NEWS 8 STAGING SYSTEM WAS THERE FOR TODAY’S OPENING DAY. THE WORLD CUP KICKED OFF RIGHT HERE IN LEMON HILL IN PHILADELPHIA. FANS FROM AROUND THE WORLD COMING TO ENJOY FAN FEST. THE ENERGY PALPABLE BEFORE THE FIRST KICKOFF. I’M STAYING IN JERSEY RIGHT NOW. IT’S JUST REALLY COOL TO SEE ALL THESE PEOPLE FROM DIFFERENT COUNTRIES AND DIFFERENT CULTURES COMING TO CELEBRATE THE FIFA AND IT BEING IN THE UNITED STATES, FANS FROM COLOMBIA, ECUADOR SHOWING OUT AND FANS FOR THE FIRST MATCH OF THE 2026 FIFA WORLD CUP, MEXICO AND SOUTH AFRICA. WHERE ARE YOU COMING IN FROM? WHAT IS IT LIKE BEING HERE AT FAN FEST? IT’S INCREDIBLE. IT’S. I HAVE FAMILY HERE IN PHILLY, BUT IT’S INCREDIBLE. FANS FOR THE UNITED STATES. DONNING THE JERSEY OF HERSHEY NATIVE AND MEN’S NATIONAL TEAM CAPTAIN CHRISTIAN PULISIC. JUST AWESOME. IT’S AWESOME. SOMEONE REPRESENT THIS AREA AND WE’RE ALL SUPER PROUD OF HIM. SO JUST HAPPY, JUST HAPPY FOR HIM AND READY TO READ THEM ALL TOMORROW NIGHT. SINCE THE UNITED STATES RECEIVED THE BID TO HOST THIS SUMMER’S WORLD CUP, ORGANIZERS OF THE EVENT SAID THAT’S WHEN THEY STARTED PLANNING IT, COVERING 1,000,000FT WITH CAPACITY FOR MORE THAN 15,000 FANS. SO WE STARTED ABOUT THREE YEARS AGO, AND I KNOW IT SOUNDS WILD, BUT WE LITERALLY START WITH A BLANK PIECE OF PAPER. EVERYBODY CAME TOGETHER AND DECIDED THAT THIS WAS GOING TO BE SOMETHING PHILADELPHIA WAS GOING TO DO BETTER THAN EVERYONE ELSE, AND THAT’S WHY WE HAVE 39 DAYS. WE’RE THE ONLY FAN FESTIVAL IN THE UNITED STATES GOING 39 CONTINUOUS DAYS, EVEN ON THE REST DAYS. PHILADELPHIA MAYOR CHERELLE PARKER KICKING THE FAN FEST OFF. NO MATTER YOUR RACE, YOUR CLASS, YOUR SEXUAL ORIENTATION OR IDENTITY, YOUR ZIP CODE, YOUR RELIGION, THIS FIFA FAN FEST IS FOR YOU. FOR THE NEXT 39 DAYS. THIS IS FREE AND OPEN TO THE PUBLIC FOR ALL FANS, UNITED STATES OR INTERNATIONAL TO COME
Fans from Ecuador, Mexico and beyond gather at Philadelphia FIFA event
Updated: 7:28 PM EDT Jun 11, 2026
Philadelphia is hosting the FIFA Fan Festival, which runs every day through July 19.Fans from around the world gather in the cityThe event is drawing fans from around the world, including Ecuador, Colombia, Mexico and the United States.”I’m from Ecuador, but I’m staying in Jersey right now,” said Ecuador fan Matel Ruis.”It’s just really cool to see all these people from different countries, different cultures coming to celebrate the FIFA and the United States,” said Owen Hill, of Philadelphia.”It’s incredible. It’s, I have family here in Philly, but it’s incredible,” said Oberd Nogueda, who traveled in from Mexico.US fans rally around Christian PulisicFans based in the United States also are showing support for the U.S. Men’s National Team, specifically Hershey-native and USMNT captain Christian Pulisic.”It’s just awesome to represent this area. And we’re super proud of him. So just happy for him, and ready to cheer him on tomorrow night,” said Max Mouer of Philadelphia, wearing a Pulisic AC Milan jersey.Organizers spent years planning the eventOrganizers said they began planning after the United States received the bid to host the World Cup back in 2018 but delved further into planning a few years later.”We started about three years ago, and I know it sounds wild, but we literally start with a blank piece of paper,” said Michael DelBene, executive producer of FanFest. “Everybody came together and decided that this was going to be something Philadelphia was going to do better than everyone else. That’s why we have 39 days, right? We’re the only film festival in the United States going 39 continuous days, even on the rest days.”Mayor Parker says the event is for everyonePhiladelphia Mayor Cherelle Parker kicked off the 2026 FanFest.”No matter your race, your class, your sexual orientation or identity, your zip code, your religion. This FIFA Fan Fest is for you,” said Parker.There are fan events and watch parties throughout Pennsylvania, including in the Susquehanna Valley. A watch party and festival are scheduled for Lancaster on Friday.
PHILADELPHIA —
Philadelphia is hosting the FIFA Fan Festival, which runs every day through July 19.
Fans from around the world gather in the city
The event is drawing fans from around the world, including Ecuador, Colombia, Mexico and the United States.
“I’m from Ecuador, but I’m staying in Jersey right now,” said Ecuador fan Matel Ruis.
“It’s just really cool to see all these people from different countries, different cultures coming to celebrate the FIFA and the United States,” said Owen Hill, of Philadelphia.
“It’s incredible. It’s, I have family here in Philly, but it’s incredible,” said Oberd Nogueda, who traveled in from Mexico.
US fans rally around Christian Pulisic
Fans based in the United States also are showing support for the U.S. Men’s National Team, specifically Hershey-native and USMNT captain Christian Pulisic.
“It’s just awesome to represent this area. And we’re super proud of him. So just happy for him, and ready to cheer him on tomorrow night,” said Max Mouer of Philadelphia, wearing a Pulisic AC Milan jersey.
Organizers spent years planning the event
Organizers said they began planning after the United States received the bid to host the World Cup back in 2018 but delved further into planning a few years later.
“We started about three years ago, and I know it sounds wild, but we literally start with a blank piece of paper,” said Michael DelBene, executive producer of FanFest. “Everybody came together and decided that this was going to be something Philadelphia was going to do better than everyone else. That’s why we have 39 days, right? We’re the only film festival in the United States going 39 continuous days, even on the rest days.”
Mayor Parker says the event is for everyone
Philadelphia Mayor Cherelle Parker kicked off the 2026 FanFest.
“No matter your race, your class, your sexual orientation or identity, your zip code, your religion. This FIFA Fan Fest is for you,” said Parker.
There are fan events and watch parties throughout Pennsylvania, including in the Susquehanna Valley. A watch party and festival are scheduled for Lancaster on Friday.