing was in Germany 2006, where it reached the round of 16.<\/p>\n

Players to know<\/p>\n

Past\u00a0
Antonio Valencia was a key part of the 2006 squad, and later played 10 seasons with Manchester United as a winger and then a right back.<\/p>\n

Present\u00a0
Chelsea defensive-midfielder Mois\u00e9s Caicedo, 24, leads the team\u2019s midfield. His 2023 move to the London club from Brighton & Hove Albion cost a reported $146 million<\/a>, breaking the British transfer record at the time.<\/p>\n

\"\"Argentina\u2019s Alexis Mac Allister (20) and Ecuador\u2019s Moises Caicedo battle for the ball during a Copa America quarterfinal soccer match in Houston, Thursday, July 4, 2024. (AP Photo\/Kevin M. Cox)<\/p>\n

Future
Attacking midfielder Kendry P\u00e1ez, 18, is also on Chelsea\u2019s book, but he was loaned out to River Plate in Argentina to try and get more playing time.<\/p>\n

Back to the top<\/a><\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

IVORY COAST<\/p>\n

Nickname: \u201cLes \u00c9l\u00e9phants\u201d<\/p>\n

Current FIFA rank: 37<\/p>\n

World Cup Group E<\/p>\n

with Germany, Cura\u00e7ao, and Ecuador<\/p>\n

Head coach<\/p>\n

Ivorian Emerse Fa\u00e9 led the team to its most recent silverware: the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations.\u00a0<\/p>\n

World Cup history<\/p>\n

Ivory Coast first qualified for the World Cup in 2006. This summer\u2019s tournament will be the nation\u2019s fourth appearance, and the first time back after failing to qualify for the last two iterations in 2018 and 2022. The team\u2019s best finish was 17th place in the 2010 World Cup in South Africa. \u201cLes \u00c9l\u00e9phants\u201d have yet to progress past the group stage of the tournament.<\/p>\n

The Ivory Coast will have its base camp in Chester and Wilmington<\/a>, training at Philadelphia Union\u2019s Subaru Park and the adjacent WSFS Bank Sportsplex, while staying in Delaware.<\/p>\n

It\u2019s unclear how many fans will come from Ivory Coast to see their team play here as the country was added to the \u201cpartially restricted\u201d ban list by the Trump administration<\/a> in December.<\/p>\n

Players to know<\/p>\n

Past\u00a0
Striker Didier Drogba is Ivory Coast\u2019s all-time leading scorer with 65 goals in 105 appearances. Best known for his time at Chelsea, he also had a prolific spell in Major League Soccer, playing for the CF Montr\u00e9al, then called the Montreal Impact.<\/p>\n

Present
2023 Africa Cup of Nations winner Franck Kessi\u00e9 has been the captain since 2024 and leads the team from the midfield. He currently plays for Saudi club Al-Ahli, but previously was with Barcelona in Spain, as well as AC MIlan and Atalanta in Italy.<\/p>\n

\"\"Ivory Coast\u2019s Franck Kessi\u00e9 in action during the Africa Cup of Nations group F soccer match between Ivory Coast and Cameroon, in Marrakech, Morocco, Sunday, Dec. 28, 2025. (AP Photo\/Themba Hadebe)<\/p>\n

Future
RB Leipzig youngster Yan Diomande, who spent nearly three years playing youth soccer in Florida<\/a>, hasn\u2019t even seen a full season out in Europe\u2019s top leagues and there are already rumors that clubs like Liverpool and Bayern Munich are trying to sign him<\/a>. A breakout run in the World Cup will only brighten the spotlight, and add to the value of the 19-year-old winger.<\/p>\n

Back to the top<\/a><\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

GHANA<\/p>\n

Nickname: \u201cThe Black Stars,\u201d based on the star on the nation\u2019s flag.<\/p>\n

