Philadelphia local news, sports, jobs, cars, homes

Author: Owen Hewitt

  • Reflecting on the top 10 moments of Julius Erving’s career as he reaches 76 years old

    Reflecting on the top 10 moments of Julius Erving’s career as he reaches 76 years old

    Julius Erving, an all-time 76ers great whose No. 6 is retired by the franchise, will celebrate his 76th birthday on Sunday.

    As the basketball legend marks a milestone, here’s a look back at the 10 best moments of Erving’s career with the Sixers:

    The Doctor is in

    The Sixers acquired Erving from the New York Nets at the start of the 1976-77 NBA season, the first season after the league’s merger with the American Basketball Association was completed. The ABA’s Nets, one of four teams incorporated into the league, were forced to move on from Erving in order to pay the fees associated with entering the NBA.

    The Sixers paid the Nets $3 million to acquire Erving, who was already a three-time ABA MVP by the time he joined the Sixers. The forward was also a season removed from winning the 1976 ABA dunk contest with a legendary leap from the free throw line.

    All-Star MVP

    Erving got off to a good start in his first NBA season with the Sixers, averaging 19.9 points before the All-Star break in 1976-77. But that season’s All-Star Game in Milwaukee was a point of arrival for the former face of the ABA.

    Erving scored 30 points and nabbed 12 rebounds in 30 minutes, earning the game’s Most Valuable Player trophy despite the East losing to the West, 125-124. Erving, who was named an All-Star in each of his 18 ABA and NBA seasons, won the NBA’s All-Star MVP again in 1983.

    Finals slam

    Erving led the Sixers to the NBA Finals in his first season with the team, averaging 21.6 points and 8.5 rebounds in 1976-77. One of the high-flyer’s most memorable dunks came in Game 6 of the Finals against the Portland Trail Blazers. In the second quarter, Erving dribbled through three Trail Blazer defenders, leapt toward the rim and threw down a right-handed jam over the outstretched arms of Bill Walton.

    Despite an NBA playoff career-high 40-point outing from Erving, Walton’s Blazers won Game 6, 109-107, to claim the 1977 NBA championship.

    Baseline scoop

    Walton wasn’t the only Hall of Fame center Erving antagonized in the NBA Finals. His iconic “baseline scoop” move against the Los Angeles Lakers in the 1980 Finals was a crafty way of getting around the shot-blocking ability of Kareem Abdul-Jabbar.

    In the fourth quarter of Game 4, Erving drove to the right side of the basket, leapt while underneath the backboard and tossed an underhanded shot that hit the left side of the backboard and rolled in.

    “I didn’t realize how long I had been in the air, but I knew I didn’t have any legs left and I didn’t have any hang time left, so I fell on the floor,” Erving said to ESPN in 2019. “Just another move.”

    The scoop was two Erving’s 23 points scored in Game 4, helping the Sixers to a 105-102 victory that evened the series at two games apiece. The Lakers won the series, 4-2.

    Most Valuable Doctor

    Erving won his lone NBA MVP award in the 1980-81 season. At the time, Erving was the second Sixer to win the league’s top individual honor alongside Wilt Chamberlain.

    Erving finished top-five in MVP voting five times as a Sixer, but the three-time ABA MVP only won the award once after the merger. Erving averaged 24.6 points, 8.0 rebounds and 4.4 assists in the 1980-81 season. He led the Sixers to a 62-20 regular season record, tied for the NBA’s best with the Celtics. The Sixers lost the 1981 Eastern Conference finals to Boston, which would go on to win the title that season.

    Rock the baby

    Another iconic Erving dunk, the “rock the baby” slam, came against the Lakers at the Spectrum in January 1983. Erving picked up a loose ball along the sideline just past center court, drove toward the rim and cradled the ball with his right hand before bringing it up to the rim for a dunk over Michael Cooper.

    “I wanted this dunk to live on forever and to prove that people could fly,” Erving said to Sports Illustrated in 2023 on the slam’s 40th anniversary.

    The Sixers held on for a two point win in overtime against the Lakers in what turned out to be a preview of the 1983 Finals.

    Four, five, four

    Moses Malone was the Sixer that predicted a full sweep of the 1983 Playoffs — “four, four, four” — after the team earned the top seed with a 65-17 regular season record, but Erving helped his center’s postseason prediction (almost) come true as the Sixers marched to the third championship in franchise history.

    Erving and the Sixers were 12-1 in the playoffs, including a sweep of the defending champion Lakers in the 1983 Finals. The Sixers’ only loss was to the Bucks in the Eastern Conference finals. Erving averaged 18.4 points in the Sixers’ 13 playoff games, including a 21-point, six-assist performance to complete a sweep of the Lakers in Game 4.

    At the time, the Sixers were the only team to complete a postseason with one loss. The 2001 Lakers and 2017 Warriors are the only teams since to take only one loss in the postseason.

    Downing Dallas

    Erving sank two game-winning shots at the horn during the final stretch of the 1985-86 regular season, which was his penultimate NBA season. The first shot came in Dallas on Feb. 28, 1986.

    With two seconds remaining in a tie game, Erving inbounded the ball from the sideline to Maurice Cheeks. Cheeks passed it back to Erving, who launched a heave from beyond half court. The shot went in, and the Sixers won, 123-120.

    Beating Boston

    Erving’s next game winner came a little more than a month after his heroics in Dallas. Erving’s Sixers were down two to Larry Bird’s Celtics at the Spectrum on April 6, 1986.

    The Sixers fouled Bird with seven seconds remaining, sending the league’s best free throw shooter to the line with a chance to make Boston’s lead four. Bird missed both, leaving the door open for the Sixers to win the game, 95-94, on an Erving three-pointer as time expired.

    Jersey retirement

    After the Sixers’ opening game of the 1986-87 season, Erving announced he would retire at the end of the season. In total, Erving played 11 seasons for the Sixers and averaged 22 points over 836 games with the team.

    At the time of his retirement, Erving was the third-leading scorer in Sixers history, though he has since been passed by Allen Iverson. Erving is still the franchise’s all-time leader in blocked shots with 1,293 rejections in a Sixers uniform. The franchise retired his No. 6 jersey on April 18, 1988, in a ceremony at the Spectrum.

    Erving also had his No. 32 retired by the Nets in honor of his ABA career, making him one of 16 players in NBA history to have their jersey retired by multiple franchises. Erving was inducted into the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame in 1993.

