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.”
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.
Philadelphia will play a starring role in this summer’s celebration of the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence. The Union will have a jersey fit for the party.
The club’s new home kit, unveiled Tuesday, is a navy blue jersey with an all-over pattern that features illustrations of some of Philly’s most recognizable landmarks and script from the Declaration of Independence.
Included in the pattern are illustrations of the Liberty Bell, Independence Hall, and even a portrait of Benjamin Franklin near the shoulder. A fragment of the Declaration of Independence, including the date of July 4, 1776, is printed just below the jersey’s collar, between the Adidas logo and the club’s crest.
“Being here in Philadelphia, the birthplace of the country, we just thought there was a really incredible opportunity to create something that represents the Philadelphia Union, that represents our city, and represents the country,” said Amanda Young Curtis, the Union’s senior vice president of marketing and communications. “This is, hopefully, a jersey that people think they can wear to a Union game, to a semiquincentennial celebration, or to a U.S. men’s national team game or watch party.”
The Union should have their first opportunity to play in their new uniform when the club hosts Trinidad’s Defence Force FC in the second leg of their first-round Concacaf Champions Cup matchup on Feb. 26. The Union’s MLS home opener is scheduled for March 1 against New York City FC.
Union midfielder Alejandro Bedoya showcases the new jersey for the season at the WSFS SportsPlex in Chester on Jan. 14.
The 1776 script also appears in the bottom corner of the jersey in gold. The jersey will be paired with dark blue shorts and socks to complete the Union’s home uniform.
The Union hope their bold new home kit can be a staple for this summer’s Independence Day festivities and fans at the FIFA World Cup, which will return to American soil for the first time since 1994.
This year, kits across MLS will feature a special nod to this summer’s World Cup, co-hosted by the U.S., Canada, and Mexico. On jerseys for American teams, the team logo will feature a holographic star pattern. For the three Canadian clubs, the holographic pattern will be maple leaves.
Union forward Milan Iloski shows off the new kit ahead of the Union’s 2026 season, which features various historical Philadelphia landmarks.
The kit, designed in partnership between the Union and Adidas, MLS’s jersey provider, will replace the navy kit that the club debuted in 2024. The team’s away jersey, a light blue shirt that features a yellow lightning pattern, will continue to be used.
Milan Iloski had high praise for the creative team behind the jersey’s design, calling it “a beautiful kit.” The Union midfielder also pointed out the kit’s versatility for this summer’s slate of festivities.
“I think it’ll be a kit that can be worn anywhere,” Iloski said. “I mean, you could wear it to a game, you can wear it to a party, you could wear it anywhere. With the World Cup coming here in America and the 250th anniversary, it felt like the perfect opportunity to do a big kit, to do something different, and I think they nailed it.”
Alejandro Bedoya has played in a lot of Union jerseys over the span of his career. But he says this year’s kit is among the best he’s seen, calling it a “work of art.”
Union midfielder Alejandro Bedoya, who shows off the raised crest on the Union’s new home kit, described it as a “work of art.”
“As a player, you’re often told [to] play for the badge, play for the shirt,” he said. “There’s no better representation of what that actually means than putting it on this jersey. You’re literally rocking Philadelphia here, and the history, and everybody who’s come through here. … Now we have even more of a reason to go out there on the field and really rep our city proudly.”
The Union wanted the kit to tell a story while representing the history and culture of Philadelphia. Fortunately for the club, the timing of its release made it easy to determine what story should be told.
“In soccer culture, not just with the Union, the jersey represents way more than just the team,” Curtis said. “It tells a story. In a way, the story was pretty clear for 2026.”
A first look at the new kit for Union’s 2026 season features various historical Philadelphia landmarks and documents depicted in the jersey to represent club, city, and country.
The Union are scheduled to host a number of pop-up retail locations in Philadelphia this weekend for fans interested in buying the new kit. They will set up at the Independence Blue Cross RiverRink Winterfest from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. on Friday. Saturday’s pop-up is scheduled from noon to 2 p.m. at the Independence Visitor Center, and the club will be at Dilworth Park from noon to 2 p.m. on Sunday.
The team’s retail location at Subaru Park also will be open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday.
However, it appeared that fans could purchase the jerseys over the weekend, as a fan noted that the kit was on the shelves at the Mount Laurel location of Dick’s Sporting Goods on Sunday. Repeated attempts for comment from both the store’s location and from Dick’s corporate office went unreturned.