Current FIFA rank: 72<\/p>\n

World Cup Group L<\/p>\n

with England, Ghana and Panama<\/p>\n

Head coach<\/p>\n

Ghanaian Otto Addo, who is serving his second stint in charge of Ghana.<\/p>\n

World Cup history<\/p>\n

Ghana will be playing in its fifth World Cup, having competed previously in 2006, 2010, 2014 and 2022. The 2010 World Cup in South Africa was the team\u2019s best performance with a 7th-place finish in the quarterfinals, in one of the most controversial games in recent World Cup history<\/a>. With the game tied 1-1, Black Stars striker Dominic Adiyiah\u2019s\u00a0 late header was cleared off the goal line by a deliberate handball from Uruguay\u2019s Luis Suarez. Suarez was given a red card and Ghana were given a penalty, which Asamoah Gyan missed \u2014 leading to camera shots of an ecstatic Suarez on the sidelines. The game went on to be decided by a penalty shootout, which Uruguay won.<\/p>\n

Players to know<\/p>\n

Past
Abedi \u201cPele\u201d Ayew has a strong claim as the greatest Ghanaian football ever and is the father to the team\u2019s current captain, Jordan Ayew, and the team\u2019s all-time appearance maker, Andr\u00e9. But Pele never played in the World Cup, so we\u2019ll go with Michael Essien, who played in the 2006 and 2014 tournaments. An imposing box-to-box midfielder who was nicknamed \u201cthe bison,\u201d Essien\u2019s energy and physicality in both defense and attack made him a key part of Chelsea\u2019s success in the mid-to-late 2000s.<\/p>\n

Present
Winger Antoine Semenyo recently made a move to Premier League giants Manchester City from Bournemouth, for a reported fee of up to $86 million<\/a>. He scored 10 goals in 20 games before the move and has shown no signs of slowing down with five goals in eight appearances at his new club.<\/p>\n

\"\"Ghana\u2019s Antoine Semenyo, center, controls the ball against Japan\u2019s Ritsu Doan, left, during the international friendly soccer match between Japan and Ghana in Toyota, central Japan, Friday, Nov. 14, 2025. (AP Photo\/Eugene Hoshiko)<\/p>\n

Future
Despite being on a Leicester City team that was relegated from the Premier League last season, Abdul Fatawu\u2019s value has only risen, playing alongside Jordan Ayew. The winger, who turns 22 in March, has eight goals and seven assists so far this season.<\/p>\n

Back to the top<\/a><\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

CURA\u00c7OA<\/p>\n

Nickname: \u201cThe Blue Wave.\u201d<\/p>\n

Current FIFA rank: 81<\/p>\n

World Cup Group E<\/p>\n

with Germany, Ivory Coast and Ecuador<\/p>\n

Head coach
Dutchman Fred Rutten was appointed the team\u2019s coach last week, after his compatriot Dick Advocaat stepped down to \u201cdevote his full attention to his daughter, who is facing health issues.\u201d<\/a> The southern Caribbean island is a constituent country of the Netherlands, and Cura\u00e7aoans also hold Dutch citizenship.<\/p>\n

World Cup history<\/p>\n

This is Cura\u00e7ao\u2019s first-ever appearance at the World Cup and is the smallest nation to ever qualify for the tournament, by both population (155,000) and land mass (444 square kilometers). It has only competed in FIFA tournaments solely as an island nation since 2010. Before that, it was included with the five other islands that make up the then-Netherlands Antilles. Most of the players on the roster were born in the Netherlands, and encouraging dual-national players to choose playing for the island nation over the Dutch team has helped them to build a squad strong enough to qualify for the World Cup.<\/p>\n

Players to know<\/p>\n

Present\u00a0
With just a brief 16-year history playing independently, Cura\u00e7ao\u2019s past is somewhat still the present. Rangelo Janga and Leandro Bacuna have both played for the team since 2016\u00a0 and are the national team\u2019s top scorers, with 21 and 16 goals, respectively.<\/p>\n

\"\"Cura\u00e7ao\u2019s Leandro Bacuna, left, passes the ball as United States\u2019 Paul Arriola trails during the second half of a CONCACAF Gold Cup soccer match, Sunday, June 30, 2019, in Philadelphia. The United States won 1-0. (AP Photo\/Matt Slocum)<\/p>\n

