Philadelphia is continuing to draw record-breaking crowds during the World Cup, with tournament organizers saying the FIFA Fan Festival at Lemon Hill has attracted more visitors than any other U.S. host city.
Philadelphia Stadium has welcomed more than 273,000 fans since the start of the tournament, according officials. Overall, more than 3.6 million fans have attended World Cup matches, setting a new tournament attendance record that was broken Thursday in Philadelphia.
Visitors are also taking time to experience Philadelphia beyond the matches, including its food and historic landmarks.
“I went to the farmers market downtown and I told them I want an authentic cheesesteak, and they gave me one. It was messy but, tried to finish it,” said Tuli Dake, a fan from Ghana.
Many visitors also spent time at Independence National Historical Park, with long lines forming Friday at the Liberty Bell.
“It’s the history of America. And it shouldn’t be whitewashed and it shouldn’t be hidden. It’s important to connect to it so we can remember what’s it’s all about,” said Zach Ludwig of Richmond, Virginia.
The World Cup crowds are expected to be followed by another busy stretch for the city as Philadelphia prepares for next week’s July 4 celebrations, including the parade on July 3 and the concert on the Benjamin Franklin Parkway the following day.
Crews were seen setting up the stage for the Gospel on Independence concert Sunday.
The steady flow of visitors is also providing a boost to local businesses. At The Bishop’s Collar in Fairmount, staff members are increasing inventory ahead of another expected surge in customers.
“Definitely, we have been doubling our orders. We’re just trying to be as prepared as possible for everyone,” said Janie Borofsky of The Bishop’s Collar.
This story was originally reported for broadcast by NBC Philadelphia. AI tools helped convert the story to a digital article, and an NBC Philadelphia journalist edited the article for publication.