  • Union open 2026 season with 5-0 rout of Trinidad’s Defence Force in the Champions Cup

    Union open 2026 season with 5-0 rout of Trinidad’s Defence Force in the Champions Cup

    The Union opened their 2026 season with a win on Wednesday night, defeating Defence Force FC, 5-0, in the first of a two-game Concacaf Champions Cup first round series at Hasely Crawford Stadium in Port of Spain, Trinidad.

    Milan Iloski opened the scoring for the Union in the 29th minute, scoring on a free kick from just outside the 18-yard box. Ezekiel Alladoh added a second shortly after, heading a Frankie Westfield cross into the back of the net in the 32nd minute.

    The Union added three more goals in the second half. Olwethu Makhanya scored the Union’s third goal in the 64th minute from a corner set-piece. Bruno Damiani added a fourth off an assist from Cavan Sullivan in the 69th. Damiani added another from the penalty spot to put the Union up, 5-0, in the 81st minute.

    Agustín Anello took the long way back to the United States, then found familiar faces with the Union

    The Union also avoided injuries during their match with Defence Force, something Union manager Bradley Carnell noted in his postgame conference.

    “Playing away from home, It’s always a tough challenge,” Carnell said. “We always have to sort out a few things.”

    Iloski’s free kick was set up by a Defence Force foul on Jesús Bueno. Iloski lined up to take the kick and sent a right-footed strike up and over the Defence Force wall into the right side of the net.

    Alladoh’s goal came afterthe forward made a frantic run to get on the end of a cross from Westfield. Alladoh arrived from Swedish club Brommapojkarna for $4.5 million in December.

    On the third goal, Iloski played a cross from the right corner flag that Makhanya was able to head into the net.

    On Damiani’s first goal, the forward came on as a substitute alongside Sullivan and Japhet Sery Larsen in the 65th minute. Sullivan, 17, played a centering pass to Damiani, who laced a left-footed strike into the net to put the Union up, 4-0.

    Sullivan earned a penalty for the Union in the 81st after being tripped by Defence Force’s Sheldon Bateau inside the 18-yard box. Damiani slotted the penalty past Defence Force goalie Isaiah Williams to put the Union up, 5-0.

    After Wednesday night’s win, the Union lead the series’ aggregate score by five goals. The Union will host Defence Force at Subaru Park for the second game of the series on Feb. 26 (7 p.m., Fox Sports 2).

    If the Union lead the series’ combined score after the second leg, they will advance to face Liga MX’s Club América in the tournament’s round of 16.

    Up next

    The Union will visit D.C. United on Saturday for their MLS season opener (7:30 p.m., Apple TV).

    D.C. finished at the bottom of the Eastern Conference last season but made significant additions in the offseason, which included adding Tai Baribo, who was the leading goal scorer for the Union last season.

  • Everything you need to know about the Union ahead of the 2026 season

    Everything you need to know about the Union ahead of the 2026 season

    The Union are set to begin their 2026 season on Wednesday with a Concacaf Champions Cup match at Defence Force F.C. in Port of Spain, Trinidad (6 p.m., FS2).

    Less than three months removed from their 2025 campaign, the team will look different from the squad that captured Major League Soccer’s Supporters’ Shield last season, and not just because the team has new home jerseys.

    It was a busy offseason for Bradley Carnell’s side, which set a high standard for itself with last season’s campaign. Here’s everything you need to know about the Union before they open the season:

    Which Union players left this offseason?

    The Union moved on from many of the club’s most recognizable faces from last season this winter. They sold Tai Baribo, last year’s leading goal scorer, to D.C. United for $4 million in December. After six seasons playing center-back for the club, Jakob Glesnes was traded to the Los Angeles Galaxy for $2.2 million in general allocation money.

    The MLS All-Star trio of (from left) Kai Wagner, Tai Baribo, and Jakob Glesnes departed the Union in the offseason.

    Kai Wagner, who spent seven seasons with the Union, was moved to Birmingham City in the English Championship. The Union also moved on from Mikael Uhre, who returned to his native Denmark to play for FC Midtjylland.

    The Union also declined contract options for Chris Donovan, Isaiah LeFlore, Nicholas Pariano, and Oliver Semmle.

    Who are the new players suiting up for the Union?

    The Union made a few significant acquisitions in the transfer market this winter. The most expensive was the acquisition of Ezekiel Alladoh from Swedish club IF Brommapojkarna. The forward cost the Union $4.5 million, the most the club has ever spent on an individual transfer. Alladoh, 20, is a Ghanaian national who will be under contract with the Union through 2028, with club options in 2029 and 2030.

    The arrival of Japhet Sery Larsen, seen during a preseason game in Spain last month, is expected to fill the loss of Jakob Glesnes on the Union’s back line.

    The Union also brought over Japhet Sery Larsen from the Norwegian club Brann in January. At 25, the Danish national is the oldest center back on the Union’s roster entering the 2026 season. Other significant additions include Geiner Martinez, a center back whom the Union signed from Uruguay’s CA Juventud, and Agustín Anello, a forward who spent last season with Uruguay’s Boston River.

    Which players did the Union bring back?

    Club captain Alejandro Bedoya re-signed with the Union this offseason. Bedoya, who also holds a role in the club’s front office, will suit up for his 11th season in Philadelphia.

    The Union also exercised a contract option for Nathan Harriel, retaining the homegrown right back for his sixth season with the club.

    In addition, the team re-signed Ben Bender, a 24-year old midfielder the team signed off waivers in May 2025, and George Marks, a goalkeeper who has yet to appear in a game for the Union.

    What are the highlights of this year’s MLS schedule?

    The Union will play a 34-match MLS schedule, starting with a match at D.C. United on Feb. 21. The Union will play each Eastern Conference opponent twice, home and away, and six Western Conference opponents.

    Midfielder Danley Jean Jacques (right) and the Union open their Major League Soccer season against I-95 rival D.C. United on Feb. 21.

    The Union’s first MLS game at home will be against New York City FC on March 1. NYCFC eliminated the Union from the playoffs last season with a 1-0 win at Subaru Park in the Eastern Conference semifinals.

    Carnell’s team will host the San Jose Earthquakes, Seattle Sounders, and Real Salt Lake as Western Conference opponents and will travel to Austin FC, San Diego FC, and Sporting Kansas City. Lionel Messi’s Inter Miami team will visit Subaru Park on Aug. 19, and the Union will host rival Red Bull New York on July 22.

    What’s new at Subaru Park this season?

    The home of the Union got some upgrades in the offseason and will get another renovation when the MLS breaks for the World Cup this summer. The Union installed new theatric sport lighting in the stadium that will bring some extra flair to the club’s night games.

