Game On: Where History Meets Sports

FIFA World Cup championship matches at the Financial Field

Philadelphia has been selected as one of the 11 U.S. cities, alongside three in Mexico and two in Canada, to serve as a host for matches during the 2026 FIFA World Cup. This prestigious global sporting event will attract visitors from all corners of the globe to Philly, where elite athletes will compete at Lincoln Financial Field. 

With the nation's 250th birthday celebration, the MLB All-Star Game, and now the FIFA World Cup all slated for 2026, Philadelphia is poised for an incredibly monumental year.

& the FIFA Fan Festival

In 2026, Philadelphia will welcome the FIFA Fan Festival—a free, citywide celebration running throughout the tournament.

Set in Lemon Hill at East Fairmount Park, the festival will immerse fans with large screens showing live matches and highlights, a variety of food and drink options, live music, entertainment, and international cultural events and parties.

Each match day, the FIFA Fan Festival is anticipated to draw between 15,000 and 20,000 enthusiastic fans.

Annual All-Star baseball game at Citizens Bank Park 

For the fifth time in Philadelphia history and the first time at Citizens Bank Park, the Major League Baseball All-Star game is coming to Philly in 2026! 

Previously held in 1943, 1952, 1976 and 1996, the "Midsummer Classic" will welcome baseball fans from all over the country to Philadelphia for the exciting game, just in time to help celebrate the 250th anniversary (Semiquincentennial) of American Independence.

NCAA’s March Madness men’s basketball tournament comes to Wells Fargo Center - March 20-22, 2026

As yet "another tremendous example of the collaborative camaraderie of the Philadelphia sports community," NCAA players will hit the court at the Wells Fargo Center for the 1st and 2nd Rounds of the NCAA March Madness Tournament. 

The NCAA events "will bring over 128,500 unique attendees to Philadelphia generating more than 76,000 room nights across the region."

Aronimink Golf Club gathers for the 108th PGA Championship

Aronimink is gearing up to host the 2026 PGA Championship, aligning perfectly with the United States' semiquincentennial celebration, commemorating the 250th anniversary of America’s founding in 1776 in Philadelphia.

What to Expect

The countdown is on. The 2026 FIFA World Cup™ will begin in early June with the opening whistle at Mexico City’s Estadio Azteca, one of the sport’s most storied venues.

Not long after, Philadelphia takes its place on the global stage. Lincoln Financial Field — which will temporarily be known as Philadelphia Stadium for the tournament — is set to host six matches in total.

Group Stage: June in Philadelphia

Soccer fans across the region can look forward to five Group Stage contests, where teams from around the world battle through round-robin play. The action at Philadelphia Stadium unfolds on:

• Sunday, June 14, 2026
• Friday, June 19, 2026
• Monday, June 22, 2026
• Thursday, June 25, 2026
• Saturday, June 27, 2026

Participating teams and kickoff times will be announced closer to the tournament.

A Historic July 4th Showdown

Philadelphia skips the Round of 32, but the excitement returns in a big way on Saturday, July 4, 2026, when the stadium hosts a Round of 16 elimination match. The date couldn’t be more fitting: Independence Day in Philadelphia, during America’s 250th birthday celebrations, will serve as the backdrop for one of the tournament’s most dramatic stages. The winning team will head north to Boston for the Quarter-finals.

The Path Ahead

From there, the journey continues with Semi-finals in Texas and Atlanta, leading to the World Cup Final at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey — where the world champion will be crowned.

Philadelphia will play a key role in this once-in-a-generation moment, welcoming fans from across the globe and showcasing the city’s passion for the world’s game.