{"id":230184,"date":"2026-06-28T09:50:17","date_gmt":"2026-06-28T09:50:17","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/230184\/"},"modified":"2026-06-28T09:50:17","modified_gmt":"2026-06-28T09:50:17","slug":"pas-tourism-office-says-philly-could-exceed-its-goals-for-world-cup","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/230184\/","title":{"rendered":"Pa’s tourism office says Philly could exceed its goals for World Cup"},"content":{"rendered":"

Listen to article \u2022\u00a00:00 min<\/p>\n

Philadelphia has a long-standing reputation as an underdog city, but when it comes to hosting the FIFA World Cup<\/a>, Anne Ryan, Pennsylvania\u2019s Deputy Secretary of Tourism, sees Philadelphia as a front-runner.<\/p>\n

Ryan visited the FIFA Fan Festival as it hosted \u201cPA Day\u201d on Saturday, which included visits from a Ben Franklin impersonator, Philadelphia Union mascot Phang and Hersh the Hershey Bar.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m a Philadelphian,\u201d Ryan said. \u201cI do love that underdog mentality, but are we underdogs anymore? We\u2019re ranking [at the] top as one of the best host cities in the country, because of our Fan Fest and our experiences.\u201d<\/p>\n

Despite cloudy and rainy conditions, crowds of fans entered the festival grounds again on Saturday for Croatia-Ghana, Philadelphia Stadium\u2019s fifth and final group stage match. <\/p>\n

\u00bb READ MORE: With five World Cup games down, and a massive one to go in Philly, did Croatia just snap the Rocky curse?<\/a><\/p>\n

Croatians and Ghanaian supporters were well-represented in the crowd, and both went home happy, despite a 2-1 win for Croatia. Ghana, who advanced to the knockout round as one of the eight best third-place teams, had already secured a round of 32 spot entering Saturday\u2019s match, and Croatia was able to get off the third-place cut line by surpassing Ghana for second.<\/p>\n

English fans at the festival went home happy, too, as England finished atop Group L with a 2-0 win over Panama.<\/p>\n

While the state office of tourism has not formally measured the economic impact driven by Philadelphia hosting the World Cup, Ryan said the success of the free Fan Festival in Lemon Hill \u2014 which has hosted 250,000 fans since opening on June 11 \u2014 is a good indicator of how many fans have visited Philadelphia during the tournament.<\/p>\n