Future
Attacking midfielder Tahith Chong was a promising young prospect at Dutch club Feyenoord and then Manchester United. Things at United didn\u2019t quite pan out, but he eventually found more consistent minutes with Luton and then Sheffield United. Now 26, Chong switched his national team eligibility from the Netherlands to the Blue Wave last August.<\/p>\n

Back to the top<\/a><\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

HAITI<\/p>\n

Nickname: \u201cLes Grenadiers,\u201d after the military specialists.<\/p>\n

Current FIFA rank: 83<\/p>\n

World Cup Group C<\/p>\n

with Brazil, Morocco and Scotland<\/p>\n

Head coach<\/p>\n

Frenchman S\u00e9bastien Mign\u00e9, who has never set foot in Haiti do to safety concerns since the 2010 earthquake<\/a>.<\/p>\n

World Cup history<\/p>\n

Haiti has only qualified for the World Cup once before, back in 1974 where it didn\u2019t get out of the group stage. The team had to play all of its home games in Cura\u00e7ao, due to the aforementioned safety concerns.<\/p>\n

Haiti is under a full travel ban to the U.S., and exceptions for visas will be hard to get outside of the team and its delegation<\/a>.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Players to know<\/p>\n

Past
Haiti lost all three games at the 1974 World Cup, but they did score a goal against Italy and Argentina through striker Emmanuel \u201cManno\u201d Sanon. His opening goal against the Italians snapped goalkeeping great Dino Zoff\u2019s 19-game streak with conceding a goal.<\/p>\n

Present\u00a0
Union fans will be very familiar with Danley Jean Jacques, who joined the team in August 2024 and helped Philly win the MLS Supporters\u2019 Shield last season.<\/p>\n

\"\"Philadelphia Union midfielder Danley Jean Jacques (21) controls the ball during an MLS soccer match, Saturday, Feb. 22, 2025, in Orlando, Fla. (AP Photo\/Phelan M. Ebenhack)<\/p>\n

Future
Haiti\u2019s squad could be bolstered ahead of the World Cup if Mign\u00e9 decides to bring in Wilson Isidor, 25, and Odsonne \u00c9douard<\/a>, 28, two strikers playing for Sunderland in England and Lens in France, respectively. Both players have represented France at youth level, but have been granted permission to switch to Haiti. Midfielder Jean\u2010Ricner Bellegarde, who plays for Wolverhampton Wanderers, made a similar switch last year to help the team qualify for the World Cup.<\/p>\n

Back to the top<\/a><\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

IRAQ\/BOLIVIA\/SURINAME<\/p>\n

Nicknames:
Iraq: \u201cLions of Mesopotamia\u201d
Bolivia: \u201cLa Verde.\u201d for the green kits.
Suriname: \u201cNatio,\u201d short for national selection.<\/p>\n

Current FIFA ranks: Iraq: 58, Bolivia: 76, Suriname: 123<\/p>\n

World Cup Group I<\/p>\n

with France, Senegal and Norway<\/p>\n

There are still 22 teams vying for the last six available spots in this summer\u2019s tournament, 16 from Europe and six from elsewhere. On March 26, South American countries Bolivia and Suriname will face off in Guadalupe, Mexico. The winner will go on to face Iraq on March 31. The winner heads to the World Cup. Iraq have only made one World Cup appearance, back in 1986, while Bolivia have been in three, in 1930, 1950 and 1994. Suriname has never made the World Cup.<\/p>\n

\"\"Bolivia\u2019s Miguel Terceros, left, celebrates after scoring his side\u2019s first goal against Peru during a FIFA World Cup 2026 qualifying soccer match in Lima, Peru, Thursday, March 20, 2025. (AP Photo\/Martin Mejia)\"\"Suriname forward Gleofilo Vlijter (20) drives to the goal during the first half of a CONCACAF Gold Cup Group C soccer match against Guadeloupe, Tuesday, July 20, 2021, in Houston. (AP Photo\/Justin Rex)<\/p>\n

Iraq is under the Trump administration\u2019s travel restrictions.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Back to the top<\/a><\/p>\n

What about the U.S. team?<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

U.S.A<\/p>\n

Nickname: \u201cUSMNT,\u201d \u201cthe Stars and Stripes\u201d or \u201cthe Yanks.\u201d<\/p>\n

