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Andrew Zwarych has traversed the globe for soccer, stopping in 16 countries and four continents after falling for the sport as a young goalie. This year, he’ll be in his hometown of Philadelphia for the June 14, 2026 match between Côte d’Ivoire and Ecuador.
Prior to joining Visit Philadelphia in 2022 as Research & Analytics Manager, Zwarych worked for the Philadelphia Union from 2017 to 2022 in various roles, including Team Photographer and Digital Strategist.
Now Zwarych is putting on his expert’s cap and relaying helpful hints for how you can make the most of this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity as FIFA World Cup 26 takes over Philadelphia for 39 days.
There are nine teams competing at Philadelphia Stadium (aka The Linc) from June 14 to July 4, 2026: Brazil, France, Croatia, Ecuador, Haiti, Ghana, Curaçao, Iraq and Côte d’Ivoire.
“Pick a team,” Zwarych says. “It’s more fun to have a rooting interest.”
Looking for a sleeper squad for your FIFA bracket? Watch out for Ghana.
Or, if you prefer rooting on an odds-on favorite, you can’t go wrong with Brazil or France.
Going to see a World Cup match live is an unparalleled experience. It’s a bucket-list item, a memory that will forever lead the sports highlight reel in your brain.
“A lot of soccer fans measure time by World Cups,” Zwarych says. “If someone asked me about something that happened in 2006, I would be like, ‘Okay, where was I? What World Cup was it?’”
Pro tip: Use The Great Reviewer to track ticket prices, which can change dramatically throughout each day.
Philadelphia Stadium — Photo by S. Hoffner for Philadelphia Sports Nation
For those not holding match-day tickets, there are multiple ways to experience World Cup fever. From block parties and live streams, to wandering around different cultural enclaves and immigrant communities, Philly is alive.
Finding a party won’t be hard. You just need to know where to go.
“Go one extra block and get lost in a new neighborhood,” Zwarych says. “What I like to do is look for where a specific country’s fans are hanging out and watch a game with them.”
For example, Northeast Philly is a hub for the Brazilian community. Africatown is a hotbed for fans of the Afro-Caribbean diaspora, like Ghana, Côte d’Ivoire, Haiti and Curaçao. Meanwhile, Fishtown and Northern Liberties appeal to the novice fans and the general population.
FIFA Fan Festival is a great starting point. Here are a few other suggestions on where to watch, according to Zwarych:
For more great places to soak in the vibes, check out our Where to Watch guide.
It doesn’t matter what you wear to the game or watch party — although anything Dallas Cowboys is frowned upon here — as long as you remember:
This is not the time to trash talk, but you should feel perfectly at ease yapping to the person sitting one bar stool over. Introduce yourself and welcome them.
This is the City of Brotherly Love, after all!
“If you go to a bar, sit with someone from another country,” Zwarych advises. “Start up a conversation!”
Every conversation is a cultural moment — and a chance to bond over one common enemy.
“The refs,” Zwarych jokes. “Complaining about the refs unites people.”
Walking is your best method for getting around town, but SEPTA is also running special routes and lines for the duration of the 39-day tournament.
“Walk wherever you can or take advantage of our public transportation system,” Zwarych says. “SEPTA’s Orange Line [B subway line] is a convenient way to get to the stadium and The El [L subway line] gets you from east to west. Personally, I take the bus everywhere.”
Check SEPTA’s website for more information. Philly PHLASH is also offering free rides to and from the FIFA Fan Festival.
Some matches won’t kick off until midnight, so this is a golden opportunity to enjoy an overnight stay in Philadelphia. There are approximately 14 late-cap matches (although none of them are being hosted in Philly).
“The hotel bars are going to be a scene,” Zwarych says. “You’ll have people chanting in the lobby, adorned in scarves and yelling at the TV. Spend the night and immerse yourself in the culture.”
Additionally, Visit Philadelphia’s Spirit of 76 is a great way to explore various hotels while sipping on cocktails and mocktails inspired by the city’s central role in the founding of the country.
Grab a scarf. These colorful silks are portals into different cultures.
Zwarych lists the Soccer Post (multiple locations) and Rally House as good bets to pick one up, in addition to the official merch tents at FIFA Fan Festival.
“I’m wearing my Ukrainian stuff to the game,” Zwarych says. “No one’s going to poke and prod.”
Also, study up on the best soccer chants and team nicknames:
Another way to chisel your rooting chops is by basking in Philly’s street soccer scene, which dates back to the Lighthouse Boys Club in 1897, at one of these public fields:
“If you look hard enough, you can find soccer everywhere,” Zwarych notes. “Be open with it. Pick up a ball. I truly believe the World Cup inspires future generations.”
For more on FIFA World Cup 26 in Philadelphia, check out our complete guide.
Web Content Manager, Visit Philadelphia
It’s Philly’s biggest year yet!
Make the most of it by booking the Visit Philly Overnight Package, which comes with free hotel parking and complimentary tickets to some of the most popular attractions in each of Greater Philadelphia’s five counties including Universal Theme Parks: The Exhibition at The Franklin Institute, the Mercer Museum in Bucks County, Longwood Gardens in Chester County, the Brandywine Museum of Art in Delaware County and Elmwood Park Zoo in Montgomery County.
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