{"id":776993,"date":"2026-05-06T09:51:29","date_gmt":"2026-05-06T09:51:29","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/776993\/"},"modified":"2026-05-06T09:51:29","modified_gmt":"2026-05-06T09:51:29","slug":"philadelphia-far-more-ready-for-world-cup-than-boston","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/776993\/","title":{"rendered":"Philadelphia far more ready for World Cup than Boston"},"content":{"rendered":"

All over town, from Lincoln Financial Field to busy Schuylkill Expressway<\/a>, there are billboards and colorful signs heralding the games. Even the iconic Rocky statue<\/a> at the Philadelphia Museum of Art was dressed up, with a soccer scarf bearing the city\u2019s name draped around the boxer\u2019s neck.<\/p>\n

If preparing for a World Cup were itself a soccer match, with host cities competing on the pitch, then the City of Brotherly Love would be trouncing much of the field \u2014 including its rival 300 miles to the north.<\/p>\n

On the streets of Boston, World Cup fervor is decidedly more subdued. Apart from a countdown clock<\/a> outside Faneuil Hall and some digital billboards at Logan Airport, there are few visible signs that seven internationally televised games<\/a> and a projected 2 million tourists will descend on Boston starting in just 35 days.<\/p>\n

\"WilsonWilson Velez, 36 (left), and Edwin Martinez watched the second round of draws for the FIFA World Cup at Stateside Live! in Philadelphia in December.Tyger Williams\/Tyger Williams \/ Staff Photographer\"AA World Cup scarf was placed over the Rocky statute at the Philadelphia Museum of Art as part of the city’s promotion of the event.Philadelphia Soccer 2026<\/p>\n

At times, it feels as though organizers and public officials are holding their collective breath and that only the games\u2019 opening whistle will unlock the historic opportunity to showcase Boston to the world.<\/p>\n

At a promotional event last month at City Hall Plaza, organizers struggled to keep a colorful rendering of the upcoming fan festival from blowing away in the brisk wind. It repeatedly toppled from its easel as organizers and civic leaders spoke. The metaphor wrote itself. <\/p>\n

In Boston, lack of visibility is only part of the problem: Fans are grousing about the steep price of public transit to matches in Foxborough, and business leaders have publicly questioned<\/a> whether organizers have the money and marketing muscle to deliver on their grandiose vision. In March, Boston drew unwanted international attention<\/a> when its host committee engaged in a bitter, protracted dispute<\/a> with the Town of Foxborough over security costs that briefly cast doubt on whether the event would proceed.<\/p>\n

In Philadelphia, the marketing rollout has been smoothly run, well funded, and notably drama-free.<\/p>\n

\"SoccerSoccer fans gathered in Philadelphia’s Fashion District last month to cheer on volunteers, who showed off the uniforms they will wear during the World Cup.Chris Serres<\/p>\n

Organizers have raised $65 million in corporate and philanthropic funding, roughly tripling Boston\u2019s haul, while landing more than twice as many local sponsors. Philadelphia\u2019s organizing committee has also delivered a series of fan-friendly wins \u2014 including free transportation from games, a free fan festival that spans the tournament\u2019s full 39 days<\/a>, and extended bar and restaurant hours<\/a> \u2014 that have become the envy of soccer fans in Boston and beyond.<\/p>\n

While Boston organizers tussled with Foxborough\u2019s select board, their counterparts in Philly were recruiting and training an army of 3,000 local volunteers. They were also blanketing local news channels and social media with promotional \u201cHow do you Phan?\u201d<\/a> videos featuring Philadelphians of all ages in neighborhood parks and restaurants, speaking about their passion for the city and soccer. <\/p>\n

In the dark days of the pandemic, when securing a piece of the world\u2019s biggest sports spectacle felt like a fever dream, Philadelphia\u2019s organizers adopted as a mantra the cliche \u201cGo big or go home.\u201d That ethos continues to drive every aspect of their preparations.<\/p>\n

\"PhiladelphiaPhiladelphia Eagles and city officials gathered in 2003 for the unveiling of branding for Philadelphia’s hosting of the 2026 World Cup.Jose F. Moreno\/ Staff Photographer<\/p>\n

In September 2021, with Philadelphia\u2019s streets deserted, more than 1,000 screaming supporters of the city\u2019s bid lined Market Street downtown as FIFA officials were driven toward Lincoln Financial Field in buses. The choreographed display may have helped tip the balance toward Philadelphia in the hyper-competitive process for selecting host cities<\/a> organizers say.<\/p>\n

