France Wins Against Backdrop of FIFA’s Fourth of July

PHILADELPHIA — In the birthplace of the U.S. on its 250th anniversary, France and Paraguay battled in a blisteringly hot World Cup knockout match.

France knocked out Paraguay with a 1–0 win in the round of 16 in Philadelphia on Saturday evening. The players, and the official sell-out crowd of 68,324 people, endured one of the all-time hottest World Cup matches, with many fans baking in sun for the entire game.

The temperature was 99 degrees at kickoff at 5 p.m. ET. The sun was strong and the air felt thick in the seats that got direct sunlight, though it was breezy in the upper levels of the stadium. By the start of the second half, around 6:10 p.m., most of the field was shaded. The temperature was 97 degrees.

FIFA put large paper cards, or tifos, on each seat ahead of the match that it created to use as a patriotic display for the Fourth of July, but the sheets also doubled as a paper fan—and for some in attendance, sun shades and even hats. Fans sat in the shaded concourse before the match began, and many waited in a long line for Italian ice. Some had electronic fans around their necks, others wore towels on their heads.

Like most World Cup matches, the price for tickets to the match climbed on secondary markets after the tournament began, then fell in the past weeks. The get-in price is about the same as it was a month ago, but 68% lower than it was two weeks ago, according to resale market tracker TicketData. Throughout the past three days, the get-in price rose 8% to $1,040 in the hours before the game, according to the company. Marie Pierre, a Philadelphian originally from Paris, told Front Office Sports she bought tickets for her family of four at close to $2,000 apiece this week.

Paraguay was the lowest-ranked team in the round of 16 after beating Germany in a penalty shootout in Boston on Monday, one of the biggest knockout upsets in World Cup history. Shortly before Saturday’s match, Paraguay was No. 34 to France’s No. 1 in the FIFA world rankings.

The match was defined by scrappy play, largely instigated by the South American side. Paraguay committed more than a dozen fouls, but only received one yellow card (awarded to a coach after the final whistle). France broke through in the 70th minute off a Kylian Mbappé penalty kick, bringing the Real Madrid forward back even with Lionel Messi in the Golden Boot race at seven goals. Neither side scored again, and Paraguay’s World Cup journey that began with the U.S. opener in Los Angeles ended in the City of Brotherly Love.

“If we need to get our hands dirty, we’ll get them dirty,” Mbappé said after the match. “Even in the dirty game, we were better. They tried to unsettle us, but we were the ones who got into their heads.”

France has a particularly grueling path to the final, already playing in 90-degree weather once in the round of 32 in New Jersey, and now again during Saturday’s scorcher in Philadelphia. Its next match will also be outside in Boston in the quarterfinal against Morocco on Thursday. It’s a more physically demanding knockout schedule than other top teams’: Fellow tournament frontrunner Spain played in Los Angeles and will face Portugal indoors in Dallas during the knockout rounds, with the potential to go back to Southern California. (All teams will play indoors in the semifinals before an outdoor final in New Jersey.)

The weather brings up a talking point for Philadelphia sports organizers that support building a domed stadium in the city. No talks have been made public, but Eagles owner Jeff Lurie said he wants to host a Super Bowl, and the team polled season-ticket holders about the topic this spring.

France–Paraguay by no means screams “America,” although Paraguay’s red-and-white striped kits combined with France’s dark blue shirts felt especially fitting for the day. But FIFA tried its hardest to create an apt birthday party for its hosts, with “Firework” by Katy Perry and “Party in the U.S.A.” by Miley Cyrus blasting through the speakers as FIFA wished fans a happy Fourth of July.

Walking through the stadium, U.S. attire was bountiful: not just soccer kits, but also costumes of founding fathers. Teddy George, sporting a tricorne hat, long-sleeve white colonial shirt, and trousers, told FOS he came to the match after visiting Independence Hall earlier in the day.

“I’m from Philadelphia, the Fourth of July is my favorite holiday already,” George said. “I’ve been looking forward to today for a long time.”

The French did not wear their Statue of Liberty–themed jerseys, however, some U.S. fans acknowledged the bond between the two countries, thanking France on a sign for the “assist” in the Revolutionary War.

FIFA organized a massive U.S.-themed show before the match. Idina Menzel sang “The Star-Spangled Banner,” followed by four fighter jets roaring over the stadium. The Philadelphia Boys Choir & Chorale performed “America The Beautiful,” and lines of the U.S. Constitution were spoken aloud and unfurled on banners across the pitch. Dancers in red, white, and blue jumpsuits danced with giant stars behind Philadelphia-founded band “The Roots.” FIFA also deployed smoke bombs and pyrotechnics.

While not as complex as a Super Bowl halftime show, the multi-leg performance offered a flash of what FIFA may pull together for its own halftime show at the World Cup final on July 19. The global governing body announced its first-ever final halftime show featuring Madonna, Shakira, and BTS last month.

Saturday’s match marked the sixth and final World Cup match for Philadelphia, though the city’s Fan Fest will continue through the end of the tournament. The festival is possible because of the city’s robust World Cup fundraising efforts; the head of Philadelphia’s host committee told FOS before the tournament they anticipated about $140 million in public and private funding by the end of the World Cup.

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