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Every four years, billions of spectators around the globe tune in to soccer’s FIFA World Cup — the world’s most popular sporting event.
And in 2026, the party is coming to America — just in time for the nation’s Semiquincentennial celebration.
The FIFA World Cup 26 will pit dozens of the world’s best national soccer (aka fútbol) teams against each other in a series of electrifying country-versus-country matchups.
With a field of 48 teams for 2026 (the most in FIFA World Cup history), the 39-day tournament will take place in 16 cities across North America — 11 in the United States plus three in Mexico and two in Canada — including right here in Philadelphia.
Philly is set to host six big matches at Lincoln Financial Field which are expected to draw over half a million visitors in total to the city.
The tournament runs from June 11 to July 19, 2026, with Philly’s matchups being held between June 14 and July 4, 2026 — the last of which takes place on the 250th birthday of the United States.
The FIFA World Cup 26 kicks off with an opening match in Mexico City at Estadio Azteca (North America’s most famous soccer venue) in early June.
South Philadelphia’s Lincoln Financial Field (which will be temporarily renamed Philadelphia Stadium) will then play host to six of the tournament’s matches in total.
— Photo courtesy FIFA World Cup 26 Philadelphia
The Philly region begins with five Group Stage “pool play” matchups — featuring qualified national teams from semi-randomly assigned groups — from June 14-27, 2026, at The Linc on the following dates:
As the tournament progresses, the top two teams from each round-robin group (one group per city) move into the single-elimination Knockout Stage.
Philadelphia does not host a match during the Knockout Stage’s Round of 32, but returns for a high-stakes Round of 16 match at 5 p.m. on Saturday, July 4, 2026 — one of Philly’s biggest holidays and America’s Semiquincentennial — for the right to advance to a Quarter-final in Boston. The teams for that match (Match 89) are still to be determined.
From there, the winners will progress to the Semi-finals in Texas and Atlanta, and conclude with the FIFA World Cup Final at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey.
In 2026, Philadelphia will also host the tournament-long, free-admission FIFA Fan Festival.
To be held at Lemon Hill in East Fairmount Park over the course of the event, the massive international celebration will feature the best of fútbol culture along with giant screens broadcasting live matches and highlights, food and beverage vendors, live music and entertainment and International cultural events and parties.
The FIFA Fan Festival is expected to attract 15,000-20,000 excited attendees each match day.
Individual match tickets go on sale in early 2026, but several pricing tiers of multi-match VIP packages are available now — which include perks like premium seating, luxury amenities and gourmet food.
To purchase your single-match FIFA World Cup 26 tickets early, don’t miss the last of three random lottery drawings:
Missed FIFA’s previous early ticket lotteries? No problem: The third and final lottery — the Random Selection Draw — opens at 11 a.m. on December 11, 2025 and runs until 11 a.m. on January 13, 2026.
To enter, applicants must create a FIFA ID at FIFA.com/tickets, and then use their FIFA IDs to apply for tickets to specific matches (up to four tickets per match).
Important note: The timing of your application — whether early or late — will not affect your chances of your entry being selected. Winners are notified via email after the lottery window closes, and purchases are charged in February.
For help creating a FIFA ID, follow the steps here.
For everyone else, remaining ticket sales open up on a first-come, first-served basis once the lotteries wrap up in January.
Fans who miss their chance to purchase a ticket can also keep an eye out for FIFA’s official upcoming ticket resale platform at FIFA.com/tickets.
Want to be notified as soon as tickets become available? Sign up through the FIFA World Cup website here. For more info on the FIFA World Cup 26 in Philadelphia, click the link below.
For more about FIFA World Cup 26 Philadelphia, check out Matador’s comprehensive guide by clicking the button below.
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