Ivory Coast will scrimmage Union II in a pre-World Cup friendly at Subaru Park
The Ivory Coast will also host a community training session on June 12, allowing soccer fans to come watch the team practice before their World Cup schedule opens on June 14. Both events are free.
Fans in the Philadelphia area can get an early look at the Ivory Coast men’s national team, the only team scheduled to play twice at Lincoln Financial Field during this summer’s FIFA World Cup.
The Union announced Wednesday that Les Éléphants will play a pre-tournament friendly against Union II at Subaru Park on June 8 at 7 p.m.
The Ivorian side will also host a community training session on June 12 at 6:30 p.m., allowing soccer fans to come watch the team practice before they open the Philadelphia portion of the World Cup schedule with a Group E match against Ecuador at Lincoln Financial Field on June 14 (7 p.m., FS1).
Both pre-tournament events will be free to the public, though tickets will be required for entry. Fans looking to attend either the friendly or the community training can claim free tickets on SeatGeek.
“Hosting Côte d’Ivoire’s friendly against Union II and a community training session is a meaningful moment for the Philadelphia Union, the City of Chester, and soccer fans throughout the region,” said Union president Tim McDermott in the club’s release.
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“As one of the world’s top national teams prepares for the FIFA World Cup 2026, we’re proud to play a role in that journey and create exceptional opportunities for supporters to experience the game at its highest level.”
Ivory Coast selected Subaru Park as its base camp training site for this summer’s tournament in February, as it will play two group stage matches in Philly. It will face Ecuador at the Linc, travel to Toronto to face Germany, then return to Philadelphia on June 25 for its final group stage match against Curaçao (4 p.m., FS1).
For Les Éléphants, the friendly against Union II will be an opportunity to tuneup before the tournament begins. Côte d’Ivoire has one other friendly scheduled before the tournament, a send-off game against the French in France.
Union II will get an opportunity to go up against one of the best national teams in Africa. Ivory Coast are three-time winners of the Africa Cup of Nations, and the squad for this summer’s tournament includes the likes of Bazoumana Touré and Yan Diomande, both of whom are rising stars in Europe.
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The Union will also host a watch party at Union Yards for the U.S. Men’s National Team’s first World Cup match on June 12, after the community training event. Like the training event and the friendly, the Union’s Soccer Celebration will be free, but will require tickets to enter. Union Yards will open at 8 p.m., and the U.S. will kick off its World Cup campaign against Paraguay at 9 p.m.
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.