2026 FIFA World Cup: Fan fest at East Fairmount Park's Lemon Hill – Billy Penn

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When the 2026 FIFA Men’s World Cup arrives, soccer fans will have the chance to see some of the globe’s best footballing talent live at Lincoln Financial Field.
For the majority who won’t be able to score tickets to the Linc’s six games — or any of the 15 other host cities across the U.S., Canada and Mexico —- Philly’s official watch party site for the tournament has been revealed. 
The FIFA Fan Festival will be at East Fairmount Park’s Lemon Hill, Philadelphia Soccer 2026 announced on Thursday, in a legacy project that aims to renovate the park for 2026 and beyond.
“Hosting FIFA Fan Fest here allows us to improve this naturally beautiful public space with additional amenities that will be part of our legacy that extends far beyond the final whistle,” Philadelphia Soccer 2026 Chairman DanHilferty said during the announcement at the park Thursday.
Hilferty and other organizers were joined by City Council President Kenyatta Johnson, Councilmembers Curtis Jones, Jr., Jeffrey Young, Jr. and Nicolas O’Rourke, City Representative Jazelle Jones, Philadelphia Union captain Alejandro Bedoya and the tournament’s Executive Director of Commercial Operations Ross McCall. Fairmount Park Conservancy CEO Maura McCarthy and Parks and Rec Commissioner Susan Slawson were also in attendance.
Members of West Philadelphia Soccer Academy were also at the announcement for a skills and drills session with Bedoya and Union mascot Phang. 
When the city came to Meg Kane, the host city executive for Philadelphia Soccer 2026, she admits she had to break out Google Earth to see exactly where they were suggesting. 
When she visited the 104-acre park, she saw the raw potential that a space that hadn’t been used for this scale of event had.
“When I came up here and saw the expanse, the ability to see the skyline, the ability to see that it really is a blank canvas to some extent, I think that that made it very appealing in terms of thinking about what we could build to create that unique FIFA experience,” she said. 
Fan zones like this offer live broadcast of the action on a big screen, along with music, food and other entertainment. Admission will be free.
The announcement stated that the site will undergo “planned revitalization efforts, including power, lighting, and critical grading for ADA accessibility,” as well as transportation and public safety adjustments over the next two years. These improvements will fall under Mayor Cherelle Parker’s “Clean and Green” initiative.
“Philadelphia’s parks and public spaces are second to none. Welcoming visitors from around the world to Lemon Hill will allow us to show off these assets like never before,” Parker said in a statement. “Beyond the tournament, this investment will enhance the park’s infrastructure, facilities, and community engagement opportunities, making our city safer, cleaner, and greener — and benefiting residents and visitors for years to come.”
The announcement added that the city will work closely with local communities in East Fairmount Park, Lemon Hill and Brewerytown during the two-year project. 
Traffic, already a major concern since the announcement was made, is also top of mind for the organizers. Part of the solution is to keep cars far away from Lemon Hill.
“We’re likely exploring a comprehensive shuttle system that will help to move people all around the city,” Kane said. “It would not be fair to say people are going to be able to drive and park. They are not here. This is going to be a pedestrian friendly experience, all FIFA fan festivals are.”
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The tournament itself runs from June 11 to July 19. Forty-eight international teams will compete in 104 matches, a massive expansion from the previous tournament in Qatar in 2022, which had 32 teams competing over 64 games.
The full draw and schedule will be filled after the qualification process wraps up and the group draw will happen in December 2025. The U.S. national team, who are already qualified for the tournament as hosts, will play its three group stage games on the West Coast in Inglewood, Calif. and Seattle. 
Philly’s five group stage games will be on June 14, 19, 22, 25 and 27. The city will host a round of 16 match on July 4, coinciding with the nation’s semiquincentennial celebrations. 
Along with the World Cup, Philly (and its suburbs) will host other sporting events in 2026 including the MLB All-Star Game at Citizens Bank Park and the 108th PGA Championship at Delaware County’s Aronimink Golf Club in July, as well as first- and second-round games of NCAA men’s March Madness basketball earlier in the year.
Bedoya recalled when he was a similar age and got to experience the 1994 World Cup first hand at the Meadowlands, and then in Brazil as a member of the U.S. national team. Though he obviously couldn’t show up at the fan festivities, he says he was able to see a couple outside his bedroom window.
“It’s going to help put Philadelphia on the map,” Bedoya said. “Forget about the economic impact. It may have hosting a World Cup, but I think the social impact is even greater.” 
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Nick Kariuki is Billy Penn’s trending news reporter. A graduate of the University of Virginia and Medill’s MSJ program at Northwestern University, Nick was previously a sportswriter for outlets such… More by Nick Kariuki
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