    The Union have a new concessions partner in locally based Aramark, which will give patrons at Subaru Park new food and beverage options. Union president Tim McDermott said in an interview on the team’s YouTube channel that the concourses of Subaru Park will look different when the club returns after the World Cup.

    Union president Tim McDermott said that the team plans to make alterations to the concourses at Subaru Park during the nearly two-month break for the FIFA World Cup.

    “Coming out of that World Cup break, when you walk into Subaru Park, the concourse is going to look massively different,” McDermott said. “Just with new food and beverage offerings, the esthetics, et cetera.”

    This season will also be the first for the Union’s new mobile app. The club debuted the app in September, but will have increased functionality this season as SeatGeek takes over as the Union’s official ticketing partner.

    What is the Concacaf Champions Cup?

    In addition to the 34 regular-season MLS games the Union will have on their calendar, they also will compete in the Concacaf Champions Cup.

    The competition is a 27-team tournament that features the top club teams from North America, Central America and the Caribbean. The Union qualified for the Champions Cup by finishing atop the MLS regular-season standings. The other MLS qualifiers for the tournament are Inter Miami, Los Angeles FC, FC Cincinnati, LA Galaxy, the Seattle Sounders, Nashville SC, and San Diego FC.

    Winning MLS’s Supporters’ Shield last season earned the Union a berth in this year’s Concacaf Champions Cup.

    The Union will face Defence Force FC in a two-match series decided on aggregate score in the first round of the tournament. After their match in Trinidad, the Union will host Defence Force for the second leg on Feb. 26.

    If the Union advance past Defence Force FC, they will face Liga MX’s Club América in the round of 16. The tournament final will be played on May 30.

    The Union’s most recent result in the Champions Cup was a round of 16 loss to Pachuca in 2024.

    Will the Union be in the Leagues Cup?

    Yes. By qualifying for the playoffs last season, the Union secured a spot in MLS’s Leagues Cup, which features 18 teams from MLS and 18 teams from Liga MX.

    The Union do not know their opponent in the competition or the date of their first match, but the competition is set to begin on Aug. 4. The 2026 Leagues Cup final will be on Sept. 6.

    The Union’s best result in the Leagues Cup was a third-place finish in 2023. The top three teams from the Leagues Cup gain entry to the following season’s Concacaf Champions Cup.

    Midfielder Jesús Bueno (right) and the Union will appear in MLS’s Leagues Cup tournament for the first time since the 2024 season.

    Will the Union play in the 2026 U.S. Open Cup?

    No. Because they are participating in the Concacaf Champions Cup, the Union are exempt from playing in the U.S. Open Cup this season. The U.S. Open Cup is an open tournament featuring teams from across all levels of the U.S. Soccer.

    The MLS limited its clubs’ participation in the tournament to 16 teams in 2025. Teams that do not qualify for other cup competitions are given priority in entering the U.S. Open Cup, and teams participating in the Concacaf Champions Cup are exempt. The Union reached the semifinal of last year’s tournament before losing to eventual champion Nashville SC, 3-1.

    Will the MLS season pause for the World Cup?

    Yes. This season’s MLS schedule includes a seven-week break for the FIFA World Cup, which will be hosted by the United States, Mexico, and Canada. The league will stop play on May 26 and resume on July 16. The World Cup will begin on June 11 and conclude on July 19.

    Lincoln Financial Field is one of 16 host venues for this summer’s FIFA World Cup.

    The Union will play their last match before the break at Miami’s new stadium, Miami Freedom Park, on May 24. They will host Red Bull New York in their first match after the break on July 22.

    This will be the last season MLS uses its current calendar. The league is switching to a summer-to-spring schedule ahead of the 2027-28 season, which will align its schedule with many of the top leagues internationally.

    How can I watch the Union?

    The Union’s MLS games will be available to all Apple TV subscribers. Before this season, Apple TV users had to subscribe to the additional MLS Season Pass to gain access to all MLS games, but the league and its broadcast partner did away with the extra paywall in November.

    Major League Soccer announced the suspension of its subscription-only MLS Season Pass, noting that every game will instead be televised by the regular version of Apple TV.

    The Union also have three games that will be televised by Fox networks. The team’s match at Atlanta United on March 14 will be on Fox, as will the Union’s game at Inter Miami on May 24. The Union have one game this season being televised by Fox Sports 1, a clash with FC Cincinnati at Subaru Park on Sept. 9.

    What else is new with the Union?

    The team got new home jerseys ahead of this season. The design is inspired by Philadelphia’s role in American independence ahead of this summer’s America 250 celebrations. The team will still wear the voltage kit it debuted as its away jersey in 2025 on the road.

  • Union host top soccer academies from Europe and North America at their ‘world-class facility’ in inaugural tournament

    Union host top soccer academies from Europe and North America at their ‘world-class facility’ in inaugural tournament

    The Union had the opportunity to show off the club’s new WSFS Bank Sportsplex facility to teams from a wide range of nations last week, as it hosted the inaugural “Snow Bowl,” a tournament showcasing some of the world’s best youth academies.

    Clubs from across Europe and North America were represented in the tournament, which included divisions for under-15, under-16, and under-18 teams. The tournament drew 10 major soccer clubs, including England’s Manchester United and Newcastle United, and Germany’s Borussia Dortmund and Borussia Mönchengladbach.

    Jon Scheer, the Union’s director of academy and professional development, said the Union’s ability to draw in European clubs of this caliber speaks to the club’s global reputation. .

    “To get Manchester United, PSV, Dortmund, some of the best European clubs, to come, I think it says something about the brand of the Philadelphia Union now,” Scheer said. “Certainly our facility was a big reason why they agreed to come, but also because of the level of competition that we brought in.”

    The Union boasted two teams in the Feb. 14 final of the inaugural Snow Bowl tournament, showcasing some of the top youth academies from around the world at the WSFS Sportsplex.

    The Union also invited the Netherlands’ PSV Eindhoven, Mexico’s Monterrey, Denmark’s Lyngby, Portugal’s Benfica, and Major League Soccer’s Chicago Fire academies.

    “We really wanted to target clubs that we felt would bring over academy-level talent that would really push ourselves,” Scheer said. “And they would, in turn, benefit from the opportunity for their players.”

    The Generation Adidas Cup, which started as MLS’s top academy tournament in 2007 and expanded to include clubs from outside MLS in 2014, served as a common meeting place for many of the academies that attended this year’s Snow Bowl in Chester.