The post and others like it caused a social media storm of reactions, mostly positive from fans and style aficionados trying to determine if the leak was the team’s new primary uniform or a special third kit.
Now they have their answer.
Inquirer staff writer Kerith Gabriel contributed to this article.
Nine nations will compete in five group stage matches this summer, plus two more in a knockout game on July 4. Here’s what you need to know about those countries and their fans — and what those fans need to know about Philly.
The long road to World Cup qualification isn’t over for six non-European countries.
Of those final six, three, in Iraq, Bolivia and Suriname will head to a FIFA playoff round in late March to battle it out for the last spot in Group I. Win, and in addition to a berth into the World Cup alongside Norway, France and Senegal, a stop in Philly awaits for one of the three group stage games to be played against France on June 22 (5 p.m., Fox29, tickets).
No pressure.
What’s that road look like? For Suriname and Bolivia, it’s a first-round, single-elimination playoff match in Monterrey, Mexico, on March 26 (5 p.m.). The winner will then face Iraq, again in Monterrey on March 31. That game is currently scheduled to start at 9 p.m.
Your matchups for the FIFA World Cup 26 Play-Off Tournament! 🆚
Here’s your guide to all three ahead of March’s playoff rounds, the key players who could help their nation get over the hump, and if any of these three nations have previously had a footprint here in Philly.
About the nations
BOLIVIA
Confederation: CONMEBOL; FIFA world rank: 76
A seventh-place finish in grueling CONMEBOL qualifiers is what led to the South American nation needing to win two more matches for a trip to what would be its fourth World Cup finals appearance. Coincidentally, it would be Bolivia’s first trip since 1994, the last time the event was held in the United States — should they qualify. Bolivia will look to advance out of the group stages, something it hasn’t done in any of its previous appearances in 1930 and 1950.
IRAQ
Confederation(s): AFC and WAFF; FIFA world rank: 58
The Lions of Mesopotamia, as this team is affectionately known are looking for just its second ever World Cup berth, qualifying for the 1986 edition in Mexico. The team qualified for this year’s FIFA playoff by way of originally finishing third in their qualifying group, and then needing to playing a pair of inter-confederation playoff matches. The first one against Saudi Arabia, saw the Saudis book its second consecutive trip to the World Cup at the expense of Iraq. Iraq would redeem itself by defeating the United Arab Emirates, securing this final opportunity to qualify. As the nation with the highest FIFA ranking of the three, Iraq will face the winner of March 26 first round playoff match between Bolivia and Suriname.
A second place finish in Group A of Concacaf World Cup qualifying is what kept hopes alive for this tiny South American nation which is home to a little over 600,000 people according to 2024 World Bank data. Nestled between, Guyana and French Guiana, this Dutch colony is just two matches away from qualifying for its first ever World Cup. To get it over the hump, the country appointed former Ajax manager Erik Ten Cate as its coach in December ahead of the March playoff match against Bolivia. Ten Cate, 71, has experience with the national team as its assistant in 2023.
Bolivia’s goalkeeper Carlos Lampe (right) celebrates with teammate Luis Haquin following their team’s 1-0 victory against Brazil in a 2026 World Cup qualifying match on Sept. 9, 2025.
Players to watch
Carlos Lampe (Bolivia): The longtime goalkeeper wasn’t in net for his nation in the 2024 Copa America tournament in the United States, but is expected to lead this team in March’s playoff round. Lampe, 38, who has dual citizenship in Argentina, plays his club ball for Bolívar La Paz in the first division of the Venezuelan league.
Sheraldo Becker (Suriname): Becker has had a healthy career in Europe as a forward since 2019. Currently, he’s signed with CA Osasuna in Spain’s La Liga, but is on loan with Mainz 05, in Germany’s top division. He appeared in in 20 matches for his country including six games during qualifying.
Aymen Hussein (Iraq): Hussein ranks fifth all-time on his nation’s list of top goalscorers. Since debuting for his national team in 2015, Hussein, 30, has had 88 appearances, scoring 31 goals, 12 of which have arrived in World Cup qualifying campaigns. He’s expected to lead again as Iraq will look to qualify for the World Cup for the second time ever.
