Philadelphia opens largest World Cup Fan Festival in Fairmount Park for ultimate soccer experience

PHILADELPHIA (WPVI) -- Philadelphia's FIFA Fan Festival opens Thursday afternoon at Lemon Hill in Fairmount Park.

Fans can visit the site for the ultimate soccer experience throughout the tournament.

Of the 11 cities hosting matches, Philadelphia has the largest fan fest site.

The Fan Fest will open at 2 p.m. ahead of the first World Cup match at 3 p.m. in Mexico City.

It is free to attend, but you must register beforehand. Only 15,000 people are allowed into the event space at a time.

"This is our version of soccer Coachella. It is going to be an incredible festival," said Meg Kane, Host City Executive/CEO of Philadelphia Soccer 2026.

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Action News got a sneak peek of the site, which encompasses one million square feet of space with games, food, retail tents, and screens to watch the matches.

"It was so important that we had a space where everyone could have a World Cup experience, and that's why we really focused on keeping this free and accessible to enter over the 39 days. We wanted people to come and come again," Kane said.

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On the days when there are no matches, it will still be open with concerts and other things.

"I think people will be wowed by the scale, wowed by the scope," said Kane.

Luis Fonsi, whose biggest hit is probably "Despacito," will hold a concert Thursday night following the final whistle of the Mexico-South Africa match.

"For Philadelphians, it's a once in a lifetime experience," Kane added.

The Fan Fest was designed to be the World Cup experience for everyone.

"FIFA often tells us when the World Cup starts, the world stops, and in many respects it does. Billions of people will tune in to watch these matches. This is an Eagles game for us, but it's national pride," Kane explained.

Everyone enters through a security checkpoint on Kelly Drive and Sedgley Drive, across from Lloyd Hall on Boathouse Row.

Philadelphia hosts its first World Cup match on Sunday.

Tickets are hard to get so if you're somebody who can't make it inside the stadium, you still have a place to come. You got a place to come to celebrate FIFA, to watch the matches, to eat and drink and celebrate with your friends so the World Cup experience is out here for everybody.

"For Philadelphians, it's a once in a lifetime experience," Kane added.

The full schedule is online.