On Sept. 15, one week before delegates from FIFA are set arrive in Philadelphia to tour the city and Lincoln Financial Field as a potential World Cup 2026 site, Subaru Park in Chester, PA held an international match of its own.
Philadelphia Union of Major League Soccer hosted Liga MX side Club for the second leg of the CONCACAF Champions League Semifinal. Already trailing 2-0 on aggregate, the Union needed a nearly perfect game if they hoped to turn things around and advance to the championship round.
Prior to the match, fans of both teams gathered outside the stadium on the Subaru Plaza and were able to show support for Philadelphia Soccer 2026, Philadelphia’s bid to host the FIFA World Cup, with t-shirts provided by the group.
Once the game kicked off, the Union’s effort was undoubtedly noticeable. The team had a higher percentage of possession, more passes, a higher pass accuracy percentage and more corner kicks than Club América. However, they could not find the back of the net.
After absorbing pressure for the majority of the match, the visiting side broke through in the 79th minute before adding an insurance goal during second-half stoppage time to win, 2-0. Club América advanced to the finals after winning 4-0 on aggregate and will be looking for its eighth title.