Philly ties
While it would be a first for both Suriname and Iraq to have passed through the Greater Philadelphia Region as a soccer nation, Bolivia trained at WSFS Sportsplex took part in a June 12, 2024 friendly against Ecuador at Subaru Park in Chester as part of a tune-up game ahead of that summer’s Copa America tournament. Bolivia was in a group with the U.S. men’s national team and in the first match for both countries, the Americans trounced the South American nation, 4-0.
If you’re in Philly or headed to Philly over the course of the six scheduled FIFA World Cup matches from June 14 to July 4, you’re in for a treat.
And we’re not even talking about the football, fútbol, fussball, voetbal, or soccer as we know it here, we’re referring to being in the nation’s birthplace on the year of its 250th anniversary.
Philadelphia is scheduled to be “on and poppin’,” as the kids say, with a host of special events over the two glorious weeks Philly joins 16 other cities to host the largest edition of the FIFA World Cup in history.
Just how poppin’? For starters, the World Cup isn’t the only major sporting event coming through our region. Later this year, the area will host golf’s PGA Championship (May 14-17) and Major League Baseball’s All-Star weekend and the events that surround it from July 10-14.
But with a host of other events, happenings, places, and parties set for what’s expected to be quite the summer, consider this your guide to the city and what to do in addition to watching the world’s largest sporting event come through the City of Brotherly Love.
What to know about Philly
Our fair town is considered the birthplace of the United States, where the laws that govern this nation were signed and, for a while, was the nation’s capital. That changed on Nov. 17, 1800, when Washington was designated as the new capital.
National Park Service ranger James Benson uses an enlarged copy of the Declaration of Independence while talking to visitors in the Assembly Room – where both the Declaration and the U.S. Constitution were signed – on the first floor of Independence Hall.
There are a host of iconic sites, but if you’re here for the first or want to explore, we offer a look at the best things to do around the city in addition to climbing the steps of the Art Museum, taking a picture at the foot of the Rocky statue or finding the best cheesesteak in town, the latter of which varies depending on who you ask and which neighborhood you’re in.
Oh, and our food scene is one of the best in the world. Hands down.
Here’s what’s great about Philly. We have a few diagonal arterials, but the Philly metro runs on a grid, with two major highways, I-76 (east-west) and I-95 (north-south), that can get you anywhere you want to go if you’re traveling by car.
If we’re talking about matchdays and getting down to Philadelphia Stadium — which, outside of the World Cup, is Lincoln Financial Field, the home of the city’s beloved NFL franchise, the Philadelphia Eagles — then SEPTA, the city’s public transportation system, is your best bet.
SEPTA’s Broad Street Line train is a direct path from the city to the stadium on game day.
Don’t feel like figuring out all the schedules? Taxis or ride shares via Uber or Lyft also are quick and convenient options.
Spectators dance in the street as a Venezuelan dancers perform during the Wawa Welcome America Salute to Independence Day Parade in Philadelphia.
Other events coming to Philly
Here’s a highlight of just a few big events interspersed over the course of the three weeks the city will host World Cup group stage matches and the round of 16 match on July 4.
Wawa Welcome America: Philly’s annual celebration that features everything from free food, block parties, a concert, and, of course, fireworks. Oh, and it’s all free to attend. What does all that look like? Here’s what you can expect. 🗓️ June 19-July 4
What Now 2026: A five-week-long arts festival featuring works from a number of Philly artists across music, film, and, of course, art. 🗓️ May 27-July 4
America 250 at Penn: As part of a host of events, the University of Pennsylvania has an exhibit focusing on France, Haiti, and their touchpoints in our city. For any French or Haitian fans coming to town for those games who consider themselves history buffs, this might be worth checking out. 🗓️ Feb. 26-Sept. 4
What other events are on the schedule ahead this year? Take a look.
Where to watch the World Cup
Don’t have a ticket? All good.
In addition to the free FIFA Fan Festival coming to the historic grounds of Lemon Hill Mansion, Philly has a host of bars and restaurants that already serve as soccer hubs across the city. Last summer, we offered a list of the best 11 spots ahead of the FIFA Club World Cup, and we can confirm that these will be the go-to places again ahead of this summer’s edition.
You’ll certainly find a soccer crowd at Brauhaus Schmitz, which was packed during the last World Cup.
We’re hearing that local host city organizers, Philadelphia Soccer 2026, in addition to the hometown Major League Soccer team, the Philadelphia Union, also are planning watch parties across the city.
