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Hershey is celebrating its shared hometown roots with soccer star Christian Pulisic ahead of the World Cup.

Why it matters: A new commercial pairs one of Pennsylvania's most recognizable brands with one of American soccer's biggest stars, who Time magazine dubbed "Captain America."

Driving the news: The campaign includes limited-edition Pulisic bars and packaging highlighting his journey from Pennsylvania soccer fields to international stardom with AC Milan.

Hershey plans free giveaways next month in Hershey and New York's Time Square, plus an interactive pop-up in Philadelphia (June 25-27) featuring family activities and giveaways.

What they're saying: In one of the spots, a chocolatier lauds Pulisic, a Hershey native, for collecting "trophies and defenders' ankles" before the commercial cuts to a smiling Pulisic opening a box of his branded bars.

"But that's not why we love him. We love him because he's one of us. … Happiness is knowing home is always rooting for you."

Hershey launches Christian Pulisic bars with giveaways and a Philly pop-up

The hometown hero hopes to lead Team USA to glory in the World Cup.

Soccer star Christian Pulisic celebrates after a match between Genoa CFC and AC Milan at Luigi Ferraris Stadium.

Clappin' Captain. Photo: Claudio Villa/AC Milan via Getty Images

Hershey is celebrating its shared hometown roots with soccer star Christian Pulisic ahead of the <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="World Cup" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/philadelphia/2026/05/05/phillys-world-cup-host-anxiety" data-vars-content-id="3a1f9411-7cb0-4fa6-aa74-ad7e4c4857e0" data-vars-headline="Hershey launches Christian Pulisic bars with giveaways and a Philly pop-up" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/philadelphia/2026/05/05/phillys-world-cup-host-anxiety" target="_self">World Cup</a>.Why it matters: A new commercial pairs one of Pennsylvania&#x27;s most recognizable brands with one of American soccer&#x27;s biggest stars, who Time magazine dubbed <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="&quot;Captain America" data-vars-click-url="https://time.com/article/2026/05/07/christian-pulisic-world-cup-2026-interview/" data-vars-content-id="3a1f9411-7cb0-4fa6-aa74-ad7e4c4857e0" data-vars-headline="Hershey launches Christian Pulisic bars with giveaways and a Philly pop-up" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://time.com/article/2026/05/07/christian-pulisic-world-cup-2026-interview/" target="_blank">&quot;Captain America</a><a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="." data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/philadelphia/2026/05/14/philly-activists-prepare-for-possible-ice-activity-during-world-cup" data-vars-content-id="3a1f9411-7cb0-4fa6-aa74-ad7e4c4857e0" data-vars-headline="Hershey launches Christian Pulisic bars with giveaways and a Philly pop-up" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/philadelphia/2026/05/14/philly-activists-prepare-for-possible-ice-activity-during-world-cup" target="_self">.</a>&quot;

Food and Drink

Sports

A new soccer park is coming to Philly next month, as the city prepares to host the World Cup.

Why it matters: It's a golazo for Philadelphia's youth soccer.

The big picture: Visa, Street Soccer USA and Bank of America pledged to build soccer parks in all 11 World Cup host cities after launching a broader nationwide initiative in 2025.

The organizations already built parks in Houston, San Francisco, Denver and Kansas City.

Zoom in: Details about where Philly's park will be located and when exactly it'll open will be provided in the coming weeks, a Bank of America spokesperson tells Axios.

What they're saying: "We're turning tournament momentum into meaningful opportunity that lasts well beyond the final match," Kim Lawrence, Visa's regional president for North America, said in a statement.

Philadelphia to get a new soccer park in June

Visa, Street Soccer USA and Bank of America pledged to build soccer parks in all 11 World Cup host cities.

Illustration of a falling soccer ball with one patch replaced by the United States.

A new soccer park is coming to Philly next month, as the city prepares to host the <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="World Cup" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/philadelphia/2026/05/26/world-cup-tickets-cheap-travel-philly" data-vars-content-id="5dc197b2-100d-4d6e-b7ea-eca1055811b0" data-vars-headline="Philadelphia to get a new soccer park in June" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/philadelphia/2026/05/26/world-cup-tickets-cheap-travel-philly" target="_self">World Cup</a>.Why it matters: It&#x27;s a <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="golazo" data-vars-click-url="https://www.goal.com/en-us/news/golazo-what-it-means-football-italia-theme-song-best-goals/e8sl4a6jyxzu1qrczm89azv7p" data-vars-content-id="5dc197b2-100d-4d6e-b7ea-eca1055811b0" data-vars-headline="Philadelphia to get a new soccer park in June" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.goal.com/en-us/news/golazo-what-it-means-football-italia-theme-song-best-goals/e8sl4a6jyxzu1qrczm89azv7p" target="_blank">golazo</a> for Philadelphia&#x27;s youth soccer.

