Lincoln Financial Field, Philadelphia’s beating heart for a 4 July World Cup tie | OneFootball

A few kilometres from Independence Hall, Lincoln Financial Field has been rebadged Philadelphia Stadium for the World Cup and will stage six matches, including a round of 16 on 4 July as the city marks the United States’ 250th anniversary. L'Équipe notes the venue has been stripped of Eagles branding since mid-June.

Opened in 2003 to replace the much-maligned Veterans Stadium and its reviled artificial turf, the Linc is home to the Philadelphia Eagles, among the NFL’s most fervently supported teams.

Seating nearly 68,000, it rises inside South Philadelphia’s vast sports complex, ringed by highways and sprawling car parks, a scene that feels distinctly American.

The 4 July tie lands in a city steeped in nationhood, from the Liberty Bell to its spell as federal capital between 1790 and 1800.

France face Iraq at the Linc on Monday at 23:00. If they top their group and win a round of 32 in New York, they could return here to the epicentre of American patriotism.

In these parts the Eagles are a civic creed, their Fly, Eagles Fly anthem rattling the stands on matchdays. Football is only passing through, but the stadium reflects an America proud of history and symbols. On 4 July the global game may step into that story, perhaps with Kylian Mbappé, Michael Olise and others, and that would be a historic day for Les Bleus.

Source: L'Équipe