From Philadelphia and the Pennsylvania suburbs to South Jersey and Delaware, what would you like to see covered in WHYY News? Tell us!
FIFA World Cup champion Argentina defeated El Salvador 3-0 on a frigid Friday night at Lincoln Financial Field in the first match since it was announced that six matches would be played at the 2026 FIFA World Cup. Ta.
The game was quiet when Lionel Messi, Argentina's captain, global superstar and perhaps the greatest player of all time, had to withdraw from the team with a hamstring injury. Messi's presence since moving to the United States to play for Major League Soccer's Inter Miami probably would have ensured a near-capacity crowd, as there was in Chester last year against the Philadelphia Union.
The match drew a crowd of about 15,000, which was far from full, but this was no big surprise. Messi's absence, the game being announced just four weeks after Argentina's scheduled game in China was canceled, the weather being 41 degrees Fahrenheit and rain forecast, comedian Jo Koy's There were factors like performing at the Wells Fargo Center, which is across the street, and March Madness. The question of whether ticket prices should have been lowered a little a few days earlier probably contributed to the low turnout.
Despite Messi's absence, the world champions have fielded a squad full of world-class players, most of whom play for the world's biggest club teams such as Manchester City, Liverpool, Manchester United, Inter Milan and Atletico Madrid. was playing in
Meg Cain, host city executive for Philadelphia Soccer 2026, said before the game: “It's great for Philadelphia to host players with deep roots in soccer from around the world.” “And, of course, Argentina are the reigning World Cup champions.”
“I think it's really exciting for all of us to be able to attract such elite talent to Lincoln Financial Field,” she said.
