Bank of America CFO Alastair Borthwick may work for a Charlotte-based banking giant, but his enthusiasm for Philadelphia’s role in the 2026 FIFA World Cup runs straight through Montgomery County, writes Jeff Blumenthal for The Philadelphia Business Journal.
Borthwick grew up in Glasgow, Scotland, before his family moved to Blue Bell in 1986 after his father’s employer was acquired by a Horsham-based company. He came to know American sports through Philadelphia, becoming a devoted fan of the city’s teams.
Those Montgomery County roots have given Borthwick a prominent role in Bank of America’s World Cup efforts.
The company named him market sponsor for Philadelphia as it activates its position as the tournament’s first global banking sponsor.
A Growing Regional Presence
Borthwick works alongside Philadelphia Market President Jim Dever as Bank of America continues building its regional profile.
The bank is now the fourth-largest by deposits in southeastern Pennsylvania and South Jersey, holding $23.5 billion across 67 branches.
Its regional push extends well beyond soccer. Bank of America recently became the official banking partner of the Philadelphia 76ers and Flyers. The multiyear arrangement includes Club Level naming rights at Xfinity Mobile Arena.
The partnership also supports small-business and youth-hockey initiatives across Greater Philadelphia.
Two Major World Cup Activations
For the World Cup, the bank has focused on two signature Philadelphia projects.
The Visa Street Soccer Park at Tip Top Playground in Northern Liberties features two permanent, professionally graded, illuminated pitches. It comes with free youth clinics, community leagues and workforce-development programming. The park is a partnership between Bank of America, Visa and nonprofit Street Soccer USA. The program places permanent soccer parks in each of the 11 U.S. host cities.
At the Philadelphia Fan Festival at Lemon Hill, Bank of America operates a Fan Band station where visitors can create free custom bracelets featuring World Cup designs, team colors and Philadelphia-themed charms.
Record Crowds at Lemon Hill
Philadelphia is hosting six World Cup matches at Lincoln Financial Field, with games scheduled June 14, 19, 22, 25 and 27, and July 4.
The Fan Festival at Lemon Hill runs daily through July 19, making Philadelphia the only U.S. host city offering a free fan festival for all 39 days of the tournament.
The response has been overwhelming. Nearly 55,000 people attended the festival on June 19, the largest single-day crowd of any U.S. host city fan festival, a record Philadelphia has surpassed multiple times.
Total attendance had exceeded 250,000 by late June.
For Borthwick, the sponsorship offers Bank of America a chance to deepen its ties to the city that introduced him to the United States.
It also supports the bank’s larger effort to attract customers, employees and attention as it expands throughout the Philadelphia region.
Read more about Alistair Borthwick and Bank of America’s role with the World Cup in The Philadelphia Business Journal.
