PHILADELPHIA — Earlier this week, Governor Josh Shapiro arrived at a trendy cafe in a black SUV and immediately headed to a backroom filled with selected World Cup social media influencers. He spent about an hour mingling and forming connections with those who might portray Philadelphia positively — and potentially his future candidacy for the 2028 Democratic presidential nomination.
Shapiro entertained the group with stories, sharing how NBA star turned TV analyst Charles Barkley had praised him, how he managed to make Jerry Seinfeld laugh, and how Philadelphia would host UFC 330. “I am not putting a claw on the governor’s residence lawn,” Shapiro joked. “We’re going to do it in a proper venue.”
However, the main focus was the World Cup. Wearing a navy U.S. Men’s National Team polo and FIFA-themed Adidas Stan Smiths, Shapiro expressed his enthusiasm for the event. “I don’t know that we’re gonna make a run all the way to the end here, but there’s something really exciting — I mean people who don’t know anything about soccer are tuning in and watching and getting pumped up,” he said. “I think sports is an amazing thing, and it has the effect of changing the psychology of the entire city.”
Shapiro, more of a Sixers fan than a Philadelphia Union supporter, has recently embraced soccer. He’s attended three matches at Lincoln Financial Field, surpassing other potential 2028 presidential candidates in this regard. While Zohran Mamdani, the Mayor of New York City, has engaged soccer media with his knowledge, and Kansas City Mayor Quinton Lucas is also involved, Shapiro stands out in his enthusiasm for the tournament.
“I’m especially proud to see people from all across the world coming here to Philadelphia and being greeted not just by a governor who’s happy they’re here, but by Philadelphians and Pennsylvanians who are thrilled to see them here,” Shapiro stated in an interview. He added that the atmosphere contrasts with what he described as the harsh rhetoric and policies of President Donald Trump, suggesting a more welcoming environment during the World Cup in Philadelphia.
Shapiro’s World Cup engagement could potentially benefit him politically. Matt Bennett of the center-left think tank Third Way commented, “The U.S. team is kicking ass. And Trump is ignoring it. Democrats should own it all — go to games, watch them in bars with fans, brag about our team, hang out with the Scots. Show the country that we’re normal, patriotic and fun-loving.”
After meeting with influencers, Shapiro visited the FIFA Fan Festival at Fairmount Park’s Lemon Hill, where he greeted volunteers and explored a fan zone. There, he assembled a collectible Bank of America Fan Band, choosing charms that spelled “250” for the Semiquincentennial.
Throughout his interactions, Shapiro conducted informal polls, asking revelers to name the tournament’s greatest player, often mentioning Argentinian and French stars. “Lionel Messi or Kylian Mbappé?” he frequently asked, a habit his staffers noted as a way to engage and gather opinions.
He then visited a makeshift arcade featuring a game called Soccer Jawn, reminiscent of Atari Pong. He played the game with various new acquaintances, including a young visitor from Virginia, whose father was a fan of Shapiro.
“Who do you think is better: Mbappé or Messi?” he asked the kid, who responded with Mbappé. Shapiro fist-bumped the child and continued to interact with the crowd, capturing selfies along the way.
“I think the world needs some more togetherness, needs some more cheer, and this is a great opportunity,” Shapiro told reporters.
When asked about former Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel’s decision to reject FIFA and Chicago as a World Cup host, Shapiro said, “I’m not going to comment on Rahm, because I didn’t hear him say it, but I’ll just say we’re looking at $770 million in economic impact here, and remember it’s across the state with Reading, with Pittsburgh and Scranton, of course, here Philly, which is the center of the soccer universe.” He highlighted the impact on local businesses like hotels, restaurants, and bars.
Later, Shapiro headed to the Linc, also known as Philadelphia Stadium in FIFA terms, to watch the first half of Iraq vs. France. He witnessed Mbappé score twice, including a back post screamer in the 13th minute. Before that, he gave another interview on the World Cup with NPR Sports in America.
Back at the FIFA Fan Festival, Shapiro spoke about his endorsed congressional candidates, his recent meeting with Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney, and Philadelphia’s connection to the U.S. men’s team.
The state is home to three U.S. players: Matt Freese from Wayne, Christian Pulisic from Hershey, and Auston Trusty from Media. “Freese first off has just been lights out at goalie,” Shapiro noted. “Hopefully, Pulisic is going to be healthy for Thursday night. [He was.] I got a soft place in my heart for Trusty.”
Shapiro elaborated that Trusty’s mother was in a law partnership with the mother of his son’s girlfriend. Although he didn’t join them for dinner last week, he made a video for Trusty, expressing pride in his achievements. “Just letting them know how proud we are of him,” Shapiro said, describing Trusty as “someone who can surprise us going forward.”
A press aide informed Shapiro he had time for one more question. When asked, “Messi or Mbappé?” Shapiro replied, “Mbappé today may be a slightly better player. Messi has that thing that Michael Jordan had, which is just playing it at a different level, where it’s not just that he’s the best player on the pitch; he’s just in a different universe. He just does things that others simply can’t do. So, I mean, the three goals he had in that first game, actually, the first one, was extraordinary. I think Messi overall. Mbappé is pretty damn good right now.”