    The Union’s U-17 team won the GA Cup in 2023 and 2024. PSV, Monterrey, and Manchester United have also competed in the tournament, hosted in the spring at IMG Academy in Bradenton, Fla.

    “Through things like Aspire Conference and through our relationship with U.S. Soccer and success at the GA Cup level and success at the MLS level, I think that’s starting to make our reputation a bit stronger globally,” Scheer said.

    While the Union’s reputation convinced teams to come, the WSFS Bank Sportsplex made hosting the tournament a possibility. Teams competed on the indoor turf field at the facility, which the club opened last July.

    Scheer said the visiting clubs were surprised by the quality of the facility.

    “When they came over here, they said this is truly a world-class facility,” Scheer said. “There’s nothing like this in Europe, from what they’ve talked about.”

    Aloys Wijnker, the academy head at PSV Eindhoven, was particularly impressed with the Union’s campus. Wijnker, who worked for U.S. Soccer from 2016-18 before returning to his native Netherlands, remembered when the club’s first team, second team, and academy were spread apart. Now, the Union host all of their operations on the waterfront in Chester.

    The Union’s under-16 and under-18 academy teams advanced to the finals of the inaugural Snow Bowl tournament.

    “This is amazing,” Wijnker said. “We heard about the dome, but then you see, oh, what kind of dome is it? This is a real building with all the facilities inside, with the gym. I [haven’t seen] everything so far, but it’s impressive.”

    For the Union, hosting the Snow Bowl not only allows academy players to play against high-level talent from Europe and North America, but it also allows the Union’s academy staff to compare notes on development with their counterparts from around the world.

    “We have such a growth mindset and a passion for learning,” Scheer said. “We want to get better. We think we do a good job but we know we can get better. And if we can take one piece of information here or there, selfishly, by interacting with some of the best clubs in the world, we’re certainly going to be able to do that.”

    Wijnker, who served as director of the U.S. Soccer Boys’ Development Academy for three years, said he was impressed with the Union’s focus on developing first-team players from their academy.

    “I think they are on top in the U.S., top three with the academy,” Wijnker said. “They do a big investment with money, but also with resources, with the energy they put in. Also the whole philosophy in the club, not buying expensive players, they’ve really invested in the youth. If you ask me the question, I think that this is what every club should do.”

    Bradley Carnell sees progress from the Union’s newcomers as they settle in at the end of preseason

    The club hopes to make the Snow Bowl an annual tradition. This year’s tournament was sponsored by The SWAG, a no-cost youth soccer organization philanthropically funded by members of the Union’s ownership group, and YSC Academy, the club’s school.

    “We want to do a really good job this year, and hopefully have others, in addition to SWAG and YSC Academy, help sponsor the event,” Scheer said. “I do think it’ll be one of the best developmental opportunities our academy kids could have with the competition they’re facing.”

    The Union’s U-15, U-16 and U-18 teams were unbeaten in the group stage of the tournament, picking up wins over Newcastle’s U-15 squad, Borussia Mönchengladbach’s U-16 team and Benfica’s U-18 team.

    “We are probably further along, not only at the Union, but in our country, than we think we are sometimes, in terms of development and the game of football,” Scheer said. “[Other clubs] are not only commenting on our facility, but they’re commenting on some of the quality of our individual players, our success at the team level. Ultimately, that’s what it’s about.”

    Follow the Inquirer’s complete coverage of Union soccer right here!
  • Mani Sajid takes ‘no off days.’ Now he’s etched his name in Plymouth Whitemarsh hoops history.

    Mani Sajid takes ‘no off days.’ Now he’s etched his name in Plymouth Whitemarsh hoops history.

    In over three decades years of coaching basketball at Plymouth Whitemarsh High School, Jim Donofrio had to convince one player to take a day off.

    That’s Mani Sajid, now a 6-foot-4 senior shooting guard.

    His resumé can attest to it. He has led the Colonials to an 19-5 record and the top seed in the District 1 Class 6A tournament. Plymouth Whitemarsh will host the winner of Friday’s game between Downingtown West and Central Bucks East on Tuesday.

    Sajid also became Plymouth Whitemarsh’s all-time leading scorer, finishing with 1,686 points in the regular season, and is committed to play at Towson, where he will enroll early.

    Donofrio said the coaches there will be lucky if they can get Sajid out of the gym.

    “His natural work ethic is as high as any kid I’ve coached in 35 years,” Donofrio said. “His work ethic and drive is at that special level.”

    Sajid recognizes that becoming the program’s all-time scoring leader is a great achievement, but he also wants to experience postseason success. The Colonials reached the district final last season, where they fell to Conestoga in overtime.

    “I did have a chance for the scoring record, but that wasn’t my main goal,” Sajid said. “That just came as we played. [We are] just trying to win everything. Districts and state titles are our main goal as a team and the main goal for me.”

    Westtown’s Jordyn Palmer — a basketball phenom and highly sought-after recruit — has untapped potential

    Plymouth Whitemarsh’s postseason did not start off as anticipated. The Colonials were upset, 45-43, by rival Upper Dublin in the semifinals of the Suburban One League tournament. But the Colonials were still the top-seeded team in the District 1 Class 6A bracket when it was revealed last Sunday.

    The right ingredients

    Chuck Moore Jr., an assistant with Plymouth Whitemarsh, has known Sajid since he was a middle schooler. Moore was a 1,500-point scorer at Plymouth Whitemarsh and graduated with Sajid’s father, Ayyaz, in 1997.

    Moore, who runs an AAU program with his younger brother, Penn assistant Ronald Moore, would see Sajid’s father at tournaments and showcases. Every time the old classmates met, Ayyaz would try to convince Moore to train his son. Moore finally agreed the third time Ayyaz asked and arranged a session with Sajid at the Plymouth Whitemarsh gym.

    Ronald Moore was once a March Madness sensation. Now he’s a Penn assistant coach.

    “Right away, you could see the skill set,” Moore said. “He was already a long, lanky kid with long arms.”

    He developed quickly in a year. By the time Sajid finished his eighth grade season and was entering high school, Moore knew his spot on PW’s scoring leaderboard was in jeopardy.

    “I said, ‘Yeah, he’s going to be the all-time leading scorer one day,’” Moore said. “I could see it in him at that early age.”

    Mani Sajid helped Plymouth Whitemarsh earn the No. 1 seed in the District 1 6A playoffs.

    Donofrio confirmed that his assistant called Sajid’s ascent to the top.