News

Philadelphia officials are apologizing for a mix-up that led a city worker to paint over the historic 100 Steps granite stairwell in Roxborough.

Why it matters: Residents quickly blasted the paint job online, saying the local landmark should be preserved — not painted over. Now the Parker administration is rushing to undo it.

Driving the news: A worker from the city's Community Life Improvement Program resorted to painting over graffiti tags on the stairwell because a power washer hose "could not reach" them, city spokesperson Keisha McCarty tells Axios.

The city's cleanup crew is returning to the steps today with additional equipment to "have it properly removed," McCarty says, a day after Axios asked about the repainting.

What they're saying: "We apologize for the incident and will work to remediate it as quickly as possible," she says.

Context: The gray paint job quickly went viral on social media, with commenters calling it "hideous" and a "travesty."

Someone hung a sign on the steps in protest that read: 

"This wall is historic & beautiful. Well over a century old. Made with local stone found nowhere else on Earth. Stones that glimmer like silver. And in 1 night you decided to smother it with a flat gray paint. Without consulting anyone."

Scoop: Philly apologizes for 100 Steps paint job that drew backlash

Now the Parker administration is rushing to undo it.

Split image: left shows a brown clipboard with a white sheet taped to a gray stone wall; right shows a stone staircase with a textured wall and lush green foliage overhead.

Gray paint now covers the 100 Steps stairwell in Roxborough, and someone put up a sign in protest. Photos: Mike D'Onofrio/Axios

Philadelphia officials are apologizing for a mix-up that led a city worker to paint over the historic 100 Steps granite stairwell in Roxborough.Why it matters: Residents quickly blasted the paint job <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="online" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/philadelphia/2026/05/21/phillys-highway-graffiti-cleanup-enters-new-phase" data-vars-content-id="609d9b7b-50ca-4657-9b05-bc5a7079216f" data-vars-headline="Scoop: Philly apologizes for 100 Steps paint job that drew backlash" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/philadelphia/2026/05/21/phillys-highway-graffiti-cleanup-enters-new-phase" target="_self">online</a>, saying the local landmark should be preserved — not painted over. Now the Parker administration is rushing to undo it.

Philadelphia may be one of the more affordable World Cup host cities for international fans facing soaring ticket and travel costs.

Why it matters: For travelers from some of the world's most soccer-obsessed nations, attending the tournament could require spending several months' wages — or taking on debt — to watch their teams play.

The big picture: Mega sporting events like the World Cup increasingly cater to wealthy travelers rather than everyday fans — especially as dynamic pricing and rising travel costs push attendance further out of reach for many.

FIFA's ticket prices have already drawn backlash, with a group of U.S. lawmakers urging the federation to lower costs, per Reuters.

Meanwhile, hotel prices in North American host cities are 35% pricier now than they were at the same time in 2025, per Kayak.

Higher jet fuel costs and dwindling supply tied to the Iran war are raising airline ticket prices.

State of play: FIFA introduced a limited number of $60 "supporter entry tier" tickets for fans of qualified teams, Reuters reports, though they accounted for only 10% of each participating nation's allocation.

Premium tickets for many knockout-stage matches in Philadelphia and other host cities are beyond what many international fans can afford, per an analysis by hospitality platform OysterLink.

Case in point: A Category 1 semifinal ticket costs $3,295, equating to about 3.6 months of average wages in Mexico, per International Labour Organization wage data cited in the analysis.

That's more than 2.5 months of average earnings in Brazil — one of the teams competing in Philly's group stage.

It also exceeds average monthly wages in France ($3,064) and is more than half of what the average American earns monthly ($6,273).

Reality check: That's before factoring in service fees, airfare, accommodations, dining and other travel expenses.

Zoom in: Philadelphia remains one of the more moderately priced World Cup host cities, with hotel rooms averaging roughly $350 per night during the tournament, per Kayak. (Nightly rates in Vancouver, Boston and New York range from $428 to $517.)

Unlike some host cities that charge admission for fan festivals, Philadelphia's fan zone at Lemon Hill is free.

And SEPTA — boosted by an extra $5.5 million in federal funding to add extra services during the tourney — is keeping ridership rates flat, unlike hikes expected in places like New Jersey.

What they're saying: Philly could also have fewer logistical headaches, says Ben Fileccia of the Pennsylvania Restaurant and Lodging Association.

Fileccia tells Axios local officials have learned what it takes to become a "shining example of a good host city" after difficult lessons from past high-profile events, including the 2015 papal visit.

Back then, traffic barricades and security restrictions created widespread gridlock and made it difficult for pedestrians to move around the city, leading to reduced foot traffic for businesses and restaurants.

"Those fears should not be there this time around," Fileccia says.

