International soccer event slated for Philly in July

Top soccer teams from across North and Central America and the Caribbean will face off in Philadelphia this summer for the CONCACAF 2015 Gold Cup Final.

Some 10,000 visitors are expected to flood Philadelphia at the end July for the games, featuring teams from Mexico, Cuba and Costa Rica. The final, to be hosted at Lincoln Financial Field on July 26, will broadcast in more than 100 countries.

At an announcement about the event Thursday, Mayor Michael Nutter said the soccer match-up should be taken together with Pope Francis visiting in September and the Democratic National Convention set for Philly in July 2016. It shows a new declaration of faith in the city, he said.

“Many, many people across the country and around the world are recognizing our ability as a city to host large-scale events, and host them well,” Nutter said.

Philadelphia bested Baltimore, Atlanta and East Rutherford, New Jersey — all places that sought to host the Gold Cup, which happens every two years.

The U.S. national men’s team won in 2013. Winning again this year would advance the U.S. team to the Confederations Cup in Russia in 2017.