    “Chuck Moore, he predicted it when [Sajid] was a freshman,” Donofrio said. “He goes, ‘That’s the all-time leading scorer.’ I remember him saying it. Mani had the right stuff. He had the right ingredients.”

    No time off

    Those ingredients — a long, lanky frame and a natural shooting ability — do not guarantee success. They need to be combined with a solid work ethic. Sajid’s coaches say that the senior has that in abundance.

    When Donofrio told Sajid to take a day off during the offseason, he ignored his coach’s order.

    “I had to call his dad up a couple of summers ago and say, ‘He has to take a day off,” Donofrio said. “I said, ‘Please, take Sunday.’ It was in the summertime. And then I find out, not only did he not take Sunday off, he worked out twice that day.”

    Sajid likes being in the gym as much as possible, which should benefit him as he transitions to Towson.

    “It’s hard to get me out of the gym, man,” Sajid said. “I’m a guy that likes to go seven days a week, especially in the offseason. There really are no off days.”

    Plymouth Whitemarsh assistant coach Chuck Moore Jr., said “right away” Mani Sajid had a strong skill set.

    After last season’s run to the district final, Donofrio challenged Sajid to share the ball with his teammates more effectively.

    “You’re going to score 26 points the hard way or the easy way,” Donofrio said. “If you get rid of the ball, you’re still scoring 26 points, only we’re going to win a lot more.”

    It took Sajid some time to accept that piece of coaching, but once he did, he began to develop his skills as a passer.

    “I think I just grew up more as a player, grew up more as a person,” Sajid said. “Just being able to trust those guys. I know that they always have my back, and I always have their backs. I trust them a lot.”

    Transition to Towson

    After emerging as a contributing piece for the Colonials as a sophomore, Sajid started to draw some attention from colleges. He fielded offers from Albany, St. Joseph’s, Temple, La Salle, East Carolina, Bryant, Penn State, and Towson before committing in July to play for the Tigers.

    Sajid said he chose Towson for its coaching staff.

    “They’ve just been really consistent,” he said. “They’ve been a great coaching staff. They hit me up often and always check up on me, and that’s what I like.”

    Sajid, a three-star recruit, is the highest-ranked player of three signees in the Tigers’ class of 2026. Towson’s 2026 class also includes Neumann Goretti guard Stephon Ashley-Wright, the younger brother of BYU guard Robert Wright III.

    Sajid hopes to see minutes early at Towson, which competes in the Coastal Athletic Association.

    “That is my goal, to step on there freshman year and play,” Sajid said. “But I’ve got to work for that spot.”

    Donofrio believes the most crucial part of Sajid’s college development is adding weight. He weighs about 170 pounds and will need to put on muscle to keep up with college players, especially on defense.

    “He’s going to have to want to get more physical,” Donofrio said. “That’s his next challenge for this summer, into the fall. And he loves the weight room now, and he loves strength training and agility, conditioning. Hopefully he still loves Franzone’s pizza, because he should eat a lot of that to get about 8 to 10 more pounds on him.”

    Mani Sajid looks to earn a district and state crown for Plymouth Whitemarsh.

    His coach isn’t worried, though. Donofrio said Sajid could be a major talent at the next level.

    “It would not surprise me at all if, by the end of his first college season, a lot of coaches are punching themselves in the head,” Donofrio said. “I’ve coached a lot of talented guys, and, trust me, the ceiling on him has got a ways to go.”

  • Nick Castellanos’ most memorable Phillies moments, from coincidental home runs to the ‘Miami Incident’

    Nick Castellanos’ most memorable Phillies moments, from coincidental home runs to the ‘Miami Incident’

    The Phillies released Nick Castellanos on Thursday after failing to find a trade partner for the 33-year old outfielder, three days before position players were scheduled to report to the team’s spring training facilities in Clearwater, Fla.

    Although the end of his time with the Phillies has been defined by a prolonged search to shed the $20 million left on his contract, Castellanos was one of the Phillies’ most intriguing characters, on and off the field.

    Here’s a look back at some of the right fielder’s most memorable moments from his time with the Phillies:

    A beer in the dugout, a benching, and a rift with his manager: Inside the final Phillies season for Nick Castellanos

    The Castellanos Curse

    Castellanos became known nationally for hitting home runs with bad timing for broadcasters. It began in an August 2020 game with the Reds when he hit a drive into deep left field while former Reds broadcaster Thom Brennaman was apologizing for using a homophobic slur earlier in the broadcast.

    When the right fielder logged his first hit with the Phillies in a spring training game against the Blue Jays in 2022, the Toronto broadcasters were discussing pitching coach Pete Walker being charged with driving under the influence a day earlier.

    Castellanos caught Phillies broadcaster Tom McCarthy in the middle of a tribute to fallen service members on Veterans Day in 2022, lifting a homer to deep left field as the NBC Sports Philadelphia broadcast was returning from commercial in the bottom of the second.

    Eventually, he began delivering big hits at the same time as major news events or celebrity deaths. Castellanos hit a homer the day I-95 collapsed in Northeast Philadelphia on June 11, 2023.

    He hit a walk-off double on the day Willie Mays died in 2024; homered and hit a double on the day President Donald Trump was shot at during a rally in Butler, Pa., in July 2024; and hit a drive into deep left field on the day former President Joe Biden dropped out of the 2024 presidential race. He hit a spring training homer on the day Eagles defensive end Brandon Graham announced his retirement in March, although Graham came out of retirement and returned to the Eagles during the 2025 season.

    A surge of bets on Castellanos to hit a homer on April 21, the day the Vatican announced the death of Pope Francis, caused FanDuel Sportsbook to temporarily lock the outfielder’s odds. Notably, Castellanos was 0-for-4 with two strikeouts that day, and the Phillies lost to the Mets, 5-4.

    Hayes: Selfish, insubordinate Nick Castellanos is released by Phillies then issues a wild manifesto on Instagram

    There is something to suggest that Castellanos was hitting coincidental homers long before anyone was paying attention. He hit his first minor league homer on May 1, 2011, the same day that former President Barack Obama announced the U.S. had killed Osama bin Laden.

    Father and son

    Castellanos’ son Liam became a good-luck charm for the Phillies as the team made its run to the National League Championship Series in 2023. Liam, who lives in Florida during the school year, witnessed his father play arguably the best two games of his career when the son came to Philadelphia for the team’s division series against the Braves.

    With his son in the stands, Castellanos became the first player in MLB history to hit two home runs in back-to-back postseason games.