Organizers sweat every detail \u2014 from installing wheelchair-accessible paths for the fan fest to training volunteers to welcome visitors with proper etiquette and to avoid using confusing local slang<\/a>, known here as \u201cspeaking Philadelphian.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWe don\u2019t do anything small in Philly and that includes the World Cup,\u201d said Kathryn Ott Lovell, CEO of Philadelphia Visitor Center Corp. and Philadelphia250<\/a>, the nonprofit leading the city\u2019s planning for the 250th national birthday \u2014 which, as in Boston, is a big deal. \u201cWe\u2019re all in, all the time.\u201d<\/p>\n

To some, Boston\u2019s lackluster preparations for the World Cup reflect a deeper funk settling over the region. <\/p>\n

Working-age residents are leaving the city in droves<\/a>, priced out by some of the nation\u2019s highest housing costs<\/a>. The once-booming life sciences sector has cooled amid federal funding cuts and pandemic-era overinvestment<\/a>. The state\u2019s hospital systems are in financial peril<\/a>. And Boston\u2019s claim to being \u201cTitletown\u201d feels increasingly fragile: The Red Sox recently fired manager Alex Cora and most of his coaching staff after a dismal opening campaign, spurring calls for ownership to sell<\/a>. Both the Celtics and Bruins made early exits from the playoffs last weekend, with the Celtics being overtaken by a scrappy Philly team that was down three games to one.<\/p>\n

But the sense of malaise could yet lift. Two weeks ago, Boston organizers acknowledged \u201csome bumps\u201d on the road to the World Cup, but predicted the city will shine in the end.<\/p>\n

\"TheThe World Cup countdown clock is placed next to Faneuil Hall.
\nPat Greenhouse\/Globe Staff<\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019re going to be proud to represent the way that Boston and Massachusetts represent,\u201d Boston Soccer 26 <\/a>chief Mike Loynd told the crowd. \u201cWe\u2019re going to be welcoming, I\u2019m sure.\u201d<\/p>\n

International flight bookings for early <\/b>June through mid-July are up 18 percent, ranking Boston sixth among the 11 host cities. Ticket sales for games have been \u201cvery robust,\u201d according to Meet Boston president and CEO Martha Sheridan, with roughly two-thirds coming from international visitors and travelers from outside New England.<\/p>\n

And the local marketing push is about to ramp up. Organizers are getting ready to add World Cup signage to MBTA transit hubs, Boston\u2019s famed duck boats, and the Thomas M. Menino Convention & Exhibition Center, among other high-traffic locations. There are also plans for groundbreaking celebrations for 17 mini soccer pitches across New England.<\/p>\n

\u201cBoston has overachieved under the circumstances,\u201d said John Kristick, co-head of sports marketing firm Playfly Sports<\/a>, who led the 2017 <\/b>joint American, Canadian, and Mexican bid to host the tournament. \u201cDid they or any city hit the [fund-raising] numbers they wanted originally? Probably not. But they found their way through it.\u201d<\/p>\n

At 9 a.m. on a recent weekday, the spacious downtown offices of Philadelphia Soccer 2026 were already humming with activity. An organizer in a \u201cFIFAdelphia\u201d sweatshirt juggled a soccer ball and spoke into a headset. Across the space, visitor guides had been translated into French, Portuguese, and Croatian. In one corner, a large painting showed Ben Franklin dribbling a soccer ball.<\/p>\n

\"R.R. Scott Stephenson, president and CEO of the Museum of the American Revolution, spoke while surrounded by Philly mascots before the City Council Committee on Legislative Oversight hearing in April.Monica Herndon\/Monica Herndon \/ Staff Photographer<\/p>\n

Six years ago, organizers here knew they faced an uphill climb in persuading the city\u2019s business community to embrace the World Cup. As in Boston, soccer was on the rise, but it lagged far behind Philadelphia\u2019s \u201cbig four\u201d teams \u2014 the Eagles, Phillies, 76ers, and Flyers \u2014 in cultural pull and commercial attention.<\/p>\n

Complicating matters further, FIFA\u2019s strict advertising rules<\/a> meant that local sponsors\u2019 names and logos could not appear around stadiums during televised matches.<\/p>\n

So organizers reframed their fund-raising pitch around civic pride: Here was an opportunity for Philadelphia\u2019s corporate and philanthropic leaders to help the city shake off the COVID doldrums.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe pitched this as a civic endeavor that we as Philadelphia needed to win to help us recover from the pandemic,\u201d said Meg Kane, host city executive and CEO for Philadelphia Soccer 2026<\/a>. \u201cWe hit hard on the idea that we have this incredible opportunity in 2026, to help turbocharge the recovery of Philadelphia.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"AA painting of Ben Franklin kicking a soccer ball decorated the offices of Philadelphia Soccer 2026, the organizing committee for the city’s World Cup games.Chris Serres<\/p>\n

The pitch proved effective. In the summer of 2021, before Philadelphia was even selected as a host city, organizers had already secured $41 million in fund-raising commitments. Sponsors included Comcast Corp., the media and telecommunications giant; Cencora, the pharmaceutical distribution company; and Penn Medicine, the region\u2019s largest health system.<\/p>\n