Did you know …
That the first event at Lincoln Financial Field, er, sorry, “Philadelphia Stadium,” was a preseason friendly between European club giants Manchester United and Barcelona in 2003? One could say that Philly was built for soccer.
Every World Cup is full of great stories, and Haiti will bring a lot to town this summer.
Les Grenadiers have qualified for their first men’s tournament since 1974, after not being able to play any of their home games in their own country because of political unrest. Their matchup against five-time champion Brazil in Philadelphia is one the nation really wanted because there are historic cultural and soccer ties between the countries.
But for as big as that game will be, there will be an even bigger story on the field for local soccer fans.
If Union midfielder Danley Jean Jacques makes Haiti’s squad, and he will as long as he’s healthy, he’ll have the rare privilege of getting to play a World Cup game in his club’s home city. Not his home stadium, since the game will be played at the Eagles’ home in South Philly, but it’s still an amazing thing.
“I’m very happy to be playing here in Philly because I know the atmosphere,” Jean Jacques told The Inquirer earlier this year. “I think all the fans in Philly will come to support me, and it will be a pleasure to play here.”
The last time anyone from the Concacaf region, which covers North and Central America, played a men’s World Cup game in their home city was in 1986 in Mexico. There will be many opportunities for it to happen this summer, but Jean Jacques will be the only one with a chance to achieve the feat in Philadelphia.
Haiti’s World Cup schedule
(all times Eastern)
Saturday, June 13: vs. Scotland in Foxborough, Mass., (9 p.m., FS1)
Friday, June 19: vs. Brazil at Lincoln Financial Field (9 p.m., Fox29, tickets)
Wednesday, June 24: vs. Morocco in Atlanta, (6 p.m., FS1)
Haiti’s manager, Sébastien Migné, has never set foot in the country since taking the job in 2024. … Haiti is one of the countries currently under a travel ban imposed by the Trump administration. The team’s official delegation will be able to travel here, but fans who live in the country might not be able to. … Asked about the ban at the World Cup draw in December, Migné told reporters: “It depends on Mr. Trump.” … The largest populations of Haitian expatriates in North America are believed to be in New York, northern New Jersey, Miami, and Montreal. … Haiti’s best Concacaf Gold Cup run in the modern era was in 2019, when it made the semifinals. It won the title in 1973 and was runner-up in 1971 and ’77. … Though the nation’s men’s team hadn’t made a World Cup since 1974, its women’s team got there in 2023. Attacking midfielder Melchie Dumornay of French club OL Lyonnes is one of the world’s top young players.
Union midfielder Danley Jean Jacques is expected to be a big piece of Haiti’s World Cup squad.
Three players to watch
Duke Lacroix: Here’s another Haiti story with a Philly angle, and this one might be even more surprising. Lacroix played at Penn from 2011 to 2014. Now 32, he has carved out a solid career in the second-tier USL Championship. A North Jersey native with Haitian ancestry, he earned his first national team cap in 2023.
Danley Jean Jacques: We’re mentioning him again here because it’s that big of a deal. He also could become the first active Union player to play in a World Cup game. Olivier Mbaizo was the first active Union player to make a World Cup roster, with Cameroon in 2022, but he didn’t get on the field.
Derrick Etienne Jr.: One of a few Haiti players with ties to MLS, Union fans have seen him plenty over his years with the New York Red Bulls, Atlanta, Columbus, and currently Toronto.
For a Haitian feast in Philly, get to Gou, says food writer Hira Qureshi: You’ll find fritay platters, flaky pâté pastries, griot, Rasta pasta, and hearty stews at this Olney BYOB. Crowd favorites include the zel poul (fried chicken wings glazed with mango-flavored Rhum Barbancourt, jerk seasoning, and Faye’s hot honey) and Gou’s signature plantain cups — crispy plantain shells with spicy pikliz slaw and generous heaps of shrimp, lambi (conch), oxtail, or griot.
Owned by husband-wife duo Imma and Emmanuel Laguerre and partner Yves Atoulon, Gou is one of the most exciting Caribbean restaurants in Philly’s dining scene, which is why you’ll find it on The 76, The Inquirer’s annual list of essential area restaurants. 📍5734 Old Second St., ☎️ 267-335-4176, instagram.com/gouphilly
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.
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).
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.
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.
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.
Every World Cup has its underdogs, and this year’s edition will have more than most because it’s the first with 48 teams. But none will be quite like Curaçao.