Croatia\u2019s Luka Modric, (10), walking out the tunnel for warmups before the FIFA World Cup game with against Ghana at the Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia, Pa., on Saturday, June 27, 2026.Read more<\/a>Tyger Williams \/ Staff PhotographerA man dressed in the colors of Ghana puts white powder on his hands and face during the Ghana vs. Croatia 2026 FIFA World Cup Group L soccer match at Philadelphia Stadium on Saturday June 27, 2026.Read more<\/a>Elizabeth Robertson \/ Staff PhotographerCarter Pike, 23, of Greenville, S.C., is cheering for Croatia before the FIFA World Cup game with Croatia vs Ghana at the Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia, Pa., on Saturday, June 27, 2026.Read more<\/a>Tyger Williams \/ Staff PhotographerA Ghana fan cheers for his team during the Ghana vs. Croatia 2026 FIFA World Cup Group L soccer match at Philadelphia Stadium on Saturday June 27, 2026.Read more<\/a>Elizabeth Robertson \/ Staff PhotographerGhana\u2019s # 11 Antoine Semenyo and Croatia\u2019s # 8 Mateo Kovacic battle for the ball in the first half of the Ghana vs. Croatia 2026 FIFA World Cup Group L soccer match at Philadelphia Stadium on Saturday June 27, 2026.Read more<\/a>Elizabeth Robertson \/ Staff PhotographerGhana\u2019s # 5 Thomas Partey (right) holds his hands up after being called for downing Croatia\u2019s # 17 Petar Sucic during the Ghana vs. Croatia 2026 FIFA World Cup Group L soccer match at Philadelphia Stadium on Saturday June 27, 2026.Read more<\/a>Elizabeth Robertson \/ Staff PhotographerTheo Akonnor, 52, of Aburi Mountains, Ghana, is holding a We Are Ghana flag before the FIFA World Cup game with Croatia vs Ghana at the Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia, Pa., on Saturday, June 27, 2026.Read more<\/a>Tyger Williams \/ Staff PhotographerJeff Dockum, 43, of Albany, N.Y., wearing Croatia Jersey, is staying dry before the FIFA World Cup game with Croatia vs Ghana at the Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia, Pa., on Saturday, June 27, 2026.Read more<\/a>Tyger Williams \/ Staff PhotographerCroatia\u2019s Marin Pongracic (3), goes for a header to defend a corner kick by Ghana during the second half of the FIFA World Cup game at the Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia, Pa., on Saturday, June 27, 2026.Read more<\/a>Tyger Williams \/ Staff Photographer(From left to right) Ghana\u2019s Derrick Luckassen (23) celebrating their first goal with Kojo Peprah Oppong (21), and Kwasi Sibo (8), against Croatia during the second half of the FIFA World Cup game at the Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia, Pa., on Saturday, June 27, 2026.Read more<\/a>Tyger Williams \/ Staff PhotographerGhana\u2019s Antoine Semenyo (11), receiving a pass from his teammate against Croatia during the second half of the FIFA World Cup game at the Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia, Pa., on Saturday, June 27, 2026.Read more<\/a>Tyger Williams \/ Staff PhotographerCroatia\u2019s # 2 Josip Stanisic chases # 13 Nikola Vlasic who just scored Croatia\u2019s go ahead goal in the second half of the Ghana vs. Croatia 2026 FIFA World Cup Group soccer match at Philadelphia Stadium on Saturday June 27, 2026.Read more<\/a>Elizabeth Robertson \/ Staff PhotographerCroatia\u2019s # 17 Petar Su\u010di\u0107 celebrates his first half goal in front of Croatia fans during the Ghana vs. Croatia 2026 FIFA World Cup Group L soccer match at Philadelphia Stadium on Saturday June 27, 2026.Read more<\/a>Elizabeth Robertson \/ Staff PhotographerGhana\u2019s Antoine Semenyo (11), kneeling after losing their game against Croatia during the second half of the FIFA World Cup game at the Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia, Pa., on Saturday, June 27, 2026.Read more<\/a>Tyger Williams \/ Staff PhotographerCroatia\u2019s Ivan Perisic (14), celebrating his win against Ghana during the second half of the FIFA World Cup game at the Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia, Pa., on Saturday, June 27, 2026.Read more<\/a>Tyger Williams \/ Staff PhotographerCroatia takes a team photo after winning the Ghana vs. Croatia 2026 FIFA World Cup Group L soccer match at Philadelphia Stadium on Saturday June 27, 2026.Read more<\/a>Elizabeth Robertson \/ Staff Photographer<\/p>\n

\u201cThe fact that we\u2019ve already had 250,000 attendees here, it\u2019s just insane,\u201d Ryan said at the festival on Saturday. \u201cSome of our original projections were 15,000 [visitors] a day. And then, to have close to 54,000 just last Friday alone, has been fantastic.\u201d<\/p>\n

Leading up to the tournament, hotel operators were concerned that the World Cup might not bring in the number of international tourists anticipated<\/a> due to high ticket prices<\/a> and concerns over entering the U.S. under the Trump administration\u2019s immigration policies.<\/a><\/p>\n

Ryan said her office could see through flight data and bookings of Airbnbs and other rental properties that plenty of international fans were traveling to Philadelphia for the tournament. <\/p>\n

\u00bb READ MORE: Philadelphia Stadium plays its part as FIFA sets World Cup attendance record<\/a><\/p>\n

According to Ryan, visitors on flights from France to Philadelphia International Airport<\/a> are up 59%, year over year. Passengers from the Netherlands to PHL airport are up 48%, and up 25% from the United Kingdom.<\/p>\n

The tourism office also considered the economic profile of the nations Philadelphia was hosting, and how people from those nations like to travel. The World Bank Group classifies three of the nations Philadelphia hosted in the group stage \u2014 Haiti, Ivory Coast and Ghana \u2014 as \u201clower middle income\u201d nations as it relates to gross domestic product per capita<\/a>. <\/p>\n

If fans from those nations successfully navigate partial or full travel restrictions<\/a> to follow their team, they\u2019re more likely to pick a high-capacity rental than a traditional hotel.<\/p>\n

