{"id":15194163,"date":"2026-07-03T23:45:03","date_gmt":"2026-07-04T03:45:03","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.inthacity.com\/news\/france-and-paraguay-prepare-for-phillys-final-world-cup-game-and-its-going-to-be-a-hot-one\/"},"modified":"2026-07-04T06:33:48","modified_gmt":"2026-07-04T10:33:48","slug":"france-and-paraguay-prepare-for-phillys-final-world-cup-game-and-its-going-to-be-a-hot-one","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.inthacity.com\/news\/france-and-paraguay-prepare-for-phillys-final-world-cup-game-and-its-going-to-be-a-hot-one\/","title":{"rendered":"France and Paraguay prepare for Philly\u2019s final World Cup game \u2014 and it\u2019s going to be a hot one"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Love Philly? So do we. Let\u2019s be friends. <\/em>Sign up for the Billy Penn newsletter today<\/em><\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n

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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\u2019s set to be a scorching Fourth of July Saturday at 5 p.m.<\/p>\n

The city has hosted soccer on America\u2019s birthday before, in last year\u2019s FIFA Club World Cup game between Chelsea and Palmeiras<\/a>.<\/p>\n

It was warm last year, and one game<\/a> probably should have been called off<\/a>, but nowhere near the heat expected for Saturday\u2019s game.<\/p>\n

The heat<\/h2>\n

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.<\/p>\n

There will be misting fans on 11th Street approaching the stadium and cooling tents within its perimeter.<\/p>\n

Fans will also be allowed to bring in \u201cone, soft, plastic, 20 ounces (590ml), factory-sealed disposable water bottle,\u201d which can be refilled at the water fountains in the stadium\u2019s concourse, near Sections 103, 118, 122, C3, C19, C24, C38, 204 and 222.<\/p>\n

\u201cFIFA is committed to protecting the health and safety of all players, referees, fans, volunteers and staff through a tiered heat mitigation model,\u201d the organization said. \u201cThrough 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.\u201d<\/p>\n

As a further safety precaution, the FIFA fan fest at Lemon Hill<\/a> adjusted its hours this week to protect visitors from the heat, and will be closing at 4 p.m., an hour before Saturday\u2019s kickoff.<\/p>\n

The Paraguayans may have grown up more accustomed to the heat, but Paraguay\u2019s head coach Gustavo Alfaro said that it will still be a factor both sides will suffer. France winger D\u00e9sir\u00e9 Dou\u00e9 said something similar in Friday\u2019s press conference. <\/p>\n

The match-up<\/h2>\n

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<\/a>. The holdout victory was significant enough that Paraguay President Santiago Pe\u00f1a declared the next day a public holiday<\/a>.<\/p>\n

France previously played in Philly last week, in a 3-0 win over Iraq<\/a> 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 \u201cunfriendly\u201d friendly<\/a> at Chester\u2019s Subaru Park. <\/p>\n

\u201cLa Albirroja\u201d were beaten again by the U.S. in their opening game of the World Cup<\/a>,  but managed to pick themselves up and beat T\u00fcrkiye 1-0. A tie with Australia then secured them enough points to advance to the knockout rounds.<\/p>\n

Now, the team has the chance to reach the quarterfinals, something that it has only ever done once before, in 2010.<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

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 \u201clow block\u201d tactic, often labelled as \u201cparking the bus\u201d in front of goal, a strategy that took Germany to penalties will be used on Saturday.<\/p>\n

France\u2019s 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<\/a>, 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. <\/p>\n

Still, he said that Paraguay didn\u2019t reach the round of 16 by chance, and that he respects them as a team that knows their football well.<\/p>\n

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Players of Paraguay stretch a training session ahead of the team’s World Cup round of 16 soccer match against France in Philadelphia, Friday, July 3, 2026. (AP Photo\/Petr David Josek)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The show<\/h2>\n

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\u2019s probably why you normally see stories about cities having water usage spikes from flushing toilets during half time<\/a>, and why there\u2019s at least one animated comedy with that as a major plot point<\/a>.<\/p>\n

But with FIFA\u2019s decision to break up all games this tournament with hydration breaks \u2014 where broadcasters can conveniently play more ads<\/a> \u2014 and the fact the game is on the Fourth of July, on the nation\u2019s 250th birthday,  allows for more pageantry this summer.<\/p>\n

Even though the U.S. doesn\u2019t play until Monday, Saturday\u2019s match will be prefaced with Broadway star Idina Menzel singing the national anthem, and Philly Boys Choir & Chorale<\/a> doing a rendition of \u201cAmerica the Beautiful.\u201d There will also be a flyover by the Naval Air Station Oceana\u2019s VFA-11 and VFA-81 squadrons. Philadelphia\u2019s own The Roots band will also be performing before the game.<\/p>\n

At halftime, fans in the stadium will be treated to a musical performance by another one of Philadelphia\u2019s sons: DJ Jazzy Jeff.<\/p>\n

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\u2019s captain Gustavo G\u00f3mez was with Palmeiras, but did not feature in that game due to a suspension.<\/p>\n

Dou\u00e9 said he hoped the France team could celebrate both the U.S.\u2019s birthday and a victory with the fans, pointing out that France\u2019s own Bastille Day is 10 days later, on July 14.<\/p>\n

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France’s Desire Doue runs during a training session ahead of the team’s World Cup round of 16 soccer match against Paraguay in Philadelphia, Friday, July 3, 2026. (AP Photo\/Petr David Josek)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The post France and Paraguay prepare for Philly\u2019s final World Cup game \u2014 and it\u2019s going to be a hot one<\/a> appeared first on Billy Penn at WHYY<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Source: News \u2013 World \u2013 Philadephia \u2013 rss.app2 \u2192 manual entry<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Love Philly? So do we. Let\u2019s be friends. Sign up for the Billy Penn newsletter today. Philly will host its final FIFA World Cup game tomorrow, with a Round of […]
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