FIFA Fan Festival at Lemon Hill in Philadelphia: What to know about parking, tickets and more

Lemon Hill in Philadelphia's Fairmount Park has transformed into a haven for soccer fans at the FIFA Fan Festival. The wait is over as the 39-day-long celebration of the 2026 World Cup gets underway on Thursday, June 11. 

Road closures and parking restrictions for the World Cup fan event, which runs through July 19, are in effect.

The festivities are set to include live broadcasts of World Cup matches, music, food, cultural programming and family activities, the city says. Organizers said they expect thousands of visitors a day.

"This is a massive footprint that is ready to welcome the world with a Philly flavor," Michael DelBene, the executive producer of the FIFA Fan Festival, said. "We are the only city going a million square feet 39 straight days. You can come and watch matches. You can come and see entertainment. You can come and build community. You can do all three of those things."

Organizers were determined not to miss a minute of World Cup action, placing massive screens throughout the grounds, including a 65-footer on the main stage. A massive FIFA store will be open just off Sedgley Drive.

Entry to the festival is free, but attendees must register online. More information is available on Philly's World Cup website.

In the words of Meg Kane, CEO of Philadelphia Soccer 2026, organizers want the event to be "soccer Coachella."

Delaware and New Jersey are also planning watch parties around each state for the World Cup.

Here's what residents and visitors need to know about the festival. 

Road closures around Fairmount Park

The local lanes of the Benjamin Franklin Parkway are closed until Labor Day (Sept. 7) to give more space for pedestrians and cyclists traveling between Center City and Lemon Hill, according to city officials. Traffic patterns will change for the Fourth of July concert on the Benjamin Franklin Parkway.

The following streets are closed for the duration of the festival:  

• Sedgley Drive from Kelly Drive to Poplar Drive 
• Poplar Street from Poplar Drive to 30th Street (local access maintained) 
• Poplar Street from 29th Street to 30th Street (westbound only; local access maintained) 
• Poplar Drive from Sedgley Drive to Girard Avenue 
• Sedgley Drive from Girard Avenue to Lemon Hill Drive 
• Lemon Hill Drive and North Lemon Hill Drive (loop road)  

The closed streets also have temporary no-parking zones. The roads are expected to reopen by 8 p.m. on July 26.

From June 11 through July 19, Waterworks Drive will close at 10 a.m. Waterworks Drive will be open for parking each morning until 9 a.m.

Parking restrictions in Brewerytown, Fairmount, Strawberry Mansion

The Philadelphia Parking Authority says it will require temporary parking permits for any cars parked on residential streets near the festival grounds at Lemon Hill. The permits will be available free for residents of the area and are needed in addition to the regular residential permits.

Restrictions will affect streets in parts of Fairmount, Brewerytown and Strawberry Mansion from June 11 through July 19.

Check Philapark.org/Lemonhill for an interactive map and information about applying for a permit.

Some residents in the area told CBS News Philadelphia they had difficulty getting the permits online. 

In a statement, a spokesperson for the PPA said, "We are aware of some initial minor online issues, but we are working to ensure the online application process runs as smoothly as possible. We urge residents to be patient and keep trying the online application."

The PPA said cars parked in the restricted areas without a permit will get a $26 ticket and will be towed, which comes with an additional $175 fee.

The PPA shared new information about parking on the first day of the festival. Residents who do not have the temporary parking permit but have a regular residential permit for Zone 6 can park on blocks with signs that indicate that Zone 6 is allowed, and the same for Zone 17.

Getting to FIFA Fan Festival 

FIFA Fan Festival does not have a designated parking area, so attendees are encouraged to arrive by foot, bike or public transportation.

• SEPTA: Two SEPTA bus routes – 32 and 48 – will have extra service this summer to accommodate fans. Bus route 48 will also add a stop at Pennsylvania and Fairmount avenues for festival-goers. Bus routes 7 and 49 also provide service to Fairmount. Visit SEPTA's 2026 World Cup website for more information about public transportation.
• Philly Phlash: The Philly Phlash bus operates daily from Memorial Day to Labor Day, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Buses will run later on days that the festival ends after 6 p.m. The bus is free for SEPTA pass holders, seniors and children under 4. For everyone else, it's $5 per day or $15 for a family pass, which covers two adults and up to four children. Free passes will be available for all World Cup and 2026 volunteers. Visit ridephillyphlash.com for more information.
• Ride-hailing apps: Ride-hailing apps such as Uber and Lyft will be limited during the festival, and designated pickup locations will be set up and enforced with geofence technology. The geofence will make exceptions for riders who order a wheelchair-accessible vehicle or who disclose a mobility issue to their driver.
• Walking and cycling: The Schuylkill River Trail will be open and accessible. Bike parking will be available at Lloyd Hall and near the Indego Station Hub at Fan Festival. The Indego Station Hub at Kelly and Sedgley drives will have space for 100 bikes.

Attending the festival 

The festival is free to attend, but online registration is required.

Pop-up visitor centers will also be open in the area to provide water, maps, restrooms and information for visitors. The festival's daily schedule is available online.

Attendees are allowed to bring in one personal bag. Water bottles (empty, plastic, reusable, non metal), amateur cameras, binoculars, phone chargers are allowed inside the festival. A full list of approved and banned items is posted on FIFA's website.

Free water refill stations will be available at the pop-up visitor centers and at the fan festival, according to the Office of Emergency Management.

The city has also set up a digital resource hub to share information about the festival and other events this summer.

Safety measures at FIFA Fan Festival 

People under age 18 must be accompanied by a parent or legal guardian at the festival.

The following are prohibited: weapons, fireworks, explosives, larger bags and containers, coolers, glass and metal bottles, outside food and drinks, selfie sticks, drones, whistles, cowbells, umbrellas, face coverings, bicycles, scooters, skateboards, chairs, animals that are not service animals.

Empty plastic water bottles are allowed, but metal bottles are not.

See the full list of rules here.

Neighborhood concerns 

Some residents in the surrounding neighborhoods told CBS News Philadelphia they're worried about the crowds.

"As a neighbor, we're not really benefiting that much," Troy Jackson, who lives in Fairmount, said. "It's making our lives a little bit uncomfortable."

Oliver from Brewerytown said he had to get his parking permit in person from the PPA.

Still, residents are looking forward to the excitement coming to their backyard.

"I'm looking forward to making some new, international friends for sure," Eli Steiker-Ginzberg, of Fairmount, said.

When are the FIFA World Cup matches in Philadelphia?

Philadelphia will host these World Cup matches at Lincoln Financial Field:

• Sunday, June 14: Côte d'Ivoire vs. Ecuador, 7 p.m.
• Friday, June 19: Brazil vs. Haiti, 8:30 p.m.
• Monday, June 22: France vs. Iraq, 5 p.m.
• Thursday, June 25: Curaçao vs. Côte d'Ivoire, 4 p.m.
• Saturday, June 27: Croatia vs. Ghana, 5 p.m.
• Saturday, July 4: Round of 16 match, 5 p.m.