It’s the smallest country ever to qualify for a men’s World Cup, by both population (just over 150,000 people) and land mass (171 square miles).
Long ago, as a Dutch territory and then part of the former Netherlands Antilles, Curaçao became its own nation in late 2010. In March 2011, it became an independent member of FIFA.
Since then, the country has grown in soccer by leveraging its connections to the Dutch diaspora to recruit dual-national players. That started to pay off in 2017, when Curaçao qualified for the Concacaf Gold Cup for the first time. Two years later, the Blue Wave reached the quarterfinals, falling to the United States in Philadelphia.
This summer, it’ll be back at the same stadium, this time to play on soccer’s biggest stage of all.
Curaçao’s World Cup schedule
(all times Eastern)
June 14: vs. Germany in Houston (1 p.m., Fox29)
June 20: vs. Ecuador in Kansas City, Mo. (8 p.m., FS1)
June 25: vs. Ivory Coast at Lincoln Financial Field (4 p.m., FS1, tickets)
Former Phillies shortstop Didi Gregorius was born in the Netherlands and grew up in Curaçao from age 5.
Fast facts
If you’ve never seen Curaçao on a map, you might have heard of some of its neighbors. Aruba is 75 miles west over the Caribbean Sea, and Venezuela is around 40 miles south. … The squad’s veterans include brothers Juninho and Leandro Bacuna, both of whom have played in England and now play in the Netherlands and Turkey, respectively. … Curaçao’s most famous athletes traditionally have been baseball players. Notable major leaguers include Andruw Jones, Kenley Jansen, and former Phillie Didi Gregorius.
Manager Dick Advocaat is a legend of the sport who previously coached his native Netherlands, Russia, and a slew of club teams, including the Netherlands’ PSV Eindhoven and Scotland’s Rangers. But on Feb. 23, it was reported Advocaat would step down effective immediately due to personal reasons, which was reported to involve the deteriorating health of his daughter.
Advocaat will be replaced by fellow Dutchman in Fred Rutten, former manager of Dutch first teams Feyenoord, Anderlecht, and PSV Eindhoven.
Three players to watch
Eloy Room: One of a few Curaçao stalwarts with experience in MLS, he played for the Columbus Crew from 2019 to 2023 and backstopped the team’s MLS Cup title win in 2020. Forward Jürgen Locadia played down the road in Cincinnati from 2020 to 2021.
Ruben Kluivert: He hasn’t played for the Blue Wave yet, but the possibility that he might is big enough. His father is former Dutch superstar striker Patrick Kluivert, and one of his brothers is Justin Kluivert of English Premier League club Bournemouth. Ruben plays for French club Lyon and has considered committing to Curaçao. If he does, he’ll go right into the spotlight.
Tahith Chong: He grew up on the books of mighty Manchester United but never made it there. In 2023, he made it to the big time when he signed for Luton Town after the Hatters’ promotion to the Premier League. Now, he plays for Sheffield United in the second-tier Championship.
Curacao’s Roshon Van Eijma (center) guided the nation past Jamaica last year to qualify for its first-ever World Cup.
Curaçao’s Philly connection … sort of
It’s not direct, but if you’re a Union fan, it will matter to you. Curaçao topped Andre Blake’s Jamaica to win its World Cup qualifying group in the final game, a scoreless tie on Jamaica’s turf. If the Reggae Boyz had won that game, Blake may have gotten a World Cup homecoming after waiting so long to play in the tournament.
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.
There will be a lot of great teams and fun vibes in Philadelphia’s World Cup games this summer. But none will be able to match France’s array of superstar talent.
In fact, almost no other team in the world can run with the team’s depth, except maybe Spain and England. Brazil, which also will play in Philadelphia, probably is fourth.
It’s not just that France has all-everything forwards Kylian Mbappé and Ousmane Dembélé, the latter the current holder of the Ballon d’Or as the world’s best player. The team has astonishing depth at every position on the field and players at elite clubs around Europe.
They span all ages, too, from 34-year-old midfield anchor N’Golo Kanté to 19-year-old playmaker Warren Zaïre-Emery. Manager Didier Deschamps, in his third and final World Cup at the helm, will have the task of trying to pick 26 players for his squad from a sea of talent.
France’s Kylian Mbappe is hoping to pick up where he left off on what was a breakthrough performance at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar.
