The local Fox 29 TV network in Philadelphia has been drawing down the blinds on the place’s experience of being a World Cup host city this week, vox-popping locals on how many beers and hot dogs they consumed, but everyone just wants to talk about a few days last weekend, the likes of which they’ll perhaps never see again.
It was the weekend, here in the cradle of the US constitution, when the World Cup and the USA’s 250th ‘birthday’ went on side-by-side. Surreal scenes included a group of 50 or so people stand at a TV screen showing Argentina v Cape Verde, while 2,000 watched a concert celebrating the 250th anniversary of American independence a few yards away. Briefly, the reaction to Sidny Lopes Cabral’s equaliser drowned out an orchestral tribute to US war heroes.
George Washington certainly had the edge over Kylian Mbappe, who played against Paraguay in the legendary city of brotherly love. The World Cup fanzone at the ‘Rocky Steps’ leading up to the Philadelphia Museum of Art, which Sylvester Stallone famously climbs at the end of the first Rocky film in 1976, cutting its transmission of the France/Paraguay quarter final at half-time, so preparations could be made for a huge USA 250 party being staged there that night. For those in the mile-long queues to join celebrations in Independence Square, near Philadelphia’s famous Victory Bell, the round of 16 was not of the remotest consideration.
The historic buildings were not adorned in red, white and blue flags bows in a mark of respect for Paraguay, whose football dark arts would see them commanding very little respect by nightfall. Those wearing wigs and long dresses were doing so to mimic the fashions of the 1776 colonists who won the War of Independence, not as nod to France’s Louis XVI and Marie Antoniette.
World Cup host city Philadelphia celebrated its 250th year of American independence
France’s round of 16 clash against Paraguay was not of the remotest consideration, as locals joined mile-long queues in Independence Square, near Philadelphia’s famous Victory Bell
The presence of Didier Deschamps’ team here on this day was actually very fitting. France was the key ally which helped arm the American states against the British and help them on their way to the modern USA in 1776. This prompted no Americans to launch into ‘Allez Les Blues’ on Saturday.
In the midday heat of Saturday, as France and Paraguay fans began wandering into the celebrations, some wondering what on earth all they were about, evidence emerged of what a deeply divided country this is. A highly organised march of 2,000 placard-bearing protestors passed the Independence Square queue with banners demanded: ‘No wars, no blockades, no sanctions’ and ‘Healthcare not welfare.’
They were also challenging the activities of US Customs and Immigration Enforcement (ICE) which the current president has pursued, with ‘Military off our Streets.’ A man guy on a moped with a stars and stripes flag rigged up to it also carried a placard declaring: ‘F*** Trump.’
The big 250 has made many Americans search their souls about the kind of country this is and the kind they yearn for it to be, because Trump seems to have taken them a long way from the principles written down all those years ago. The World Cup has brought in people wanting to ask them about football and their troubled souls.
I listened in Independence Square as Alima, multi-media reporter with Deutsche Welle, the German broadcaster, asked an American called Arnold, who’d told her American was ‘deeply divided’, for his thoughts on the World Cup. He, a proud American with very little interest in football, said he had seen much benefit in the tournament. ‘We are a divided country but the World Cup has helped,’ he said. ‘I’ve not heard one person say a bad word about another country and I’ve seen so many people in one place, cheering. We have needed some of that.’
At the Philadelphia Stadium before France and Paraguay kicked off, Americans Bryan Onescuk and Marc Eoppolo, Chelsea and Liverpool fans, were having a tailgate party in the car park, wearing glittering stars and stripes suits.
The big 250 has made many Americans search their souls about the kind of country this is
They also saw the benefit of the 250th birthday and World Cup coinciding. ‘I get to hear that people have a negative impression of us because of who we are, but a lot of people are coming over here (for the World Cup) and seeing something different, said Eoppolo. ‘We’re not what people see on the media and the Instagram reels we’ve seen of people coming over here and having a fantastic time.
We put it to the two of them that a USA run all the way to a semi-final against Spain, by beating Belgium on Monday, may perhaps help football to become as American as the 4th of July. But Onescuk wasn’t letting the weekend’s idealism run that far away with him. He saw what was coming down the track for Mauricio Pochettino’s team. ‘You saw they beat us 5-2 in March? he said.
