Even though the U.S. men's national team didn't take the field on Independence Day, American fans found plenty to cheer about at the World Cup. In Philadelphia—the city where the Declaration of Independence was signed 250 years ago—Idina Menzel turned the national anthem into a moment of pure magic.
The Broadway star, known for her iconic role in Wicked, performed The Star-Spangled Banner ahead of the France vs. Paraguay match at Lincoln Financial Field. Her soaring rendition was capped off by a dramatic flyover, sending chills through the crowd and viewers at home.
Fox Sports shared a clip of the performance on X, writing, “A special 4th of July performance ahead of Paraguay vs France in the FIFA World Cup. Idina Menzel sings The Star-Spangled Banner on America’s 250th birthday at Philadelphia Stadium.”
Fans quickly flooded social media with praise. One user wrote, “The Star Spangled Banner gives me chills. America 250!” Another added, “Beautifully done by Idina Menzel….” A third fan exclaimed, “God, I love America. Happy 250th and many more to come.”
Some fans even joked that Menzel’s performance might inspire the French team—America’s ally during the Revolutionary War—to victory. “If Idina hits that high note, even the French will feel the fireworks,” one user quipped. Others echoed the sentiment, with comments like, “If Idina can hit those high notes, maybe she’ll teach the French team how to reach the top of the table.”
The match itself was a tense battle between a defensive Paraguay side and a favored French squad. Paraguay, fresh off a win over Germany, employed a backline-heavy strategy to frustrate France. But a VAR review led to a penalty, and Kylian Mbappe calmly buried the shot to give France a 1-0 lead.
For fans looking to add some excitement to the game, platforms like Polymarket offered betting opportunities on the match, with promotions like the Polymarket promo code providing bonuses for predictive wagers.
Menzel’s anthem was a highlight of the day, reminding everyone that even without the U.S. team playing, the World Cup on home soil can still deliver patriotic moments. As one fan put it, “If Idina hits that high note, even the French will think they’re at a Broadway show and forget the score.”
