50 Day Countdown: Everything You Need To Know About FIFA World Cup Philly
The eyes of the world will be on North America when the FIFA World Cup takes over. And we can guarantee that those hungry eyes will have plenty to feast…
The eyes of the world will be on North America when the FIFA World Cup takes over. And we can guarantee that those hungry eyes will have plenty to feast on when matches take place in the City of Brotherly Love. There so much happening in and around Philadelphia beginning now, Meg Kane, CEO of Philadelphia Soccer 2026, shares everything you want to know:
39 Days of 'Philly Coachella'
That's how Meg Kane described the FIFA Fan Festival. It's the heart of the FIFA World Cup experience for visitors and residents alike. It'll run from June 11 – July 19 at Lemon Hill in East Fairmount Park. On match day, fans can expect watch parties, food and beverage offerings, world-class entertainment, and unforgettable activations. Best part...it's all free!
To complement Philadelphia’s 39-day FIFA Fan Festival at Lemon Hill Park, Visit PA is adding three more Fan Zones across the state. Free public watch party locations are coming to Pittsburgh, Reading, and Scranton extending the World Cup’s energy. Each Fan Zone will offer large-screen broadcasts of FIFA World Cup 2026 Knockout Round matches, live entertainment, interactive soccer fan experiences, and food and beverages free of charge and designed to be accessible to fans of every background.
Fan Zones will be located in:
- Pittsburgh — Pittsburgh Football Stadium, home of the Pittsburgh Steelers
- Reading — Reading Arena, a downtown multi-purpose arena
- Scranton — Lackawanna County Courthouse Square, an iconic outdoor park in the heart of downtown Scranton
How Do You Phan?
Philadelphia is, unmistakably, a fan city. From E-A-G-L-E-S chants to Ringing The Bell with the Phillies, it's a sports town like no other. Even though we're self appointed best fans on the planet, we’ve got a thing or two to learn from the incredibly passionate World Cup supporters who will be coming to our home sports town this summer.
Whether you’re a lifelong FIFA fan or brand new to the game, there’s a team waiting for you. Philadelphia Soccer has created a site to connect with your team or find the team that's right for you and a snapshot at their traditions, kits and more.
Still trying to pick a team? Consider one of these attributes that matters to you:
- Family roots
- Neighborhood pride
- Your favorite local hangout
- A culture you're curious about and want to explore
Exclusive Match Day Experiences at Stateside Live!
Stateside Live! will be showing off their new outdoor renovations with specially designed experiences for match day ticketholders, These all-encompassing celebrations feature pre-game festivities and after-match parties steps from the stadium. Stateside Live! is offering packages of all levels from single party entry to upgraded reserved areas, to meet & greets with players. World Cup match tickets are required for all match day experiences at Stateside Live!. Reserve your match day experience today!
Football vs Futbol
All the soccer festivities start Thursday April 16th with Party on the Pitch. It brings together Philadelphia sports legends and current standouts for a “Football vs. Football” guest bartender showdown—Eagles alums Connor Barwin and Brent Celek vs. Philadelphia Union’s Alejandro Bedoya, Indiana Vassilev, Milan Iloski, and Sébastien Le Toux. The event starts at 7pm at Ballers, located at 1325 N Beach St right next to Penn Treaty Park.
Most importantly, Proceeds from Party on the Pitch will directly support Philadelphia Soccer 2026 in its mission to deliver community-focused programs and showcase our city on the global stage as a proud FIFA World Cup 26™ host.
