Philadelphia is gearing up to become a hub for celebration this summer as the city gets ready to host the FIFA World Cup 2026 and the Fan Festival at Lemon Hill. Multiple agencies are working around the clock to provide an unique experience to residents and visitors alike during the soccer tourna ment. The World Cup and Fan Fest will run from June 11 through July 19, 2026. Philadelphia will host six matches on June 14, June 19, June 22, June 25, June 27 and July 4. On June 2, the City of Philadelphia and Philadelphia Soccer 2026 officials shared a comprehensive update on operations and logistics ahead of the World Cup — including road closures, transportation options, parking, stadium details and more. Moreover, on Tuesday, SEPTA announced the reopening of the South Broad Concourse, the underground corridor that connects the 15th Street/City Hall stations to Walnut-Locust Station. The concourse will open 15 minutes after the first train leaves Fern Rock Transit Center and close 30 minutes after the last train. According to SEPTA, this reopening comes in time to accommodate this summer’s major events and will remain open permanently. Officials said their focus is on making the World Cup experience “accessible, welcoming and easy to navigate.” “We are prioritizing public transit, safe pedestrian and bicycle access, and clear navigation to ensure people can move efficiently and safely to experience this once-in-a-lifetime event, while minimizing disruption for surrounding neighborhoods and keeping Philadelphia moving throughout the tournament,” said Mayor Cherelle L. Parker. Here’s everything you need to know if you’re attending a World Cup match and/or watching the games at the Fan Festival in Lemon Hill. World Cup 2026 stadium details Philadelphia will host six matches for FIFA World Cup 2026, including a Round of 16 match on July 4, when the city will also turn into a big party as it becomes the epicenter of America’s 250th celebrations. All soccer matches will be played at the Philadelphia Stadium on One Lincoln Financial Field Way. The stadium’s gates open three hours before kickoff to allow fans enough time to enter the venue and get settled. Parking will be open to fans five hours before kickoff. We encourage fans to arrive early to allow enough time for security screening, ticket scanning, and entry before kickoff. Leaving and then re-entering the stadium is not allowed, and smoking and vaping is strictly prohibited. Rules like these are included in the stadium policies, available on the FIFA website. Match schedule Here’s the full match schedule: Match 9 – Sunday, 14 June 2026 at 7 p.m.: Côte d’Ivoire vs Ecuador (Group E)  Match 29 – Friday, 19 June 2026 at 8:30 p.m.: Brazil vs Haiti (Group C)  Match 42 – Monday, 22 June 2026 at 5 p.m.: France vs Iraq (Group I)   Match 55 – Thursday, 25 June, 2026 at 4 p.m.: Curaçao vs Côte d’Ivoire (Group E)  Match 68 – Saturday, 27 June 2026 at 5 p.m.: Croatia vs Ghana (Group L)  Match 89 – Saturday, 4 July 2026 at 5 p.m.: Round of 16 Fan experiences Stateside Live! Match Day Experiences: Philadelphia Soccer 2026 and Stateside Live! have launched a collection of match day experiences tailored for individual fans, families, visiting supporter groups, and everyone in between who will be attending matches at Philadelphia Stadium. Tickets are available for purchase at StatesideLive.com/Soccer-2026. Following the conclusion of matches hosted at Philadelphia Stadium, Stateside Live! will re-open to the general public. FIFA Fan Experience Zones: Fans will be able to experience the action before the match starts. The Stadium Fan Experience area is located on the north side of the stadium, inside entrance N and NW. Getting to Philadelphia Stadium Parking Parking passes for lots surrounding Philadelphia Stadium are available to purchase for match ticket holders via FIFA. Only one parking pass may be purchased per ticket, and a valid match ticket is required to complete the purchase. All FIFA World Cup parking passes must be purchased in advance. SEPTA SEPTA offers two subway lines, regional rail service to and from the surrounding suburbs, and bus service throughout the city. SEPTA’s B (Broad Street Line) provides convenient service to the South Philadelphia Sports Complex via NRG Station. SEPTA will operate regularly scheduled service along with Sports Express trains every 10 minutes or less. Philadelphia Soccer 2026 has partnered with Airbnb to provide complimentary rides home on SEPTA’s B after all six FIFA World Cup™ matches in Philadelphia. The free-ride-home program is designed to expand access to safe, reliable transportation and help ensure all fans can fully participate in the FIFA World Cup experience. Complimentary rides home from NRG Station for FIFA World Cup 2026 matches