Philadelphia may have missed out on hosting the opening ceremony and will play no part in the final, but the city has established itself as one of the genuine success stories of World Cup 2026.

Lincoln Financial Field — home of NFL side the Philadelphia Eagles — has drawn capacity crowds for group stage matches featuring Brazil, France, and Ivory Coast. In the tournament's first two weeks alone, 250,000 supporters passed through the fan park gates to watch games on giant screens.

A city that lives for sport

The BBC World Service programme More than the Score sent presenter John Bennett to explore the fan experience first-hand. Bennett attended a tailgate party ahead of the Brazil v Haiti fixture, speaking with supporters and taking in the local food culture that has become synonymous with Philadelphia matchdays.

Co-presenter Lee James went further, visiting all four of Philadelphia's major professional sports franchises — the Eagles, the Phillies, the 76ers, and the Flyers — to understand the deep sporting identity that runs through the city.

Why Philadelphia wanted the World Cup

Meg Kane, the host city executive for Philadelphia Soccer 2026, explained to the programme what motivated the city to bid for matches and what lasting benefits it hopes to gain from the experience.

With 48 nations competing across Mexico, the United States, and Canada, the tournament is the largest in World Cup history. Philadelphia's enthusiastic embrace of the competition suggests the city has made the most of its moment on the global stage.

More than the Score is available on BBC World Service and wherever you get your BBC podcasts.