Rain shuts down FIFA’s Fan Festival, but World Cup fans found creative ways to keep the fever going

Heavy rain might’ve washed out the FIFA Fan Festival a little more than an hour after its opening, but fans of Les Bleus spread out to different corners of the city to watch their side take on Iraq.

A weather delay at halftime brought on by heavy thunderstorms extended the game by a little over an hour, but French supporters were eventually treated to a 3-0 win over Iraq that secured France a trip to the knockout round and pushed them one step closer to winning Group I.

Before extreme weather caused it to close for the day, Gov. Josh Shapiro became the latest elected official to visit the FIFA Fan Festival at Lemon Hill Park on Monday afternoon.

Shapiro, sporting a navy blue U.S. Soccer polo, walked the festival grounds before Monday’s first match, between defending champion Argentina and Austria.

» READ MORE: Philly has been called the ‘Paris of America.’ Here’s what French fans in town for the World Cup think.

“What a unique event and historic moment for our city at this historic juncture of 250 years,” Shapiro said. “To be able to be together and just celebrate one another, celebrate this great sport and enjoy yourself … I think the world needs some more togetherness, needs some more cheer, and this is a great opportunity for that.”

He was greeted by lines of volunteers entering the festival, then followed in Mayor Cherelle L. Parker’s footsteps by customizing a charm bracelet at the Bank of America tent.

He chose charms that read “250.”

In a brief news conference in front of the festival stage, Shapiro hailed Philadelphia’s Fan Festival as the best “in the country.”

“This is Philly, man,” Shapiro said. “We know how to do big things. It’s extraordinary to see people come out happy and joyful, cheering for their team. Unlike a typical Philly sports event, our fans aren’t cheering against others. There’s just happiness and joy. … I’m glad that Philly is a welcoming city and welcoming people from all across the world to be here.”

Shapiro stopped to chat with dozens of attendees inside Visit PA’s booth and play a large arcade-style video game with a young fan in a Paris Saint-Germain kit. He asked French fans in line if Argentina’s Lionel Messi or France’s Kylian Mbappé was the better player, and stopped with an Argentina fan to recount Messi’s performance in Argentina’s win over Algeria.

» READ MORE: More rain expected as fans leave following France win; fan fest shut down at Fairmount Park; latest forecast

One of the people Shapiro introduced himself to was 18-year-old Esra Asfaw, who had a French flag draped over his shoulders. Asfaw, a George Mason student originally from Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, said he did not know who Shapiro was when the Governor introduced himself.

“I was so surprised,” Asfaw said.

Asfaw traveled up from Virginia to Philadelphia to see Les Bleus face Iraq at Lincoln Financial Field. He paid $1,089 on the resale market for his 200-level seats. Asfaw said he was not worried about the outcome of the match, instead fretting about the weather.

“Maybe the match might get delayed,” Asfaw said. “That’s the only thing I’m worried about. If it rains and they play, then that’s enough for me.”

Rain routinely doused Philadelphia throughout Monday. A heavy storm led the Fan Festival to turn off the broadcast of Argentina-Austria around 1:40 p.m., less than two hours after the festival opened to the public.

Festival goers were asked to evacuate the grounds as a mid-afternoon storm approached, and the area was drenched by the time Argentina and Austria reached halftime. Many of the festival attendees sought refuge in the welcome center tent set up along Kelly Drive, streaming the Argentina match from their phones.

The tent cleared out once the festival announced it was ceasing operations for the day at 1:53 p.m. It will reopen on Tuesday at noon to show the first three matches of the day, though rain is in the forecast.

The Fan Festival shut down for the day, but the prematch party continued on across the city.

Mahir Sanori and Gene Lazarraga staked out their spot across from the bar at Lion Sports Bar in Chinatown by 3:20 p.m., more than an hour before France and Iraq’s scheduled kick-off time.

Sanori and Lazarraga have no connection to France, aside from Lazarraga’s French classes at Delran High School in Burlington County, but the former high school classmates chose to cheer on Les Bleus.

“We were both free this day, so [we said], ‘Let’s just do it,’” Sanori said.

Lazarraga was wearing a Nike-branded navy blue French kit, while Sanori sported a white T-shirt colored in with fabric marker to make the French tricolor.

The pair also picked up some France face stickers and a French flag at Walmart, the latter of which was draped over Sanori’s shoulders.

Sanori and Lazarraga arrived just after Lion Sports Bar finished hosting a group of French supporters for prematch festivities, but both said they appreciated the influx of global culture brought to the region by the beautiful game.

“Seeing all these different groups of people come together, that’s kind of a rare sight in America,” Lazarraga said. “Especially with the sports here, people just go at each others’ throats. But, different countries [are] coming together, everyone’s just having a fun time. I just enjoy that vibe. That’s why we’re here right now.”

Later in the evening, French fans packed into The Good King Tavern in Queen Village to watch their side face Iraq.

The French bistro’s bar, which has just one TV, was at capacity by 4:15 p.m., leading the restaurant to stage an impromptu opening of its upstairs wine bar, Le Caveau.

Kim Krzaczek was one of the French fans who sat at the bar turned toward its TV as the match kicked off. The Philly native became a soccer fan through attending World Cup watch parties for previous tournaments at Bardascino Park in East Passyunk.

“That was when I started getting into it, ‘cause it was a fun, neighborhoody vibe,” Krzaczek said. “It was nice to do something different, especially during the summer.”

Krzaczek spent her 37th birthday at the bar cheering on France. She described herself as a Francophile and knows the language, but has not been to France.

Krzaczek did see one of its biggest clubs, Paris Saint-Germain, play in the UEFA Champions League during a trip to Barcelona in October.

“I was just astonished when I was there,” Krzaczek said. “It was like Philly when I was there. There’s people climbing everything. So I was like, ‘Oh, I guess I could do this.’ That was pretty much it for me.”

The French bistro roared as Les Bleus took a 1-0 lead over Iraq behind a 14th minute goal from Mbappé.

Around the corner on South Street, the larger Brauhaus Schmitz hosted a smaller contingent of French fans that were glued to the German bar’s many televisions. And back in Chinatown, supporters stood shoulder-to-shoulder in Lion Sports Bar’s narrow barroom to watch the match.

Those who stayed through the halftime rain delay were treated to two more goals from the French, including another from Mbappé that tied Miroslav Klose as the second-highest scorer in the history of the men’s World Cup. Messi, who scored both of Argentina’s goals in a 2-0 win over Austria, holds the record with 18.

The World Cup in Philly

Nine nations will compete in five group stage matches this summer, plus two more in a knockout game on July 4. Here’s what you need to know about those countries — and what those fans need to know about Philly. Click here for more.