Philadelphia sports teams have traveled far from home to play games.
Fans in other countries got to see American pro sports for the first time.
These games left everyone with stories they would tell for years.
Eagles Beat Jacksonville at Wembley Stadium
The Philadelphia Eagles went to London for their first game outside America on October 28, 2018. Wembley Stadium fits 85,870 people inside to watch the Super Bowl champs take down Jacksonville 24-18. Carson Wentz put up 286 yards and three touchdowns, but he also gave the ball away twice. After the game, fans voted him the best player on the field.
Wentz said the experience changed his perspective. He had visited London in 2015 to watch his brother Travis play for Kansas City against Detroit. This time felt completely different. The national anthem gave him chills. He realized how rare it was for NFL players to compete outside the United States.
Eagles fans took over the stadium. Jacksonville fans got outnumbered at least five to one. People chanted “E-A-G-L-E-S EAGLES” all game long. You would have thought they were playing in Philly instead of London.
The London game sparked discussions about expanding NFL markets around the world. Teams could reach new audiences and generate more revenue. American fans began asking if this meant they would have greater overseas availability of live broadcasts, merchandise, and betting markets through offshore sportsbooks that serve international audiences.
Philadelphia hasn’t returned to Europe since 2018. The team did make history again in 2024 by playing the first NFL game in South America. They faced Green Bay in Brazil before a sold-out crowd.
Sixers Lose to Barcelona in European Tour
The Philadelphia 76ers joined three other NBA teams for the 2006 Europe Live Tour. The league sent teams to Germany, Russia, France, Italy, and Spain between October 5-11. Philadelphia faced FC Barcelona and lost 104-99. The defeat stung because European teams rarely beat NBA squads.
European clubs had only beaten NBA teams six times since 1978. Barcelona’s win was a huge shock in international basketball. Allen Iverson scored more points than anyone else in the tournament, but it didn’t matter. The Spanish team played just as hard and smart as Philadelphia did.
The tour wasn’t just about games. Players visited local schools and participated in clinics. They learned about different basketball cultures and met fans who followed the NBA from across the ocean. Many Sixers players said the experience opened their eyes to basketball’s global reach.
Philadelphia has stayed connected to international basketball. The team participates in NBA Global Games and maintains relationships with European organizations. These connections help the franchise scout talent and build its brand worldwide.
Flyers Players Go International for Hockey
Philadelphia Flyers players have played in big hockey tournaments for fifty years. The team has sent its best guys to the Canada Cup, World Cup of Hockey, and other top events since 1972.
Eric Lindros was the captain for Team Canada in the 1996 World Cup of Hockey. Two other Flyers made that team, too: Eric Desjardins and Rod Brind’Amour. Team USA had John LeClair and Joel Otto. Sweden picked Patrik Juhlin and Mikael Renberg. Philadelphia’s CoreStates Center got some games, including when Canada and the United States started their final series.
Canada picked three Flyers for the 1976 Canada Cup. Bobby Clarke, Bill Barber, and Reggie Leach all got spots on the team. That tournament ended up changing international hockey forever. Clarke scored an important goal in the finals against Czechoslovakia. Barber tied up a game late before Canada won it in extra time.
Philadelphia had the Czechoslovakian national team come play at the Spectrum in 1976. The Flyers beat them 6-1 and took way more shots – 42 to 21. Orest Kindrachuk and Mel Bridgman both scored twice. The win showed people around the world what the “Broad Street Bullies” were all about.
Union Get Their First Big Win Outside America
The Philadelphia Union got into international competition because they won the 2020 Supporters’ Shield. That trophy got them a spot in the CONCACAF Champions League, where they played teams from North and Central America. They beat a team called Deportivo Saprissa from Costa Rica.
It was their first win against a foreign club. That game was also head coach Jim Curtin’s 100th win with the team. It showed everybody that Philadelphia could hang with the big soccer clubs from other countries.
The Union’s academy system regularly sends players to international youth tournaments. Kellan LeBlanc and Cavan Sullivan have joined U.S. national team programs. These young players represent both Philadelphia and American soccer on the global stage.
Philadelphia formed early partnerships with international clubs. Their affiliation with Deportivo Saprissa created opportunities for player exchanges and training partnerships. These relationships helped the Union learn from experienced international organizations and strengthen its presence in global soccer networks.
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