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Philly will host its final FIFA World Cup game tomorrow, with a Round of 16 fixture between France and Paraguay on what’s set to be a scorching Fourth of July Saturday at 5 p.m.
The city has hosted soccer on America’s birthday before, in last year’s FIFA Club World Cup game between Chelsea and Palmeiras.
It was warm last year, and one game probably should have been called off, but nowhere near the heat expected for Saturday’s game.
The heat
Temperatures are forecasted to remain excessively high on Saturday, so extra precautions have been set up to try and keep everyone safe in and around Philadelphia Stadium.
There will be misting fans on 11th Street approaching the stadium and cooling tents within its perimeter.
Fans will also be allowed to bring in “one, soft, plastic, 20 ounces (590ml), factory-sealed disposable water bottle,” which can be refilled at the water fountains in the stadium’s concourse, near Sections 103, 118, 122, C3, C19, C24, C38, 204 and 222.
“FIFA is committed to protecting the health and safety of all players, referees, fans, volunteers and staff through a tiered heat mitigation model,” the organization said. “Through close collaboration with the City of Philadelphia, medical experts and emergency authorities, FIFA remains committed to delivering a safe, resilient and memorable tournament experience for everyone involved.”
As a further safety precaution, the FIFA fan fest at Lemon Hill adjusted its hours this week to protect visitors from the heat, and will be closing at 4 p.m., an hour before Saturday’s kickoff.
The Paraguayans may have grown up more accustomed to the heat, but Paraguay’s head coach Gustavo Alfaro said that it will still be a factor both sides will suffer. France winger Désiré Doué said something similar in Friday’s press conference.
The match-up
This game sets up an enticing match-up between France, two-time World Cup champions that have dominated teams all tournament, and Paraguay, which just barely made the knockout rounds but then pulled off a surprise penalty shootout win over four-time champions Germany. The holdout victory was significant enough that Paraguay President Santiago Peña declared the next day a public holiday.
France previously played in Philly last week, in a 3-0 win over Iraq that had the longest-ever weather delay in World Cup history. Paraguay last played near Philly in November, losing 2-1 to the U.S. team in an “unfriendly” friendly at Chester’s Subaru Park.
“La Albirroja” were beaten again by the U.S. in their opening game of the World Cup, but managed to pick themselves up and beat Türkiye 1-0. A tie with Australia then secured them enough points to advance to the knockout rounds.
Now, the team has the chance to reach the quarterfinals, something that it has only ever done once before, in 2010.
After the 120-minute defensive display against Germany, Paraguay will have to find the energy and motivation to hold off a France side that will be more rested because of how dominant its attack has been against opposition this tournament, scoring 13 goals and only conceding two.
On Friday, Alfaro compared France to a lightning storm, a force you can only really hunker down and ride out in a sheltered space. This probably means that the same extremely defensive “low block” tactic, often labelled as “parking the bus” in front of goal, a strategy that took Germany to penalties will be used on Saturday.
France’s head coach Didier Deschamps has some experience against Paraguay, as the captain of the French national team back in the 1998 World Cup. After a hard-earned golden goal victory, France went on to win that tournament, and Deschamps later went on to become the third person to win the tournament as a player and a coach.
Still, he said that Paraguay didn’t reach the round of 16 by chance, and that he respects them as a team that knows their football well.
The show
Unlike the NFL and other sports in America, soccer historically tends to be relatively muted when it comes to musical guests and performances during the breaks. That’s probably why you normally see stories about cities having water usage spikes from flushing toilets during half time, and why there’s at least one animated comedy with that as a major plot point.
But with FIFA’s decision to break up all games this tournament with hydration breaks — where broadcasters can conveniently play more ads — and the fact the game is on the Fourth of July, on the nation’s 250th birthday, allows for more pageantry this summer.
Even though the U.S. doesn’t play until Monday, Saturday’s match will be prefaced with Broadway star Idina Menzel singing the national anthem, and Philly Boys Choir & Chorale doing a rendition of “America the Beautiful.” There will also be a flyover by the Naval Air Station Oceana’s VFA-11 and VFA-81 squadrons. Philadelphia’s own The Roots band will also be performing before the game.
At halftime, fans in the stadium will be treated to a musical performance by another one of Philadelphia’s sons: DJ Jazzy Jeff.
Malo Gusto is the one player who will be familiar with July Fourth soccer in Philly, having played in the Chelsea team last summer. Paraguay’s captain Gustavo Gómez was with Palmeiras, but did not feature in that game due to a suspension.
Doué said he hoped the France team could celebrate both the U.S.’s birthday and a victory with the fans, pointing out that France’s own Bastille Day is 10 days later, on July 14.
