PHILADELPHIA — Eating a turkey sandwich on the floor of the press box at Lincoln Financial Field wasn’t exactly the welcome to the World Cup moment I envisioned upon learning I’d get to cover the globe’s biggest sporting event. Alas, that’s indeed where I found myself within an hour of Friday evening’s Brazil-Haiti match in the “City of Brotherly Love.”

I was frustrated, perhaps more than I’ve ever been while covering a game — a statement only my former beat partners can truly appreciate. The World Cup had long been an item I hoped to check off my career bucket list. But at that moment, I would’ve considered any other assignment to be an upgrade.

FIFA has long boasted a reputation for being disorganized. I witnessed that firsthand Friday evening. Navigating to and from the stadium was a logistical nightmare, even for folks like me, who had access to a free shuttle bus.

Lines were long and directions were limited. There were countless volunteers available to assist, but very few who actually had an answer. Everyone, from fans and workers to the media, seemed overwhelmed.

Yet, none of it mattered when the match started.

I kept a running journal of my World Cup experience. It included plenty of complaints about FIFA’s incompetence, but even more positive notes that the event has to offer. Below are a few of my favorite takeaways from Friday.

A solid host

My parents raised me to always remain curious. My sister and I were taught at a young age to embrace new experiences and cultures, to welcome and strive for exploration. I love visiting new places, both foreign and domestic. And while I hope to one day cover this event outside the United States, I’ve truly enjoyed watching our country play host to the world’s biggest tournament.

I’m sure most of you have seen the videos from Boston, where Scotland fans have all but overtaken the city. Or perhaps you’ve read funny posts on X from Japanese fans who’ve been reviewing our cuisine — one of them claiming Texas Roadhouse offers the “best cost-performance” steak money can buy.

It was funny to view these things from afar. It was heartwarming to witness it from up close.

I can’t speak for every host city, but I can assure you that everyone seems to be having a good time here in Philadelphia. The streets are busy; the hotels, bars and restaurants are packed. People of all different ages, races and ethnic backgrounds are together, everywhere, enjoying the moment.

There’s a buzz throughout the air, somewhat similar to what I felt when we hosted the draft in Pittsburgh a few months ago.

But this buzz is different. It’s bigger. It’s global.

It’s one thing to watch your hometown do well hosting. I expected nothing less from Pittsburgh. But to see our country as a whole come together and provide an enjoyable experience for the rest of the world? That gives this writer another level of pride.

Believe the hype

I won’t pretend to be a massive soccer fan, but I make sure to keep tabs on our country’s men’s and women’s programs. I love rooting for international sports, and no sport features better international competition.

As a casual observer, even I had grown tired of hearing about the potential that existed on the U.S. men’s roster. For nearly a decade, we’ve been told how this group was the most talented bunch we’ve ever assembled.

Similar to other serious soccer nations, the USMNT now had an abundance of players who competed in the top leagues throughout the world. On paper, they certainly looked to be better. The only thing that was missing were results.

Year after year, this group consistently underwhelmed, underdelivered. It seemed as though they were never on the same page, that while they were talented, they lacked the ability to play like a real team.

And then the Paraguay match happened.

The USMNT’s dominant 4-1 victory captured the attention of many, including those from outside the United States. As I walked around Philly, I made small talk with plenty of visitors from other countries, all here for the World Cup. Nearly every single one of them expressed how impressed they were with the Americans’ performance.

That hype only grew after the victory over Australia. The 2-0 win marked the Americans’ first six-point opening to a World Cup since 1930 and secured an early advancement to the knockout round.

“They aren’t playing great competition, but they’re beating bad competition the same way great teams like Brazil, Argentina or Germany would,” one Haitian fan told me while we watched the second half at a hotel bar.

A few Brazil fans offered similar analysis later on, during their match. The USMNT is still far from the favorite, but we’ve seemingly earned some respect from true soccer-first nations.

Special for all

That Haitian fan at the hotel bar was named Reggie. He was born in Haiti but now lives in Boston. We talked about international soccer for about 30 minutes, while I waited for the media shuttle to arrive.

He was also looking forward to the match. I asked him for his expectations.

“I’d like to see us score a goal against Brazil,” he replied. “A draw would be amazing.”

And if Haiti won?

“Seeing that would be the best day of my life.”

Reggie’s perspective stuck with me. It was an introduction to a reality that I noticed over and and over again throughout the day. While the ultimate goal is to, of course, win the World Cup, this tournament means something different to every nation.

For Haitians, it was simply an honor to be there. Despite being both a significant underdog and one of the smallest countries in the event, they showed up in full force. I met a few event volunteers who were Haitian as well. One of them was a younger woman, fresh out of college. She called off work to assist at the event, just so she could be there.

“Who knows if I will ever get to see this again,” she told me. “I’m going to cry during our national anthem. That fact that I’m here for it means everything.”

Brazil obviously has a different outlook. They’re a soccer juggernaut, having won five World Cups, the most of any country. Their expectations are always high. After ending in a draw with Morocco in their opening match, it was easy to sense their anxiety heading into Friday’s game.

They needed to win. Anything less would result in worldwide embarrassment. When Matheus Cunha scored to put Brazil ahead 1-0, the stadium exploded with roars, the loudest I’ve heard a crowd since Tyler Loop’s kick sailed wide right in January at Acrisure Stadium.

It was like watching a 1-versus-16 matchup in March Madness, but the game was equally important to both teams. There was mutual respect between the nations. Both sides were there to celebrate competition and accept whatever unfolded.

In the end …

On paper, Friday evening shouldn’t have gone down as a night to remember. Brazil dominated Haiti by a final of 3-0 — and it really wasn’t that close. The work accommodations couldn’t have been worse. Even the press dining stunk. But in the end, I didn’t really care.

It’s not difficult to find things to dislike about FIFA as an organization. As far as sports leagues go, they’re probably the dirtiest of them all. But not even their grimy fingerprints can tarnish the greatness of the World Cup.

Regardless of the politics that surround each tournament, when play begins, each second provides a level of international magic you won’t find anywhere else. It’s bigger than the Super Bowl, the Olympics, Wrestlemania or whatever else a contrarian’s mind could throw out.

If you haven’t tuned in, I’d encourage you to do so. If you’re a sports fan, you’ll love it. If you’ve debated making a last-second trip to attend a match, allow me to tell you it is, indeed, worth it. It will be a pain in the rear at times, but you’ll leave satisfied.

The FIFA World Cup is a chaotic mess, one filled with logistical nightmares and limited communication — yet still special enough to leave one yearning for more.

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