PHILADELPHIA – Wednesday night there was football again at Lincoln Financial Field. Well, sort of.

The English Premier League hosted a friendly match between Liverpool and Arsenal.

A sea of ​​red-clad fans came to town with their own traditions and chants for a night of football in South Philly. It was no ordinary tailgate party on Lot K. But it was certainly a party.

“We’re all tribal. We’re tribal for our teams,” said one football fan, Jason Andrew of Brooklyn, NY.

Today’s game was part of the “Rivals in Red” exhibition tour of English Premier League teams that took place in the United States this week.

Fans came from all over the country to watch the game. From Wisconsin, Chicago, Atlanta. For many, it’s the closest thing they’ll ever get to seeing their team in person.

“This is a family. I mean, you don’t get opportunities like this very often. This is just incredible,” said Jay Tullock of Barnegat, New Jersey.

“I guess it’s similar to your attitude towards American football,” said Bennington Gordon of Jamaica.

Gordon flew in to watch his favorite team, Arsenal. His brother from North Jersey is a Manchester United fan. There is something of a rivalry between the Eagles and the Cowboys.

“I just want his team to lose. I just want him to lose,” Delroy joked.

Downtown hotels and Old Town tourist attractions have been bustling with soccer fans in recent days. Some believe the excitement and economic boost could be a test run when the FIFA World Cup comes to Philadelphia in the summer of 2026.

“It’s the biggest event in the world. It’s the only reason we all come together to watch a sport,” Andrew said.

Liverpool defeated Arsenal 2-1 in front of a sold-out crowd.

Lincoln Financial Field has a long tradition of hosting soccer friendlies. The very first ticketed event at Lincoln Financial Field was a soccer match between Barcelona and Manchester United in August 2003, about a month before the Eagles began playing their first game at the stadium.