Current FIFA rank: 15<\/p>\n

World Cup Group D<\/p>\n

with Paraguay, Australia and Kosovo\/Romania\/Slovakia\/Turkey<\/p>\n

Head coach<\/p>\n

Argentine Mauricio Pochettino, who had previously managed Espanyol in Spain, Southampton, Tottenham Hotspurs and Chelsea in England and Paris Saint-Germain in France.\u00a0<\/p>\n

As a player, he was a central defender and was part of the Argentina team at the 2002 World Cup. In the team\u2019s group stage game against England, he made the foul that led to David Beckham\u2019s game-winning penalty, which contributed to Argentina\u2019s failure to advance to the knockout rounds and the team\u2019s worst World Cup finish ever.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Where will the team play?<\/p>\n

The USMNT plays all of its games on the west coast. The team will first face Paraguay, who they beat, 2-1, in a \u201cfriendly\u201d at Chester\u2019s Subaru Park<\/a> in November. The rematch will happen on Friday, June 12, in Los Angeles. They next face Australia, who they defeated in October<\/a>, in Seattle on June 19. Lastly, it\u2019s a June 25 match back in LA against the winner of UEFA Playoff C \u2014 either Kosovo, Romania, Slovakia or T\u00fcrkiye. Turkey is the highest ranked of all potential opponents and beat the U.S. in June<\/a>.<\/p>\n

A couple of scenarios where the U.S. finishes third in Group D and wins the subsequent Round of 32 game would put them in Philly for the July 4 game.\u00a0<\/p>\n

But even Philly\u2019s World Cup organizers don\u2019t want to see that.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe would like that to not happen, we\u2019d like the U.S men\u2019s national team to finish first in their group,\u201d Meg Kane, Philadelphia Soccer 2026<\/a>\u2019s host city executive, said back in December.<\/p>\n

As far as who from the Philly area might make the team, USMNT captain and Hershey\u2019s own Christian Pulisic is probably as close as you can call a lock, barring any injuries during the remainder of his season with AC Milan.<\/p>\n

\"\"United States forward Christian Pulisic looks on during a friendly soccer match against Japan, Tuesday, Sept. 9, 2025, in Columbus, Ohio. (AP Photo\/Jeff Dean)<\/p>\n

Four players with Philly ties were in the squad that played in Chester<\/a> last year:\u00a0<\/p>\n

Leeds midfielder Brenden Aaronsen, from Medford, N.J.<\/p>\n

New York City FC goalkeeper Matt Freese, from Wayne, Pa.<\/p>\n

Mark McKenzie defender Mark McKenzie, who was then with the Union and grew up in Bear, Del.<\/p>\n

Celtic defender Auston Trusty., from Media, Pa.<\/p>\n

Here are some other names who were a part of the team last year:<\/p>\n

Paxten Aaronson at the Colorado Rapids, who is the younger brother of Brenden, was in the squad for the CONCACAF Gold Cup last year.<\/p>\n

Rapids goalkeeper Zach Steffen, who\u2019s from Coatesville in Chester County, was on the preliminary squad for the game against Turkey.<\/p>\n

Jack McGlynn, who is with the Houston Dynamo but previously played for the Union, played in a September friendly against Japan.<\/p>\n

Union defender Nathan Harriel also played against Japan.<\/p>\n

Union midfielder Indiana Vassilev was part of the preliminary squad for last year\u2019s CONCACAF Nations League Finals.<\/p>\n

Back to the top<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Love Philly? So do we. Let\u2019s be friends. The Billy Penn newsletter keeps you informed about everything Philly,…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":127805,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[8],"tags":[2233,2013,8625,69,71,70,11868,726,30235,2236,2237],"class_list":["post-127804","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-philadelphia","tag-fifa","tag-fifa-world-cup","tag-lincoln-financial-field","tag-philadelphia","tag-philadelphia-headlines","tag-philadelphia-news","tag-soccer","tag-sports","tag-stateside-live","tag-world-cup","tag-world-cup-2026"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/127804","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=127804"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/127804\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/127805"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=127804"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=127804"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=127804"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}