Philly may be a cheaper World Cup base for international fans

For many international fans, attending the tournament could require spending several months' wages — or taking on debt.

Illustration of a soccer ball and suitcase on a rolled up red carpet on a marble floor

Illustration: Sarah Grillo/Axios; Stock: Getty Images

Philadelphia may be one of the more affordable World Cup host cities for international fans facing soaring ticket and travel costs.Why it matters: For travelers from some of the world&#x27;s most soccer-obsessed nations, attending the tournament could require spending several months&#x27; wages — or taking on debt — to watch their teams play.

Travel

PennDOT is getting started this week on removing graffiti from Philadelphia's gateways ahead of this summer's packed lineup of events. 

Why it matters: State and city officials are completing an $11.5 million project to beautify Philly — and shake its "Filthadelphia" reputation — before thousands of visitors arrive.

State of play: PennDOT is timing its highway cleanup close to major summer events, including next month's World Cup, to reduce the chances those corridors are retagged before the international spotlight turns to Philly.

The state agency is focusing on stretches of I-95 before expanding to I-76 and the Vine Street Expressway (I-676) through the early part of the summer, spokesperson Brad Rudolph tells Axios.

PennDOT is spending about $45,000 on its latest graffiti-removal deployment, tapping contractor Alpha Drones USA.

The big picture: The city has already been sending crews to repaint walls, overpasses and on-ramps across Philly as part of the beautification project, while also picking up litter and adding plants and green spaces. 

The work — slated to wrap up by the end of the month — targets seven of the city's most visible corridors, including stretches of I-76 and I-676, the South Street Bridge and 30th Street Station.

Rudolph said that the graffiti removal completed so far has been coordinated by the city's Community Life Improvement Program.

What they're saying: Philadelphia officials declined to provide a progress update on the initiative. 

City spokesperson Keisha McCarty tells Axios more details will be shared at an upcoming news conference tied to the unveiling of a new 250th anniversary-themed mural near I-76 and Spring Garden Street.

"This is about Philadelphia remembering who we are and getting our own house in order and making sure that it stays in order," Mayor Cherelle Parker said when the beautification project was first announced.

The intrigue: A recent paint job is drawing backlash.

The repainting of the historic 100 Steps granite stairwell near Roxborough was widely panned online, with commenters calling it "hideous" and a "travesty."

The city didn't confirm whether it was behind the repainting.

Context: Despite being viewed by some as a costly nuisance that is difficult to remove, graffiti has long been part of Philadelphia's cultural identity, popularized decades ago by street artists like Cornbread.

The Parker administration is tackling graffiti as a quality-of-life issue. Last year, the city removed graffiti from more than 143,000 properties and street fixtures.

What we're watching: Whether the newly cleaned-up areas remain untagged throughout the summer.

Graffiti removal ramps up on Philly highways ahead of World Cup summer

The cleanup is timed to reduce the chances those corridors are retagged before the international spotlight turns to Philly.

View of the Center City skyline, shot in 2019 from the South Street Bridge.


Photo: Bastiaan Slabbers/NurPhoto via Getty Images

PennDOT is getting started this week on removing graffiti from Philadelphia&#x27;s gateways ahead of this summer&#x27;s <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="packed lineup" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/philadelphia/2026/01/07/evemts-2026-america-250-museums-world-cup-sports" data-vars-content-id="8662ee26-121c-45a7-9cd9-1db2e580b2e5" data-vars-headline="Graffiti removal ramps up on Philly highways ahead of World Cup summer" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/philadelphia/2026/01/07/evemts-2026-america-250-museums-world-cup-sports" target="_self">packed lineup</a> of events. Why it matters: State and city officials are completing an <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="$11.5 million project" data-vars-click-url="https://www.phila.gov/2026-01-09-mayor-cherelle-parker-city-and-state-officials-announce-the-gateways-to-philadelphia-anti-graffiti-highway-beautification-project-on-interstate-76/" data-vars-content-id="8662ee26-121c-45a7-9cd9-1db2e580b2e5" data-vars-headline="Graffiti removal ramps up on Philly highways ahead of World Cup summer" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.phila.gov/2026-01-09-mayor-cherelle-parker-city-and-state-officials-announce-the-gateways-to-philadelphia-anti-graffiti-highway-beautification-project-on-interstate-76/" target="_blank">$11.5 million project</a> to beautify Philly — and shake its &quot;Filthadelphia&quot; reputation — before thousands of visitors arrive.

Isaac Avilucea

Featured stories

Philly may be a cheaper World Cup base for international fans

Philadelphia to get a new soccer park in June

Hershey launches Christian Pulisic bars with giveaways and a Philly pop-up

Scoop: Philly apologizes for 100 Steps paint job that drew backlash

Graffiti removal ramps up on Philly highways ahead of World Cup summer