Philadelphia turned its World Cup send-off into a full birthday party for the nation Saturday, as Idina Menzel opened the France vs. Paraguay Round of 16 match with a rendition of "The Star-Spangled Banner" built for America's 250th Independence Day.
The Tony winner, best known for "Wicked" and voicing Elsa in "Frozen," took the field on a star-shaped stage before kickoff at Philadelphia Stadium. She'd spent the night before doing much the same at Independence Hall, performing with the Philly Pops in Old City as part of the lead-up celebrations.
The anthem was only part of it. The Philadelphia Boys Choir & Chorale followed with an a cappella performance of "America the Beautiful" - a hymn whose most familiar line, "God shed His grace on thee," has made it as much a prayer as a patriotic song since it was first written in 1893. The Roots, the Grammy-winning band that got its start in Philadelphia, performed alongside dancers and a "Lady Liberty" figure as fireworks lit the sky in red, white, and blue. A Navy flyover and a ceremonial appearance by Miss Pennsylvania Stephanie Skinner rounded out the pregame show, with DJ Jazzy Jeff - another Philadelphia native - taking over at halftime.
The celebration capped Philadelphia's role as host city for the tournament's final match in the city, in the same place where the Declaration of Independence was signed 250 years ago. France went on to beat Paraguay 1-0 on a second-half penalty from Kylian Mbappé, advancing to face Morocco in the quarterfinals.
For a country marking a quarter-millennium of independence, it was a night that put a soccer stadium, a choir, and a 250-year-old prayer for grace on the same stage.
