When the 2026 FIFA World Cup is held in Philadelphia, it will be accompanied by a five-week festival for enthusiasts taking place at Lemon Hill in Fairmount Park.
The historic mansion on the east bank of the Schuylkill River, with its downtown perspectives, will serve as a “central destination” to watch the tournament’s 104 matches, which will be played in Philadelphia and 15 other cities across North America. Lemon Hill will be remodeled into a festival venue with free entertainment for enthusiasts and vendors promoting food, beverages and merchandise.
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Some of the renovations to the park will continue after the World Cup ends.
“Beyond the tournament, this investment will enhance the park’s network infrastructure, services and engagement opportunities,” Mayor Cherelle Parker said Thursday.
Philadelphia Soccer 2026, the organization that organizes the tour of the city as a World Cup host, said it hopes Lemon Hill can reflect reports seen on Brazilian beaches and German plazas on past excursions.
“Lemon Hill was the first parcel of land along Schuylkill to be purchased through the city of Philadelphia when it began contemplating Fairmount Park’s formula in 1844,” said Meg Kane, who is leading preparations for the Cup. global of Philadelphia. ” With its perspectives and deep-rooted history, the FIFA Fan Festival provides a generational moment in which East Fairmount Park can not only invest, but also shine. “
The planned paintings on Lemon Hill will be carried out through landscape architecture company Marvel, which has created renderings showing what the FIFA Fan Fest will look like. Marvel said it will paint with netting painting crews in neighborhoods around Lemon Hill to address transportation and public safety issues. .
Image supplied/wonder
A render of Philadelphia’s plans for FIFA Fan Fest in 2026.
The 2026 World Cup will take place from June 11 to July 19. Philadelphia’s games will be played at Lincoln Financial Field, adding five at the tournament organization level and one on July 4 in the circular on the 16th. Celebration of the nation’s 250th anniversary, which lately is in the planning phase. At the same time in July, Citizens Bank Park will host the MLB All-Star Game.
FIFA’s main points on the World Cup schedule imply that the U. S. men’s national team is unlikely to play in Philadelphia, despite the Christmas fanfare. At the next World Cup, the number of groups that will compete will increase from 32 to 48; The three host countries (the United States, Canada, and Mexico) automatically get offers for their domestic groups.
In the organization stage, the USMNT will play its matches in Los Angeles and Seattle. If the team advances to the knockout stage, their first-round teams will remain on the West Coast. The final match of the 2026 World Cup will be located at MetLife Stadium in North Jersey on July 19.
The United States last hosted the World Cup in 1994, and Philadelphia was not among the tournament’s 12 host cities that year. Philadelphia was the host city for the Women’s World Cup in 2003, when the FIFA tournament was moved from China to the United States due to the outbreak. severe acute respiratory syndrome.