    Liam joined the Phillies at Xfinity Live after they beat the Braves, 3-1, in the NLDS and stuck around for the rest of the postseason, until the Phils fell in a seven-game NLCS to the Arizona Diamondbacks.

    Liam returned for Red October in 2024 and worked as his father’s good luck charm again. Castellanos claimed a walk-off hit in game two of the NLDS against the Mets to tie the series at one game apiece.

    But the Phils’ ride was shorter that season as the Mets won the series in four games.

    The team’s postseason luck ran dry in 2025, as the Dodgers beat the Phillies in four games of the division series. Castellanos’ final act in a Phillies uniform was to embrace teammate Orion Kerkering after the pitcher made a season-ending errant throw to home in the bottom of the 11th.

    The ‘Miami Incident’

    Not all of Castellanos’ moments with the Phillies were highlights. The outfielder took time to address what he called the “Miami incident” in his farewell letter to Philadelphia, which he posted to Instagram on Thursday afternoon.

    Castellanos was benched last season during a road series against his hometown team, the Miami Marlins, ending an iron man streak of 236 games. Phillies manager Rob Thomson said the decision to sit Castellanos was due to an “inappropriate comment” the outfielder made after being removed in the eighth inning of the previous game.

    Castellanos’ letter says that he brought a can of Presidente beer into the dugout after being removed from the game. The beer was taken from Castellanos’ hand before he could take a sip, but the outfielder still let Thomson know he was frustrated.

    “I then sat next to Rob and let him know that too much slack in some areas and to [sic] tight of restrictions in others are not condusive [sic] to us winning,” Castellanos wrote.

    Castellanos added that he apologized to Thomson and president of baseball operations Dave Dombrowski after the incident. Dombrowski said Thursday that Castellanos’ behavior in Miami did not directly contribute to the team’s decision to release him.

  • Union add another attacking option with signing of forward Agustín Anello

    Union add another attacking option with signing of forward Agustín Anello

    The Union have added another major signing to what has already been a busy winter transfer window for the club.

    The team announced Tuesday that it had acquired Agustín Anello, a 23-year old forward who spent last season with Uruguayan team Boston River.

    The Union paid a transfer fee of around $2 million to acquire Anello, a source with knowledge of the deal told The Inquirer. He has been with the team at its preseason camp in Clearwater, Fla., for a few days, and could debut in Tuesday’s final preseason game against CF Montréal (6 p.m., livestreaming on the Union’s website and YouTube).

    “Agustín is a versatile, dynamic attacker,” Union manager Bradley Carnell said in the team’s release. “His development in Europe, combined with his recent breakout in Uruguay, reflects a clear upward trajectory. As a domestic player with U.S. youth national team experience, he fits our profile well.”

    Anello is the second attacking option the Union have acquired from abroad this offseason. Ezekiel Alladoh, who spent last season with Swedish club IF Brommapojkarna, joined the team for a club record $4.5 million in December.

    Union weaves Philly history into the design of its latest jersey ahead of the World Cup and America 250

    The Athletic reported that the Union were in talks to sign Anello in January and reported that a deal was being finalized on Feb. 2. Anello let a poorly kept secret further out when he posted a picture from Clearwater on his Instagram story on Monday afternoon. The Union’s logo was visible on Anello’s shorts in the post.

    Anello grew up in south Florida and moved with his family to Spain at age 10. He hasn’t lived in the United States since. At 17, he turned pro in Belgium, and played for a range of clubs there, in Croatia, and the Netherlands before moving to Uruguay in the summer of 2024.

    Although it has been a long time since he last formally called America home, Anello is not a total stranger to the Union. In November 2023, he was teammates with Nathan Harriel and Jack McGlynn on a U.S. under-23 national team squad that surveyed candidates for the 2024 Olympics.

    Anello scored 10 goals across all competitions for Boston River in 2025.

    After their preseason finale, the Union’s next match will be a Concacaf Champions Cup game in Trinidad against Defence Force F.C. on Feb. 18.

    The Union will open their MLS schedule with a trip to D.C. United on Feb. 21.

    Follow the Inquirer’s complete coverage of Union soccer right here!
  • Ecuador has massive plans to make noise in this summer’s World Cup. Here’s how they can do it.

    Ecuador has massive plans to make noise in this summer’s World Cup. Here’s how they can do it.

    Heading into the fifth World Cup in its history, Ecuador will kick off a plan to advance from the group stage for the second time right here in Philadelphia.

    Ecuador reached the round of 16 in 2006, its second tournament appearance, but made group-stage exits in 2014 and 2022.

    La Tri will contend with Germany, the Ivory Coast, and Curaçao for a spot in the knockout rounds. Bolstered by some emerging stars in Europe, will Ecuador be able to get out of its group and into the knockout stage?

    Ecuador’s World Cup schedule

    (All times Eastern)

    June 14: vs. Ivory Coast at Lincoln Financial Field (7 p.m., FS1, tickets)

    June 20: vs. Curaçao in Kansas City, Mo. (8 p.m., FS1)

    June 25: vs. Germany in East Rutherford, N.J. (4 p.m., Fox29)

    Ecuadorian stalwart Enner Valencia could make his third appearance in a World Cup for his nation at age 36.

    Fast facts

    Ecuador is ranked 23rd in FIFA’s latest world rankings. … Ecuador’s best result at the Copa América is fourth place. It has accomplished that feat twice, most recently in 1993. Ecuador and Venezuela are the only South American nations without a Copa América championship. … Ecuador’s manager, Sebastián Beccacece, took over the role in August 2024. … the nation’s all-time leading scorer, 36-year old Enner Valencia, could make his third World Cup appearance for La Tri.

    Three players to watch

    Moisés Caicedo will feature in midfield for La Tri this summer. Caicedo is one of a few young Ecuadorian players who have emerged as key pieces for major European clubs. Caicedo, 24, has spent the last three seasons at Premier League club Chelsea, where he has been a fixture in defensive midfield. Caicedo has been just as important for his country, starting 16 of Ecuador’s World Cup qualifiers. Caicedo has already scored in a World Cup game, netting a goal in La Tri’s 2-1 loss to Senegal in 2022.

    Willian Pacho (left) is considered one of the most talented defenders in the world.

    Another young rising Ecuadorian star, Willian Pacho, is the team’s most talented defender. The centerback is in his second season at Paris Saint-Germain. Pacho started 23 matches for PSG in its Ligue 1-winning campaign last season and played every minute during the club’s run to winning the 2024-25 UEFA Champions League. Pacho also started all 18 World Cup qualifying matches for Ecuador, leading an Ecuadorian defense that allowed just five goals in those 18 matches.