\u201cThere was so much projection pertaining to the World Cup, like, \u2018Is this going to be a flop, because all of our hotels aren\u2019t sold out?,\u2019\u201d Ryan said. \u201cBut you have to look at the teams we\u2019re hosting and how they travel. Ghana, Haiti, Cura\u00e7ao, Brazil, Ecuador \u2014 they\u2019re not staying in a boutique hotel in Center City<\/a>. Our three bedroom-plus Airbnb bookings are up 53%, year over year, for June and July.\u201d<\/p>\n

Ryan said overall, in the five-county region surrounding Philadelphia, Airbnb bookings are up 48%.<\/p>\n

Data from Amtrak and SEPTA<\/a> serve as another indicator of visitors coming into the city. Amtrak reported that 500,000 passengers have traveled or are booked to travel<\/a> through 30th Street Station between June 11 and July 11, and 26,000 passengers boarded SEPTA\u2019s Broad Street Line after Brazil\u2019s 3-0 defeat of Haiti<\/a> on June 19.<\/p>\n

\u00bb READ MORE: Supporters of Cura\u00e7ao and Ivory Coast cheered on their teams at FIFA Fan Festival: \u2018It\u2019s a good vibe\u2019<\/a><\/p>\n

Ryan said the city\u2019s transit system and its initiative to give free rides back from Philadelphia Stadium\u2019s after matches<\/a> received positive feedback, especially from international visitors unnerved by high transportation costs in other host cities<\/a>.<\/p>\n

\u201cThey came, and they\u2019re riding,\u201d Ryan said. \u201cThey\u2019re taking SEPTA. And we\u2019ve actually heard good feedback. We did some man-on-the-street interviews with visitors. People [are] really complimenting SEPTA and our buses, and the transit here.\u201d<\/p>\n

And despite high ticket costs, another sell-out crowd watched Croatia-Ghana at Philadelphia Stadium (aka Lincoln Financial Field). The World Cup broke its attendance record after Thursday\u2019s slate of matches<\/a>, with 3,605,357 fans attending matches across the continent entering Friday. After Saturday\u2019s match, 341,620 fans have attended five World Cup matches at the Linc.<\/p>\n

While it will take time for the city\u2019s official accounting to come out on hosting the tournament, Ryan suggested the stats and indicators in key areas show the city is positioned to meet, and potentially exceed, its pre-tournament estimation of 500,000 visitors generating $770 million worth of economic impact.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m a betting girl, and I\u2019m going to say for the World Cup, we\u2019re probably going to net out close to 800,000 [visitors],\u201d Ryan said. \u201cAnd the $770 million in economic impact, I wouldn\u2019t be surprised if that\u2019s closer to $900 million, based off of that increase.\u201d <\/p>\n

More visitors are likely on the way to Philadelphia because of how the tournament\u2019s group stage shook out. If Germany beats Paraguay on Monday, and France beats Sweden on Tuesday in the round of 32, it would set up a match between the Germans and the French, two star-studded European powers, on July 4 in a round of 16 match at Philadelphia Stadium. <\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019re still waiting to hear who we\u2019re hosting on July 4,\u201d Ryan said. \u201cLet\u2019s see what our hotels and Airbnbs look like after Tuesday.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"The<\/p>\n

Watch the latest episode!<\/p>\n

In this World Cup, underdogs are stealing the spotlight, the U.S. men are on a roll, and Philadelphia has not only welcomed the world but has given visitors a crash course on just how real the curse of the Rocky Statue can be.<\/p>\n

Join Jonathan Tannenwald, the Inquirer’s soccer writer, and host Lisa Carlin, analyst for CBS Sports Golazo, as they dissect the matches, the moments, and more as Philly has its moment in soccer’s brightest spotlight. Watch our latest episode right here.<\/a>\u00a0<\/p>\n

Watch previous episodes:<\/p>\n

Episode 1: The Wait is Over!\u00a0<\/a>
Episode 2: Groups, Goals, and Glory<\/a>
Episode 3: Electric Action in Philly<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Listen to article \u2022\u00a00:00 min Philadelphia has a long-standing reputation as an underdog city, but when it comes…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":230185,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[6],"tags":[28,30,29,99633],"class_list":["post-230184","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-pennsylvania","tag-pennsylvania","tag-pennsylvania-headlines","tag-pennsylvania-news","tag-philly-world-cup-economic-impact-visitor-pa-tourism-department-projections"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/230184","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=230184"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/230184\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/230185"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=230184"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=230184"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=230184"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}