will begin at halftime and continue for two hours following the end of the match. Regular fares will apply for all travel to the matches. Visit SEPTA’s 2026 World Cup website for full details on transit options. For information on NJ Transit routes and schedules, visit NJTransit.com. For information on PATCO routes and schedules, visit RidePatco.org. Ride Hailing Ride hailing services will have limited access near Philadelphia Stadium on match days due to temporary traffic controls and rideshare restrictions in and around the event footprint. The designated pick-up and drop-off locations will be at FDR Park. Geofence exceptions will be available for riders who require a wheelchair accessible vehicle (WAV) or disclose a mobility issue to their driver. Cyclists and Pedestrians Philadelphia Stadium is also accessible via cycling and walking. Sidewalks and walking paths will remain open for pedestrians as conditions allow; however, please follow all posted signs, detours, and traffic control devices. RideIndego is an accessible and affordable way to get to and from Philadelphia Stadium. Download the official Indego App to check real-time bike and dock availability at any station. Visit the Google Play or Apple App Store and look for the official Indego App. Fan Festival at Lemon Hill In addition to hosting the World Cup, Philly will also be offering a unique experience for those who want to enjoy the tournament but cannot make it to a match. The Fan Fest will be held at East Fairmount Park’s Lemon Hill, and will feature live match broadcasts, cultural programming, music, food vendors and family-friendly activities. Participation in the festival is free, but online registration is required for all guests. To enter the festival grounds, go to one of the following secured entry points: Kelly Drive and Sedgley Drive Poplar Drive and Girard Avenue Organizers announced that global Latin pop star Luis Fonsi will headline the festival’s opening night on Thursday, June 11. The Fan Fest will run throughout the entire 39-day tournament. On match days, the schedule will follow the FIFA World Cup 2026 daily match schedule and will open one hour prior to the start of the first match shown and close one hour after the conclusion of the last match that will be shown. On non-match days, operating hours will be determined by the entertainment and programming schedule. Road closures for the Fan Festival There will be two main road closure areas between Center City and Lemon Hill, near Fan Festival and the Benjamin Franklin Parkway.  The local lanes of the Benjamin Franklin Parkway will be closed to vehicular traffic from May 25, to Labor Day, Sept. 7, with the exception of the July 4th Concert festivities. This local lane closure will provide greater accessibility for pedestrians and cyclists and will encourage people to walk and bike between Center City and Lemon Hill.  For the Philadelphia FIFA Fan Festival, the following streets will be closed beginning at 6 a.m. on Tuesday, May 26 for the duration of the festival:   Sedgley Drive from Kelly Drive to Poplar Drive  Poplar Street from Poplar Drive to 30th Street (Local Access Maintained)  Poplar Street from 29th Street to 30th Street (Westbound Only; Local Access Maintained)  Poplar Drive from Sedgley Drive to Girard Avenue  Sedgley Drive from Girard Avenue to Lemon Hill Drive  Lemon Hill Drive N. Lemon Hill Drive (Loop Road)  These roads will remain closed for the duration of the Fan Festival and will be reopened to vehicular traffic by 8 p.m. on July 26, 2026.  Beginning on June 11 through July 19, Waterworks Drive will be closed at 10 a.m. each day for the duration of the Fan Festival, with controlled access for Waterworks and Philadelphia Museum of Art. Waterworks Drive will be available for general parking each morning until 9 a.m.   Vehicles parked in these locations during posted hours will be relocated. If you believe your car has been relocated, call the police district of the area where your car was parked.  Read more on road closures and transportation-related information here. Hospitality hubs Philadelphia Parks and Recreation will be staffing hospitality hubs, including two pop-up visitor centers in partnership with the Philadelphia Visitor Center. These hubs will be along the recommended walking path from Center City to FIFA Fan Festival at Lemon Hill. The walking path will guide visitors past the following locations:  City Hall  Love Park  Benjamin Franklin Parkway  Logan Circle Eakins Oval  Lloyd Hall The hospitality hubs will be open daily throughout the 39-day tournament and have the following free amenities: Water  Restrooms  Visitor information  Maps  Exact locations of the hospitality hubs and hours of operation will be available at a later date. ...read more read less