Not that there’s any pressure, either, after France won the 2018 World Cup — Mbappé’s breakout on the big stage — and made the 2022 final. Just three teams in soccer history have made three straight World Cup finals: West Germany’s men in 1982, ’86, and ’90; Brazil’s men in 1994, ’98, and 2002; and the U.S. women in 2011, ’15, and ’19.
It won’t be surprising if France joins that club this summer, but it will be quite impressive. Les Bleus have tough group games against Senegal, the newly crowned African champion, and Norway, with its own stars in Erling Haaland and Martin Ødegaard.
In the knockout rounds, Germany could await in a round of 16 game set for July 4 in Philadelphia. Getting to see France here twice would be quite a treat for local fans, especially that matchup.
France’s World Cup schedule
(all times Eastern)
Tuesday, June 16: vs. Senegal in East Rutherford, N.J. (3 p.m., Fox29)
Monday, June 22: vs. Bolivia, Suriname, or Iraq at Lincoln Financial Field (5 p.m., Fox29, tickets)
Friday, June 26: vs. Norway in Foxborough, Mass. (3 p.m., Fox29)
Fast facts
France’s opponent in Philadelphia will be determined by a UEFA playoff in March. Bolivia will play Suriname on March 28, and the winner will play Iraq on March 31, with both games in Monterrey, Mexico. … France is one of only eight nations to have won a men’s World Cup. It became that club’s seventh member in 1998, with a team led by the legendary Zinedine Zidane. … The Paris region has been renowned for nearly a decade as having the biggest pool of young soccer prospects anywhere in the world. … Six candidates to make France’s team played in Philadelphia during the Club World Cup, though Mbappé did not because he was ill when Real Madrid visited. … Local estimates say just over 71,000 people in the region claim French ancestry.
Kylian Mbappé: The star of stars, with a personality to match his prolific scoring and creativity. One of the biggest in this tournament too, with Lionel Messi (Argentina), Cristiano Ronaldo (Portugal), and Lamine Yamal (Spain). Thousands of fans will flock to South Philly just to see him, no matter what jersey they’re wearing.
Ousmane Dembélé: Before he led Paris Saint-Germain to last year’s Champions League title and the Club World Cup title, he was one of the most frustrating players in the sport. For all his skill, he had a track record of messing up some of the biggest scoring chances you could imagine. Something finally clicked last season, and now he’s almost unstoppable.
William Saliba: France isn’t just stacked in its attack. Its defense also is terrific, and Deschamps cares about that a lot — he was the midfield anchor of France’s ’98 champions that won the European championship two years later. Saliba is a stalwart centerback for Les Bleus and English club Arsenal, and at 24 years old is only just starting to hit his peak.
William Saliba (center) is a formidable force on the back line of France’s defense.
France’s Philly connection
There isn’t much, soccer-wise, but there have been connections outside sports for centuries. France was the first ally of the British colonies that declared independence in 1776. Benjamin Franklin led the diplomatic effort, and, in 1778, France signed the Treaty of Alliance to give its official backing.
In the early 20th century, French architect Paul Philippe Cret designed the Benjamin Franklin Parkway, modeled on Paris’ famed Avenue des Champs-Élysées. Cret also designed the bridge named in Franklin’s honor and helped renovate Rittenhouse Square into what’s now Philly’s best-known city park.
If you’re an art fan, Philly has two of the world’s largest collections of works by famed French artists: painter Pierre-Auguste Renoir at the Barnes Foundation, and the Rodin museum for sculptor Auguste Rodin. Fans walking from Center City to the World Cup fan fest on Lemon Hill will pass by both on the Parkway.
Philly and the surrounding area claims a cherished legacy of great French restaurants — Le Bec-Fin being chief among them — but food writer Beatrice Forman recommends Supérette, a new-school but extremely legit entry to the city’s Gallic scene.
The interior of Supérette, a market and restaurant that will be all things France in Philly during the World Cup.
This all-day French wine bar has perfected the art of the “sip-and-nibble” with a menu of compulsively snackable light bites that range from a sheet of tiny raviolis stuffed with comté to a sandwich on pinsa bread (focaccia’s thinner sister) layered with potato chips and customizable charcuterie boards.
The space is divided down the middle into a casual yet effortlessly trendy bar and an épicerie that sells a curated mix of meat, cheeses, prepared goods, and imported French snacks. Who’s to say you can’t enjoy a baguette straight from the bread bag at a soccer game? 📍1538 E. Passyunk Ave., superettephl.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.
