FIFA Fan Festival at Lemon Hill in Philadelphia closing Thursday due to high winds
The FIFA Fan Festival at Lemon Hill in Philadelphia is closing for the remainder of Thursday due to high winds.
The FIFA World Cup 26 Philadelphia account announced the news on X around 5:30 p.m. CBS News Philadelphia's NEXT Weather Team said peak winds hit 46 mph in Philly Thursday.
The FIFA Fan Festival at Lemon Hill has brought thousands of soccer fans from around the globe to Philadelphia as the 2026 Men's World Cup is underway. The festival turned part of Fairmount Park into a haven for soccer fans with live broadcasts of soccer matches, music, food cultural programming and family activities.
The FIFA Fan Festival closed early with two matches left on the schedule for Thursday. Canada and Qatar's match got underway Thursday evening, while Mexico and South Korea is scheduled to start at 9 p.m.
While the FIFA Fan Festival has brought tons of excitement for soccer fans in Philly and people visiting for the World Cup, it's created parking problems for residents living nearby.
In May, the Philadelphia Parking Authority announced that residents will require residential parking permits for neighborhoods near the festival, but some have been ticketed or towed, despite not parking in the zone.
The FIFA Fan Festival is set to be back open Friday with Brazil playing Haiti at Lincoln Financial Field, aka Philadelphia Stadium, at 8 p.m.
