With just 10 days until the start of the FIFA World Cup, preparations continue at Lemon Hill in Philadelphia’s Fairmount Park for the city’s FIFA Fan Festival.
Organizers announced that global Latin pop star Luis Fonsi will headline the festival’s opening night on Thursday, June 11.
The performance is scheduled to take place after the day’s first match at 6 p.m.
Crews have been working for nearly a week to transform more than 1 million square feet of Lemon Hill into a destination for soccer fans. The festival will feature soccer activations, food trucks, shopping, live music and large screens where fans can watch matches throughout the tournament.
“What you see behind us is the combination of years and years and years of planning and dreaming. We are building the FIFA Fan Festival,” Michael Delbene of FIFA World Cup 26 Philadelphia told NBC10.
Organizers said Fonsi was a natural fit for the event.
“Just a global icon and someone whose voice and sound is indicative of the globe, and he’s huge in the soccer culture. He’s a huge soccer fan himself and he’s excited to be coming to Philadelphia, so when the opportunity to have him here came up, we couldn’t pass,” Delbene said.
The announcement generated excitement among fans visiting the site.
“Oh my God, that’s so awesome. I can’t wait,” Shayla Colón of Philadelphia said.
Many were especially pleased to see a Latin artist selected to perform at the free event.
“The representation is very needed because football, soccer is not only a game for us. This is our Super Bowl, and this is our performer,” Carrie Cayetana of Fashionando Philly said.
City officials are expected to discuss additional safety and security plans related to World Cup festivities on Tuesday.
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.