By December 2024, the host committee had $42.3 million in total assets. At the same point, Boston\u2019s committee reported just $1 million, according to tax filings. Boston organizers say private fund-raising has since surpassed $20 million.<\/p>\n

To date, Philadelphia has signed eight companies and institutions as host city supporters<\/a> \u2014 tied with Houston for the most of any city. Boston, by comparison, has three<\/a>: State Street Corp., a financial services company; Meet Boston, which promotes tourism; and Sanofi, a French drugmaker.<\/p>\n

The private fund-raising is not about bragging rights: It directly improves the fan experience, organizers said. For instance, supporters traveling to games on Philadelphia\u2019s public transit system<\/a> will ride home for free after the six World Cup matches. That expense, estimated at about $600,000, is covered under a partnership with Airbnb<\/a>.<\/p>\n

By contrast, fans attending matches at Gillette will pay $80 round-trip by commuter rail (quadruple the normal fare<\/a>) and $95 round-trip by bus<\/a>.<\/p>\n

From the beginning, Philadelphia had a significant advantage over Boston and several other host cities: It has a 20-year-old sports commission with a record of attracting marquee events. There was the NFL Draft in 2017; Wrestlemania<\/a> in 2024; and multiple NCAA tournaments, from March Madness to the Frozen Four. This July, the city will host Major League Baseball\u2019s All-Star Game, due in large part to work by the commission, known as PHL Sports<\/a>. <\/p>\n

\"MichelleMichelle Riegert and her two children, Leah (9) and Zach (11), stopped at a kiosk selling FIFA World Cup merchandise at the 30th Street Station in Philadelphia.Chris Serres\"AA TV news crew interviewed costumed impersonators of Ben Franklin and Betsy Ross during a tour of the site of this summer’s FIFA World Cup fan festival.Chris Serres<\/p>\n

Acknowledging the gap, the city\u2019s marketing and tourism arm last November announced the formation<\/a> of the Greater Boston Sports Commission, and a proposed provision in next year\u2019s state budget would direct a portion of sports wagering tax revenues to fund it.<\/p>\n

\u201cPhiladelphia had a strong foundation with its sports commission and that was absolutely vital,\u201d said Mike Millay, former director of sports development at ESPN Wide World of Sports. \u201cThey know how to roll up their sleeves, raise the money, recruit the volunteers, fill the stadiums . . . without reinventing the wheel.\u201d<\/p>\n

Still, to many of Philadelphia\u2019s fervent sports fans, the coming games feel far removed from their everyday lives \u2014 and uncomfortably expensive.<\/p>\n

On a recent Wednesday night, every seat at the Locust Rendezvous \u2014 a downtown bar known as \u201cthe Vouz\u201d<\/a>\u2014 was taken. All eyes were on the screens overhead, where the 76ers were in the middle of a thrilling, come-from-behind Game Five victory<\/a> over the Celtics. Every few minutes, the crowded bar erupted.<\/p>\n

Over pints of pale ale and Guinness, fans mused aloud about how foreign soccer fans would react to Philadelphia\u2019s rougher edges \u2014 the homelessness, pockets of open-air drug use, the trash that sometimes piles up. <\/p>\n

And what about their odd accents and local vernacular, such as the uniquely Philly use of the phrase \u201cjawn,<\/a>\u201d which can refer to anything from an object to a place? A Frenchman, one patron mused, might ask for directions to the stadium and be told to \u201ctake a right at the jawn, make a left at the other jawn, and then walk straight to the jawn\u201d and be utterly confused.<\/p>\n

\"WorkersWorkers prepared the field at Lincoln Financial Field, one of the stadiums hosting the 2026 FIFA World Cup at Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia, on April 28.ANGELA WEISS\/AFP via Getty Images<\/p>\n

Others raised concerns about Philadelphians\u2019 shorthand for street names. For example, locals routinely refer to Interstate 76 as \u201cthe Schuylkill\u201d (pronounced \u201cSKOO-kul\u201d). An unwary visitor might punch that into a navigation app and find themselves heading to the river, not the road, warned the bartender at the Vouz.<\/p>\n

Most were unaware Boston was a fellow World Cup host. The few who knew said they had only learned about it through media coverage of the recent Foxborough dustup.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhy can\u2019t Boston get its act together?\u201d said Isaac Slepner, 48, a regular at the Vouz, who was cheering on the Sixers in Phillies gear. \u201cIt\u2019s such a clean city. Maybe too clean?\u201d<\/p>\n

Chris Serres can be reached at chris.serres@globe.com<\/a>. Follow him @ChrisSerres<\/a>. Michael Silverman can be reached at michael.silverman@globe.com<\/a>.<\/p>\n