Ivory Coast Brings World Cup Excitement to Chester as Fans Pack Subaru Park for Sold-Out Friendly @JeffSkverskyYouTube CHESTER, Pa. — The road to the FIFA World Cup in Philadelphia made a stop in Chester on Monday night, and fans packed Subaru Park to get a glimpse of one of the tournament’s teams before the action officially begins. The Philadelphia Union made tickets available for free on its website for a friendly match between Union II and the Ivory Coast national team. The tickets were claimed quickly, resulting in a sold-out crowd eager to soak in the World Cup atmosphere. “You start to get the World Cup vibes,” said Union fan Mike Kelly. “So international, sitting in the crowd — people speaking French, Spanish, English and German. They’re all here just to watch. Pretty cool.” The Ivory Coast squad, one of the teams set to compete in Philadelphia during the World Cup, used the match as its final tune-up before opening tournament play on Sunday. For many fans wearing orange throughout the stadium, the night felt like a home game despite being thousands of miles from West Africa. “I love it. I came right from work today to soak it all in,” said Will Saie, an Ivory Coast native who now lives in the Delaware Valley. Saie said the event showcased one of the best aspects of the World Cup. “I’ve lived in Philadelphia for over 26 years, and just all the people watching the beautiful game together — it’s amazing,” he said. Ayouva Fayne, another Ivory Coast supporter, was thrilled by the turnout. “There’s orange all over the place,” Fayne said. “We’re not here to play. We’re here to win.” While Union II faced a daunting challenge against a World Cup-caliber opponent, the experience was one that players won’t soon forget. “Hopefully not a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity,” Union II goalkeeper Pierce Holbrook said. “But for us right now, this is an amazing opportunity to go up against a World Cup team and see where we stand and just have fun and take the experience.” Fans also appreciated the rare opportunity to watch international stars without paying World Cup ticket prices. “The World Cup being in the U.S. is an awesome event,” Kelly said. “It’s expensive, so it’s really cool the Union put this together with the Ivory Coast. A free game where you can bring your kids and watch world-class players.” The Ivory Coast defeated Union II 2-0 in the friendly. The team will hold an open practice for fans on Friday in Chester before opening its World Cup schedule Sunday against Ecuador. Philadelphia is set to host six World Cup matches during the tournament.
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