Philadelphia is no stranger to sports culture, and its residents are some of the most ardent fans in the country when it comes to football, baseball and hockey. As if Philadelphians needed yet another reason to don their foam fingers, the FIFA World Cup is heading to the City of Brotherly Love this summer, 23 years after the Pennsylvania hub hosted the 2003 Women’s World Cup.
The World Cup will take place from June 11 to July 19 across 11 cities and venues in the U.S., plus more in Canada and Mexico. Philly will host six games, including one highly anticipated round of 16 match. Afterwards, the semifinalists will compete in Texas and Atlanta, then the finalists will conclude the event at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey. For everything you need to know about Philadelphia’s role in this year’s soccer lore—from the match schedule to stadium transpo—read on for the essentials.
Where is the World Cup being held in Philadelphia?
The six Philadelphia matches will be hosted at Philadelphia Stadium (more formally known as Lincoln Financial Field outside of the tournament). It’s located on the east side of South Philadelphia and doubles as the Philadelphia Eagles’ home field. ICYMI, Lincoln, also lovingly called “The Linc,” neighbors Citizens Bank Park in the same sports complex; that’s where the Phillies play.
How can I get to the Linc?
With no traffic, it’s about a 15-minute drive to Lincoln Financial Field from Philadelphia International Airport. If you use a rideshare, you won’t have to worry about parking. But if you drive yourself, note that on-site parking will cost you at least $125. You can, alternatively, park at the Live! Casino & Hotel, about a 15-minute walk from the stadium, for $60, or try your luck parking for free on the street, if you’re up for more walking (save yourself plenty of time to search for a spot; it can be hard to come across street parking, even at a distance, on game days).
If you’d rather take public transportation, there are options. From Center City, North Philly or South Philly, you can hop the southbound SEPTA Broad Street subway line to NRG Station. (South Philly folks can also take the Route C bus to Broad Street.) As for West Philly, the easiest route is the Market-Frankford train to Suburban Station, then a transfer to the Board Street Line at City Hall. Those in the surrounding suburbs can take the bus or trolley to 69th Street, then the Market-Frankford to 15th Street, then a transfer to the Broad Street Line. Just note that if the game runs late (specifically past midnight), shuttle buses on Broad will take over for the subway.
Can I still get tickets?
Technically, yes. There are about seven million seats across the entire tournament and five million of them have already been spoken for. “Last-minute sales” started in April and will continue on a rolling basis. You can score some of these passes from $226 each, depending on the game (the lowest prices are currently for Match 55 between Curaçao and Côte d’Ivoire). Other than that, fans who want a seat can try purchasing resale tickets, which go as low as $161 for the same match.
Where should I stay in Philadelphia?
To be as close to the stadium as possible, stay at Courtyard by Marriot, Live! Casino & Hotel Philadelphia or the Holiday Inn, all in Southeast Philly. There are also options in nearby neighborhoods like Point Breeze and Queen Village. For the lowest nightly rate, consider staying in New Jersey at a hotel in Gloucester or Brooklawn; the drive to the Linc is only about 15 minutes from there with no traffic. To see more of the city beyond South Philly, splurge on a room in Center City so you can experience the heart of Philadelphia before hitting the sports complex.
What else should I do while visiting Philadelphia?
Philadelphia is ripe with historical monuments, museums, restaurants and outdoor sites. For starters, hit the Liberty Bell and Independence Hall to brush up on your Revolutionary War–era history. Soak in the culture at the Philadelphia Museum of Art (and conquer the Rocky Steps before you go home). Snap photos at Philadelphia’s Magic Gardens or at the iconic Love Park. Grab a bite at one of Rittenhouse Square’s most sought-out restos, then relax by the park’s serene water fountain.
What’s the match schedule?
Sunday, June 14
🇨🇮 Côte d’Ivoire vs. 🇪🇨 Ecuador at 7pm
Friday, June 19
🇧🇷 Brazil vs. 🇭🇹 Haiti at 8:30pm
Monday, June 22
🇫🇷 France vs. 🇮🇶 Iraq at 5pm
Thursday, June 25
🇨🇼 Curaçao vs. 🇨🇮 Côte d’Ivoire at 4pm
Saturday, June 27
🇭🇷 Croatia vs. 🇬🇭 Ghana at 5pm
Saturday, July 4
TBD at 5pm (Round of 16 match)
Will there be an official fan festival in Philadelphia?
FIFA Fan Fest will be held for a whopping 39 days in Fairmount Park from June 11 to July 19. Philadelphia is the only U.S. host city mounting an event like this for the full length of the tournament. The watch party boasts live entertainment, cultural activities and plenty of food and drink. On days when there’s no match to broadcast, locals can still take part in events and ticketed concerts. It’s free to participate, but you’ll need to register to attend (registration to come).
