French Fans Call Philadelphia a Paris-Like World Cup Host Ahead of 5 p.m. Iraq Match
Updated
Updated · The Philadelphia Inquirer · Jun 23
French Fans Call Philadelphia a Paris-Like World Cup Host Ahead of 5 p.m. Iraq Match
2 articles · Updated · The Philadelphia Inquirer · Jun 23
Summary
French supporters in Philadelphia for Monday’s 5 p.m. World Cup game against Iraq said parts of the city feel strikingly Parisian, especially around Center City and City Hall.
Fans were not unanimous, but several pointed to French-style architecture, narrower streets and a more European feel than U.S. West Coast cities; one visitor said Philadelphia looked closer to Montreal’s French quarter.
Philadelphia’s French ties run beyond architecture — from Benjamin Franklin’s diplomacy in France to the Michelin Guide naming it America’s “Frenchest” city in 2023.
By midday, French jerseys had filled downtown before fans headed to South Philadelphia, briefly turning the World Cup host into what one supporter called the most French city in the U.S.