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The Philadelphia Inquirer
The Philadelphia Inquirer
Sport
Marcus Hayes

Marcus Hayes: World Cup 2026 can change Philadelphia’s reputation and profile

PHILADELPHIA — It’s never too late to make a fresh impression.

Philadelphia landed a bid to be one of the 11 cities in the U.S. chosen by FIFA to host World Cup games when the tournament visits North America in 2026. So did Dallas and Boston, but hey, everyone makes mistakes.

None of the lucky 11 needs this sort of boost more than Philly. Plagued by problems — income disparity and poverty, political corruption, homelessness, gun violence — the town’s stature is receding faster than Mayor Kenney’s hairline.

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