    Kendry Páez is Ecuador’s most exciting young attacker and is expected to make his World Cup debut this summer. After logging seven goals and three assists for Ecuadorian club Independiente as a 16-year old, Chelsea acquired the teenage phenom, who currently is on loan at Ligue 1 side Strasbourg. Páez is 18 but will be 19 by the time Ecuador begins its World Cup campaign. This summer’s tournament could be a breakout moment for Páez, who will return to Chelsea at the end of the 2025-26 season.

    Philly meets Ecuador moment

    La Tri played a warmup friendly against Bolivia at Subaru Park in June 2024 ahead of the 2024 Copa América. Ecuador secured a 3-1 win over the Bolivians behind goals from Enner Valencia, John Yeboah, and Jordy Caicedo. Páez and Moisés Caicedo came on as substitutes for Ecuador.

    Make sure you check out …

    Support a local Ecuadorian business …

    It’s a bit outside the city, but Rinconcito Restaurant and Bakery in Upper Darby is one of the most authentic spots for a good Ecuadorian meal. There’s a full menu of breakfast, lunch, and dinner options, but our favorite are the soups, like the Caldo de Bolas, a beef and plantain soup that comes in a healthy portion (32 ounces).

    Check out the Inquirer’s curated list of the 76 best restaurants in the Philly area

    Looking for a sweet treat? It’ll be summer, so consider trying one of their milkshakes, preferably the Maracuya (passionfruit) one. Delicious. 📍7001 W. West Chester Pike, Upper Darby. ☎️ 610-713-6313. elrinconcitoecuatoriano.com

    SEPTA’s Broad Street Line train is a direct path from the city to the stadium on game day.

    Navigating Philly

    The best way to navigate getting to the stadium area where the games will be held is via SEPTA, the city’s public transportation system. The network has its own app and is fully integrated into apps, including Google Maps, Apple Maps, Transit, and CityMapper.

    Whether you’re coming in by way of Philadelphia’s international airport or its main train hub, William H. Gray III 30th Street Station, it’s easy to get around Philly’s Center City district and other neighborhoods by bus, train or trolley.

    Don’t feel like figuring out all the schedules? Taxis or ride shares via Uber or Lyft also are quick and convenient options.

    Follow the Inquirer’s complete coverage of World Cup soccer right here!
  • Philly will be a stop on the Ivory Coast’s hopeful path to World Cup glory. Twice.

    Philly will be a stop on the Ivory Coast’s hopeful path to World Cup glory. Twice.

    Ivory Coast will try to advance past the group stage for the first time in its history when it returns for its fourth World Cup this summer.

    Les Éléphants made three straight World Cups after earning their first qualification in 2006, but all three appearances ended in the group stage. Ivory Coast missed the 2018 and 2022 tournaments, but it will make its return in 2026.

    Ivory Coast will battle with Germany, Ecuador, and Curaçao to advance out of Group E, but with the expansion of the knockout stage from 16 to 32 teams, Les Éléphants will have their eyes on the nation’s first trip past the group stage.

    Ivory Coast’s World Cup schedule

    (All times Eastern)

    June 14: vs. Ecuador at Lincoln Financial Field (7 p.m., FS1; tickets)

    June 20: vs. Germany in Toronto (4 p.m., Fox29)

    June 25: vs. Curaçao at Lincoln Financial Field (4 p.m., FS1; tickets)

    Fast facts

    Ivory Coast is ranked 37th in FIFA’s latest world rankings. … The country has won the African Cup of Nations three times, most recently as the host nation in 2023. … Emerse Faé will manage Ivory Coast at the World Cup. Faé took over as manager in the middle of the 2023 tournament, which was held in 2024. Jean-Louis Gasset resigned from his managerial duties after Les Éléphants finished third in their group.

    Amad Diallo was a big part of Ivory Coast’s run in the African Cup of Nations in December. He is expected to guide the team in his World Cup debut this summer.

    Players to watch

    While his younger brother, Désiré Doué, draws a bigger spotlight for Paris Saint-Germain and the French national team, Guéla Doué will have an opportunity to grab some of that attention for himself with Ivory Coast this summer. Doué, a dual citizen of France and the Ivory Coast, plays club soccer for French club Strasbourg in Ligue 1. Doué should be the first-choice right back for Faé’s squad this summer, as he made four starts there at the 2025 African Cup of Nations.

    Amad Diallo will be the attacking engine for the Ivory Coast this summer. Diallo was the leading goal scorer for Les Éléphants at the Africa Cup this winter, logging three goals and an assist while lining up in attack and midfield. Diallo, 23, recorded 16 goal contributions (goals and assists) for Manchester United in the English Premier League last season. He is set to make his World Cup debut this summer.

    Ibrahim Sangaré likely will be another key piece of the Ivorian team for the World Cup. The defensive midfielder has made 52 appearances for his country after debuting as a 16-year old in 2014, including four starts in the 2023 Africa Cup. Sangaré, 28, has spent the last three seasons with EPL side Nottingham Forest, making 42 starts across all competitions. After helping Les Éléphants top its group in World Cup qualifying, Sangaré will get a chance to make his first appearance at the World Cup.

    Philly meets Ivory Coast moment

    Didier Drogba, an Ivorian icon and the nation’s all-time leading scorer, made his first start for Chelsea in a preseason friendly at Lincoln Financial Field in August 2004. Drogba, who scored 104 Premier League goals in nine seasons at Chelsea, scored in the first half to give Chelsea a 2-1 lead over AC Milan. Milan won the match, 3-2.

    Drogba scored 65 goals for Ivory Coast, including the nation’s first World Cup goal in 2006. Drogba retired from international competition in 2014 but continued to play domestically, suiting up for Major League Soccer’s Montréal Impact (now CF Montréal) and the United Soccer League’s Phoenix Rising. He retired from club competition in 2018.

    You should check out …

    Ivory Coast-centric restaurants are in short supply in the Philadelphia region, but Inquirer critic Craig LaBan has a food pick for fans. He recommends Le Baobab in Southwest Philadelphia:

    Jeanne Hien nearly lost everything when a kitchen fire tore through her small Woodland Avenue restaurant in 2021 and closed it down for a year. But Le Baobab is back, and so are some of Philly’s only takes on the cuisines of her husband’s homeland, Ivory Coast, and her own in neighboring Burkina Faso.

