Fan Guide to Philadelphia

Make the most of your match week in Philadelphia: see more, stress less.

Introduction

Philadelphia for World Cup 2026 Visitors

Philadelphia brings big-city energy with walkable historic streets, a packed museum mile, and a sports complex that runs on game-day adrenaline—ideal between fixtures. Center City’s grid drops you at Independence National Historical Park for quick hits of Liberty Bell and Independence Hall, while the Benjamin Franklin Parkway strings together major museums and wide-open lawns. South of downtown, the South Philadelphia Sports Complex concentrates stadiums, tailgates, and transit in one zone, making it easy to shuttle from sightseeing to kickoff. For World Cup week, the city leans into its hosting chops with dedicated info for fans, neighborhood spotlights, and easy SEPTA access to the stadium district. Expect a friendly, food-obsessed city where you can stitch together history, art, riverfront strolls, and game nights without losing time in transit.

Fast Facts

Population (city/entidad): 1,573,916
Time zone: Pacific Daylight Time (UTC−4)
Airports: Philadelphia International Airport (PHL); Trenton–Mercer Airport (TTN); Atlantic City International Airport (ACY).
Currency: United States Dollar (USD).
Power & voltage: 120 V/60 Hz; plug types A & B are standard.
Weather snapshot (June–July): Typical highs/lows ~83°F/64°F in June and ~88°F/70°F in July at PHL; summer is warm to hot and humid.
Language: English
Drinking age: 21

The Pitch

Lincoln Financial Field

Lincoln Financial Field (temporarily branded “Philadelphia Stadium” during the tournament) sits within the South Philadelphia Sports Complex, about 3.5 miles south of Center City. The open-air venue uses a FIFA-ready HERO hybrid natural-grass surface reinforced for elite soccer. The Broad Street Line’s southern terminus (NRG Station) is the primary transit link.

World Cup seating will be in the high-60,000s (the building seats 67,594 for football), with views opened up by corner cuts and canopies rather than a full roof. Use SEPTA’s BSL (orange line) to NRG Station for direct stadium access.

Stadium Basics

Location: One Lincoln Financial Field Way (use 1020 Pattison Ave for GPS), Philadelphia, PA.
Surface: HERO Hybrid Grass (natural grass reinforced system).
Getting there: SEPTA Broad Street Line to NRG Station (last stop) for the South Philadelphia Sports Complex.
Bag policy & payments: Clear bags up to 12″ x 6″ x 12″ (small clutches ≤4.5″ x 6.5″); venue is cashless with cash-to-card machines on site.

Full stadium details

Match dates in Philadelphia

June 14, 2026 — Group Stage
June 19, 2026 — Group Stage
June 22, 2026 — Group Stage
June 24, 2026 — Group Stage
July 1, 2026 — Group Stage
July 4, 2026 — Round of 16

Inside Philadelphia

Districts & Vibes

Use the official neighborhoods list as your map. Pair Old City/Historic District (morning museums and landmarks) with an afternoon on the Benjamin Franklin Parkway (art museums and green lawns), then roll into Fishtown for nightlife—three distinct vibes in one day without long transfers.

Alternatively, stitch Rittenhouse/Center City café corners with a riverfront hour at Penn’s Landing, then head south on the Broad Street Line to the South Philadelphia Sports Complex for an easy stadium night. The DMO’s area pages make it simple to pick and mix.

Global Eats, Local Pours

Philadelphia’s Food & Drink Hit List

Fuel up at Reading Terminal Market, where dozens of independent merchants turn out everything from roast pork sandwiches to Amish baked goods under one historic roof. For a street-market vibe, the Italian Market along 9th Street strings produce stands, specialty shops, and casual bites for easy grazing.

Pre- or post-match, aim for the Delaware River Waterfront—seasonal pop-ups and beer-garden programming like Spruce Street Harbor Park keep things festive with views and games. North of Center City, Fishtown concentrates breweries, music venues, and patios along Frankford and Girard, a go-to cluster highlighted by the city DMO.

Iconic Philadelphia

Must-Sees Between Matches

Start in the Historic District: Independence Hall and the Liberty Bell anchor a compact zone of cobblestones, greens, and museums managed by the National Park Service. Nearby, the Museum of the American Revolution adds context with immersive exhibits.

Swing up the Benjamin Franklin Parkway for the Philadelphia Museum of Art and the Barnes Foundation—world-class collections in a grand, walkable setting. Science lovers can detour to The Franklin Institute.

For texture, weave in Reading Terminal Market’s century-old hall, Eastern State Penitentiary’s haunting cellblocks, and a breather in Fairmount Park’s vast river-hugging green space.

Discover Philadelphia Through

Local Experiences & Tours

See the skyline from the water on narrated Delaware River cruises with City Cruises Philadelphia, departing Penn’s Landing. In the streets, Mural Arts Philadelphia runs guided tours through the “mural capital” showcasing community art.

Inside the historic core, park rangers lead timed tours of Independence Hall and seasonal Independence NHP walking tours; at the Parkway, the Philadelphia Museum of Art offers daily guided collection highlights and bookable private tours. Families can add Once Upon A Nation storytelling benches for free, bite-size history.

Keep the Party Going

Fan-Friendly Nightlife

For stadium-side energy, Xfinity Live!/Stateside Live! anchors the Sports Complex with massive screens, food halls, and event programming steps from the gates—ideal for meetups before the Broad Street Line ride home. Up in Northern Liberties and neighboring Fishtown, nightlife clusters span clubs, concert halls, and busy bar blocks promoted by the DMO.

Closer to downtown, Visit Philadelphia’s nightlife guide highlights rooftops, live-music rooms, and late-kitchen spots across Center City—use it to pick an area and settle in.