Families streamed into Subaru Park on Saturday, Aug. 2, tickets in hand, ready to watch the Philadelphia Union face off against Germany’s Eintracht Frankfurt Eagles in an international friendly.
For Eintracht Frankfurt, it was the final stop on their 2025 Adidas U.S. Tour before heading back to Germany—a trip aimed at “building bridges and nurturing friendships,” according to club CEO Axel Hellmann. But in Chester, the camaraderie stretched beyond the pitch, connecting not just two soccer cultures, but fans from different corners of the world.
Children held their parents’ hands as they navigated the concourse, eyes darting between the snack stands and jersey racks. On the Heineken Deck, Stephen Breese and his family stood with friends, soaking in the matchday energy.
“I love it [Union games],” Breese said. “I’m all in on it. I wish I had started sooner, honestly.”
Breese and his wife began going to Union games about six years ago, after they had children—some of whom now play soccer. Before that, despite living in South Philadelphia, he had never been to a match and now wishes he’d taken advantage of living so close.
Now, Breese and his family live in Lancaster County, but said going to Union games are “so worth the trip.”
“It’s the right size stadium,” Breese said. “Eagles games are cost prohibitive. [We go to] Phillies games every once in a while, but baseball moves kind of slow. Flyers games rule, but they still don’t really quite get hockey yet, so this is the one for young kids.”
For Krissy Finora and her son, Elijah, the match was a first-time memory in the making. Elijah had been to Subaru Park twice before, but this was his mom’s first Union game. A fundraiser through Elijah’s elementary school in Montgomery County had made the trip possible.
Walking the same concourse were families dawning red and black in support of the visiting Eintracht Frankfurt Eagles.
Phillip and Miranda Schaefer made the trip from the Baltimore area to Subaru Park with their children to see Eintracht Frankfurt play on U.S. soil for the first time.
A little over a decade ago, Phillip’s friend helped him pick a team to root for after having no answer when asked what soccer, or football, team he follows.
“Your last name is Schaeffer, you’re German, so you probably want somebody from the Bundesliga, the German soccer league,” Phillip recalled his friend saying.
Phillip’s grandfather’s family was from Frankfurt, so the choice was narrowed down to two teams: Mainz or Eintracht Frankfurt.
Now, 12 years later, it has become a family affair. On weekend mornings when Eintracht Frankfurt is playing, Phillip tunes in with his kids to support their team from across the pond.
When Phillip saw tickets on sale for an Eintracht Frankfurt game only two hours from home, he knew what to do.
“I saw it and was like, all right, let’s get some jerseys and stuff and make a trip,” Phillip said.
Despite the Bundesliga and Major League Soccer match up, stands were not packed to capacity — which created a calmer than usual environment.
But in true Philly fashion, there was still plenty of banter between fanbases. Philadelphia Union fans threw their arms up in a “U” at Subaru Park chanting “Union,” to which Eintracht Frankfurt fans chanted back “Frankfurt.”
Phillip said the game’s excited yet relaxed atmosphere made for a great family outing—and, he hopes, the start of a new tradition.