    Check out the Inquirer’s curated list of the 76 best restaurants in the Philly area

    While the menu shares multiple dishes in common with countries across West Africa, the specialties here come off the grill — succulent halal lamb chops cut from the thigh, juicy chicken, and flavorful whole fish — each scented with a marinade of garlic and rich brown Maggi seasoning that’s smothered in a chunky onion sauce laced with bell peppers and tomatoes.

    Order it with the fluffy couscous of fermented grated cassava called attiéké and a side of alloco, or sweet plantains fried to a tawny brown crisp. The restaurant is still takeout-only for now, but, going into its 18th year on Woodland Avenue, Hien aims to revive her 20-seat dining room for inside dining within the coming months. 📍Le Baobab, 5353 Woodland Ave., ☎️ 215-729-1074

    SEPTA’s Broad Street Line train is a direct path from the city to the stadium on game day.

    Navigating Philly

    The best way to navigate getting to the stadium area where the games will be held is via SEPTA, the city’s public transportation system. The network has its own app and is fully integrated into apps, including Google Maps, Apple Maps, Transit, and CityMapper.

    Whether you’re coming in by way of Philadelphia’s international airport or its main train hub, William H. Gray III 30th Street Station, it’s easy to get around Philly’s Center City district and other neighborhoods by bus, train, or trolley.

    Don’t feel like figuring out all the schedules? Taxis or ride shares via Uber or Lyft also are quick and convenient options.

    Follow the Inquirer’s complete World Cup coverage right here!
  • Ghana’s plan to emerge from a crowded group of strong soccer nations runs through Philly

    Ghana’s plan to emerge from a crowded group of strong soccer nations runs through Philly

    Ghana will take the field for its fifth World Cup this summer vying to match the success of its first two tournament appearances.

    Since making their World Cup debut in 2006, the Black Stars have qualified for every tournament since, except in 2018. But Ghana has yet to match its performances in its first two World Cup appearances, a round of 16 exit in 2006 and a knockout win over the United States that led to a quarterfinal appearance in 2010.

    Ghana is in a crowded Group L alongside England, Croatia, and Panama, but with the expansion of the knockout stage from 16 to 32 teams, the Ghanaians stand a chance of making their first trip out of the group stage since 2010.

    Ghana’s World Cup schedule

    (All times Eastern)

    June 17: vs. Panama in Toronto (7 p.m., FS1)

    June 23: vs. England in Foxborough, Mass. (4 p.m., Fox29)

    June 27: vs. Croatia at Lincoln Financial Field (5 p.m., FS1, tickets)

    Fast facts

    Ghana is ranked 72nd in FIFA’s latest world rankings. … Ghana’s team gets its Black Stars nickname from the Black Star of Africa, which is featured in the center of the country’s tricolor flag. … Ghana has won the Africa Cup of Nations four times, most recently in 1982. Ghana failed to qualify for the most recent Africa Cup. … Otto Addo is in his second stint as manager for Ghana. Addo departed after coaching the Black Stars in the 2022 World Cup but returned to the position in March 2024.

    Jordan Ayew (right) is expected to be one of Ghana’s go-to players as it looks to emerge from Group L.

    Players to watch

    Jordan Ayew, son of all-time Ghanaian great Abedi Ayew, has followed in his father’s footsteps by captaining the Black Stars. Ayew, who plays his club soccer for Leicester City in the English Championship, has the second-most appearances in Ghanaian history. His 115 caps only trail his older brother, André Ayew.

    Antoine Semenyo perhaps is the most exciting player expected to be in Ghana’s World Cup squad. The winger has been in excellent form, scoring in three of his first four appearances for English Premier League side Manchester City, which acquired him from EPL rival Bournemouth for approximately $84 million in January. Semenyo, 26, suited up for Ghana at the World Cup in 2022, but only played 19 minutes across two matches.

    Joining Ayew and Semenyo to make up a fierce Ghanaian attack is Mohammed Kudus. Kudus was an important player for a struggling Tottenham squad early in the Premier League season, but a leg injury he suffered in January is expected to keep him out of play until March. Kudus should be healthy enough to star for Ghana this summer as he did at the 2022 tournament. Kudus led Ghana with two goals in three group-stage games in Qatar.

    Philly meets Ghana moment

    Ghana last visited Philadelphia for an international friendly matchup with Chile in February 2012, with the two nations playing to a 1-1 draw at PPL Park (now Subaru Park). Richard Mpong opened the scoring for the Black Stars with a goal shortly before halftime. Most of the players who took the pitch for Ghana in Chester have since retired, but a young Jordan Ayew took in the game from the bench.

    You should check out …

    Inquirer critic Craig LaBan searched for a Ghanaian-owned spot in Philadelphia but came up short. Still, he’s got advice on a close counterpart:

    If you’re planning a watch party for Ghana in the World Cup, there appears to be no local restaurant owned specifically by Ghanaians at the moment. However, Southwest Philly’s thriving Africatown along Woodland Avenue is bustling with restaurants serving cuisines from the surrounding region, including Le Baobab (Ivory Coast, Burkina Faso) and Lè Mandingue, a multilocation institution whose Liberian and Guinean ownership caters to a wide array of Philadelphians from across the West African diaspora.

    Le Mandingue makes one of my favorite renditions of jollof rice, best topped with zesty chunks of grilled lamb dibi and a potent hot sauce that will light you up. Try the spicy peanut soup with fluffy balls of fufu on the side for dipping. But don’t miss what may be Lè Mandingue’s best dish: a takeout tub of stewed sweet potato leaf greens imbued with so much flavor from smoked turkey and spice, that I literally could not stop eating it. Lè Mandingue, 📍 6620 Woodland Ave., ☎️ 215-726-0543; 📍 7186 Marshall Rd., ☎️ 484-461-2981; or University Fair Food (online ordering only); lemandingue.com

    Check out the Inquirer’s curated list of the 76 best restaurants in the Philly area
    SEPTA’s Broad Street Line train is a direct path from the city to the stadium on game day.

    Navigating Philly

    The best way to navigate getting to the stadium area where the games will be held is via SEPTA, the city’s public transportation system. The network has its own app and is fully integrated into apps, including Google Maps, Apple Maps, Transit, and CityMapper.

    Whether you’re coming in by way of Philadelphia’s international airport or its main train hub, William H. Gray III 30th Street Station, it’s easy to get around Philly’s Center City district and other neighborhoods by bus, train, or trolley.

    Don’t feel like figuring out all the schedules? Taxis or ride shares via Uber or Lyft also are quick and convenient options.