The city of Philadelphia was overtaken by sports fans on Tuesday night as 62,000 fans packed into Lincoln Financial Field to watch Germany face off in a friendly against Mexico.

At the same time, the Philadelphia Phillies also had a full stadium of fans present to watch a 10-0 blowout of the Arizona Diamondbacks in Game 2 of the National League Championship Series just across the street at Citizens Bank Park. 

Germany came from behind to snatch a 2-2 draw with Mexico in what turned into a entertaining contest for the thousands of fans who made it out in one of the 2026 World Cup host cities.

Second-half substitute Niclas Fullkrug saved the day for Germany, ramming home a low finish from close range on 51 minutes to preserve new coach Julian Nagelsmann‘s unbeaten record.

Germany had arrived in Philadelphia in confident mood after a 3-1 defeat of the United States on Saturday.

That victory was the first of Nagelsmann’s reign since being appointed in the aftermath of Hansi Flick’s sacking last month following a 4-1 drubbing by Japan.

The four-time world champions looked ready to build on that confident performance at a packed Lincoln Financial Field, and took the lead inside the opening half hour.

Union Berlin defender Robin Gosens flicked on cleverly from a corner and Real Madrid defender Antonio Rudiger was waiting at the far post to head in an emphatic finish after 25 minutes.

Mexico responded well to that early setback, and Santiago Gimenez had a strong penalty appeal waved away on 27 minutes after being bundled over the box.

Gimenez should have equalized in the 33rd minute, but somehow scooped a close-range shot over the bar with only Germany goalkeeper Marc-Andre Ter Stegen to beat.

Germany thought they had made it 2-0 on 37 minutes when Bayern Munich’s Thomas Muller got the ball in the net only to be judged offside.

Instead, however, Mexico swept forward immediately with a lightning fast counter-attack and drew level when Uriel Antuna tucked away a low shot at the near post after Hirving Lozano’s low cross.

Erick Sanchez headed Mexico into the lead two minutes after half-time to make it 2-1 but Fullkrug’s 51st-minute equalizer ensured Germany escaped with a draw.

Meanwhile across the street Kyle Schwarber hit two of Philadelphia’s three solo homers off Merrill Kelly, and the sweet-swinging Phillies.

Trea Turner also connected and J.T. Realmuto had two hits and three RBI as Philadelphia improved to 7-1 in the playoffs, moving closer to a second straight World Series appearance. Aaron Nola tossed three-hit ball and struck out seven in six innings.

Game 3 is Thursday at Chase Field. The Texas Rangers also hold a 2-0 lead over the Houston Astros in the ALCS headed into Wednesday’s game.

It was another loud night in Philly as Kelly was roasted after saying fans at Citizens Bank Park could not possibly be any louder than the ones he heard cheering for Team USA in the World Baseball Classic.

Not just any Classic game. The one in May when Turner hit a grand slam for the United States that lifted them into the tournament’s semifinals.

‘I haven’t obviously heard this place on the field,’ Kelly said ahead of Game 1, ‘but I would be very surprised if it trumped that (WBC) game down in Miami.’

As the kids say, challenge accepted.

Kelly, a 12-game winner this season, was voraciously booed from pregame introductions to his walk to the mound, a sort of we’ll-show-you vibe from 45,412 Phillies diehards determined to shake the ballpark again in October.

How loud?

‘AC/DC concert level,’ loud, Turner said before Game 2.

Phillies manager Rob Thomson said a rival coach told him last season that a playoff game in Philly was ‘four hours of hell,’ and Turner sent a charge through the crowd when he clocked a four-seam fastball to left-center field for a 1-0 lead in the first.