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Online hopes (and rumors) that the USA could face England in the FIFA World Cup this Independence Day in Philadelphia persist, but could that actually happen?
It would be too perfect for the teams to face off against each other on the 250th anniversary of the nation's independence, in the city where the Declaration was originally signed, but the bracket math just doesn't pan out.
Here's why.
Based on the bracketing for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, a faceoff between the U.S. and England on Philly turf this Independence Day is not possible, and that's because there's no shot for England to make it to either precursor match leading up to July 4.
In fact, Team USA likely won't either.
Let's break it down.
The July 4th Philadelphia match is a Round of 16 knockout-round battle between the winners of matches 74 and 77.
Match 74 will be played at Boston Stadium on Monday, June 29, between the Group E winners and the third-place team from either Group A, B, C, D or F.
Match 77 will be played at New York New Jersey Stadium on Tuesday, June 30, between the Group I winner and the third-place team from either Group C, D, F, G or H.
While the USMNT is in Group D, meaning they technically could have made the third-place pool for either match, they're sitting at the top rank in Group D with one more game in the group rounds to be played against Turkiye on Thursday, June 25, and the odds of a third-place group finish are impossible.
England, on the other hand, never had a shot, sitting in Group L, which had no feed to either game.
Kaitlyn McCormick is a Philadelphia-based reporter writing all things trending, breaking and city-related for USA TODAY's Philadelphia Metro Connect Team.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Can the USA play England on July 4 in Philly? What the bracket says
Continue reading...
It would be too perfect for the teams to face off against each other on the 250th anniversary of the nation's independence, in the city where the Declaration was originally signed, but the bracket math just doesn't pan out.
Here's why.
Will the U.S. play England on July 4 FIFA World Cup?
Based on the bracketing for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, a faceoff between the U.S. and England on Philly turf this Independence Day is not possible, and that's because there's no shot for England to make it to either precursor match leading up to July 4.
In fact, Team USA likely won't either.
Let's break it down.
The July 4th Philadelphia match is a Round of 16 knockout-round battle between the winners of matches 74 and 77.
Match 74 will be played at Boston Stadium on Monday, June 29, between the Group E winners and the third-place team from either Group A, B, C, D or F.
Match 77 will be played at New York New Jersey Stadium on Tuesday, June 30, between the Group I winner and the third-place team from either Group C, D, F, G or H.
While the USMNT is in Group D, meaning they technically could have made the third-place pool for either match, they're sitting at the top rank in Group D with one more game in the group rounds to be played against Turkiye on Thursday, June 25, and the odds of a third-place group finish are impossible.
England, on the other hand, never had a shot, sitting in Group L, which had no feed to either game.
Kaitlyn McCormick is a Philadelphia-based reporter writing all things trending, breaking and city-related for USA TODAY's Philadelphia Metro Connect Team.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Can the USA play England on July 4 in Philly? What the bracket says
Continue reading...
