PHILADELPHIA — As FIFA World Cup 2026™ enters its second week, Philadelphia is building on a strong opening stretch that welcomed visitors from around the world, filled Philadelphia Stadium for the city’s first match, and brought thousands of residents and visitors together at FIFA Fan Festival™ Philadelphia.
The opening days of the tournament included 68,274 fans attending Philadelphia’s first match on June 14 and more than 100,000 visitors attending the fan festival at Lemon Hill during its first four days. Major events across the city, including the annual ODUNDE Festival, added to the excitement. Together, these events offered an early glimpse of the historic summer ahead as Philadelphia welcomes visitors for the World Cup, Wawa Welcome America, and America’s 250th anniversary.
“Philadelphia has spent years preparing for this moment, and over the past week we have seen the best of our city on display,” said Mayor Cherelle L. Parker. “From welcoming visitors to keeping people safe, Philadelphians have shown the hospitality, service, and pride that define our city. We are grateful for their efforts and excited about everything still to come.”
“This has truly been a One Philly effort,” said Chief Deputy Mayor Vanessa Garrett Harley. “From transportation and public safety to hospitality and visitor services, City employees and volunteers have worked together to deliver a welcoming experience. We are proud of what we’ve accomplished so far, and we are focused on building on that success in the weeks ahead.”
Philadelphia International Airport projected more than 438,000 arriving and departing passengers between June 11 and June 15, including soccer fans traveling from around the world to attend matches and related events. Airport ambassadors welcomed travelers and connected visitors to details on the city’s World Cup activities and attractions.
FIFA Fan Festival™ Philadelphia at Lemon Hill reports that they welcomed 100,901 visitors during its first four days, including 42,933 attendees on June 14 alone.
“This is exactly the Philadelphia we always knew we could show the world,” said Daniel J. Hilferty, Co-Chair of Philadelphia Soccer 2026. “More than 100,000 fans came through FIFA Fan Festival™ Philadelphia in just four days, bringing together families, visitors, and supporters from around the globe. The energy throughout the city has been incredible.”
Additionally, Philadelphia Parks & Recreation hospitality hubs have served more than 50,000 visitors at Love Park, Logan Square, Eakins Oval, and Lloyd Hall, providing free water through Philadelphia Water Department Quench Buggies, restrooms, seating, visitor information, and wayfinding assistance along key routes to Lemon Hill.
Transportation systems across the city saw strong usage throughout opening weekend. SEPTA reports the B Line carried approximately 18,806 passengers boarding at NRG Station between 8:30 p.m. and midnight following Philadelphia’s first World Cup match on June 14. For comparison, SEPTA averaged approximately 16,000 NRG Station boardings following Philadelphia Eagles home games during the 2025 season.
PHLASH carried more than 7,440 riders during the first four days of the tournament, including more than 2,050 riders traveling to Lemon Hill. Indego bike share recorded 25,297 rides between June 11 and June 14, including four consecutive days with more than 6,000 trips. More than one in five trips were taken by World Cup visitors, while overall ridership increased 32 percent compared to the same period last year. To support travel to Lemon Hill, Indego added 99 temporary bike docks near the festival site.
Since June 11, the Office of Special Events under City Representative and Director of Special Events Jazelle Jones has coordinated operational support for 25 events, including the fan festival, ODUNDE, Disability Pride celebrations, and Flag Day activities. The office also coordinated the installation of more than 100 wayfinding signs throughout the city.
While the tournament’s opening days brought visitors from around the world to Philadelphia, some of the summer’s biggest moments are still ahead.
This Friday, Wawa Welcome America launches 16 days of free events, performances, and celebrations across Philadelphia, beginning with Juneteenth programming and continuing through Independence Day.
Philadelphia’s World Cup hosting schedule continues with matches on June 19, June 22, June 25, June 27, and July 4.
More than 1,600 residents and visitors have already signed up for CUPPHL alerts, receiving updates on weather, transportation, public safety, and major event operations. Residents and visitors can enroll for free alerts by texting “CUPPHL” to 888-777.
Additional details on fan festival registration, transportation options, and a calendar are available through the 2026 Digital Resource Hub and the free Access Philly mobile app.
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