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As thousands of soccer fans pour into Philadelphia Stadium for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, the City of Brotherly Love has a rare opportunity to showcase itself on the world’s biggest stage — but one neighborhood’s drug-ravaged streets are only a short drive away
Beyond the exciting tourist attractions — the Liberty Bell, the Museum of the American Revolution and the famous Philadelphia cheesesteak — some visitors may also encounter one of the city’s most visible crises: the open-air drug market in the Kensington neighborhood, where addiction has ravaged the streets for years.
The spot has become widely known for hordes of drug-addled individuals — many of them sprawled barefoot on the filthy ground, or slumped over.
The drug crisis has left users covered in wounds and staring off into space as they sit and wait for their next fix.
Many openly inject drugs into their hands, arms and necks.
For years, the neighborhood has been heavily plagued by xylazine, a veterinary sedative commonly known as “tranq” when mixed with illegal drugs such as fentanyl.
Health officials and law enforcement agencies have warned that the combination creates serious risks, including prolonged sedation, severe wounds and an increased likelihood of overdose.
More recently, public-health authorities have warned that another veterinary sedative, medetomidine, has begun appearing in the city’s illicit drug supply.
Experts say the substance may be substantially more potent than xylazine and could further complicate treatment and overdose-response efforts.
As World Cup visitors arrive in Philadelphia, many will experience the city’s rich history, diverse neighborhoods, and passionate sports culture.
Yet the tournament may also bring renewed attention to the very visible, human toll of addiction.
The Philadelphia matches will be played at Lincoln Financial Field, the home of the Eagles, which will host five group-stage games before a Round of 16 clash on July 4.
Côte d’Ivoire and Ecuador will play there on June 14, followed by Brazil vs Haiti on June 19.
France will face Iraq on June 22, Curaçao will play Côte d’Ivoire on June 25, and Croatia will take on Ghana on June 27.
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