Philadelphia Soccer 2026

What Philadelphia Soccer 2026 does

Philadelphia Soccer 2026 is a 501c3 non-profit Local Host Committee chartered to plan, promote and deliver FIFA World Cup 26 activities for the City of Philadelphia. The organization is responsible for hosting six FIFA World Cup 2026 matches at Philadelphia Stadium (Lincoln Financial Field) — five Group Stage matches plus a Round of 16 fixture on July 4, 2026 — and for operating FIFA Fan Festival Philadelphia, a free 39-day public viewing and entertainment venue at Lemon Hill in East Fairmount Park spanning more than one million square feet. Its core 'products' are event-based experiences: the Fan Festival, Match Day Experiences via Stateside Live!, the Rising Stars Academy for 24 college students, the '26 for 26' Legacy Initiative (10 mini-pitches and 26 youth-soccer projects), the Volunteer Program (3,000 volunteers across 18 functional areas), and supporting programs such as Public Viewings licensing, Media Credentialing, and Vendor Opportunities. Underlying technology is described as standard digital platforms for event management, fan registration, community engagement and an AI-assisted vendor application chat feature; there is no proprietary platform, SDK or API offering.

The business model combines public-sector appropriations, corporate sponsorship, and ancillary event revenue. Confirmed inflows include $1.7M–$3.1M in Pennsylvania state funding (Shapiro Administration, DCED Sports Marketing and Tourism Program) and investments from eight Host City Supporters (Cencora, Comcast Corporation, Independence Blue Cross, PECO, Penn Medicine, Philadelphia Eagles, Visit PA, William Penn Foundation) which receive co-branding rights, hospitality opportunities and marketing visibility. Additional revenue streams include vendor village and F&B concessions at the Fan Festival, merchandise sales, premium hospitality packages sold through Stateside Live! and On Location, and a $2M youth-soccer outlay funded via the U.S. Soccer Foundation legacy partnership. The go-to-market is multi-modal — event-driven (39-day festival and six matches), community-led ('How Do You Phan?' campaign and Pennsylvania Fan Zones in Pittsburgh, Reading and Scranton), and direct-to-consumer (free online registration for the Fan Festival via Eventim, plus media credentialing). Customers span international soccer tourists, local Philadelphia residents, Pennsylvania Commonwealth residents, visiting-team supporter groups, youth soccer participants and college students; revenue concentration is High given the small number of corporate supporters and public-sector counterparties funding operations.

Name

Philadelphia Soccer 2026

Legal name

Philadelphia Soccer 2026

Website

https://phillyfwc26.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2017

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Philadelphia Soccer 2026 is the 501c3 non-profit Local Host Committee planning and executing FIFA World Cup 2026 in Philadelphia, hosting six matches at Lincoln Financial Field and operating a 39-day free FIFA Fan Festival at Lemon Hill for international fans and Pennsylvania residents.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Sports Event Management

NAICS

Promoters of Performing Arts, Sports, and Similar Events with Facilities (71131), Promoters of Performing Arts, Sports, and Similar Events without Facilities (71132), Spectator Sports (7112)

SIC

Services-Amusement & Recreation Services (7900)

akta.pro primary industry

International Multi-Sport Games Organizing Committees (e.g., Olympics, Commonwealth) (MPAKADAJ)

akta.pro secondary industry

Sports Fundraising & Development Services (Foundations, NIL Collectives Support) (MPAKAKAK)

Keywords

• Sports event management
• Event hosting services
• Soccer tournament operations
• Fan festival programming
• Community event planning

Headquarters

HQ city

Philadelphia

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Others

Revenue model

1. State and Local Government Funding: The Shapiro Administration invested $3.1 million in state funding specifically for the 2026 FIFA World Cup in Philadelphia, with additional funds for other sporting events. The city and state provide public funding support for the tournament.
2. Host City Supporters / Corporate Sponsorship: Eight Host City Supporters (Cencora, Comcast Corporation, Independence Blue Cross, PECO, Penn Medicine, Philadelphia Eagles, Visit PA, William Penn Foundation) provide investment and partnership, receiving co-branding rights, hospitality opportunities, and marketing visibility.
3. Sports Marketing and Tourism Program Grants: Pennsylvania's Department of Community and Economic Development allocated grants totaling $4.96 million to support major sporting events including the 2026 FIFA World Cup and MLB All-Star Game as part of Governor Shapiro's strategy to strengthen Pennsylvania's tourism sector.
4. Fan Festival and Match Day Revenue: Revenue generated through hospitality packages (Stateside Live!), vendor village fees, merchandise sales, and food/beverage concessions at the FIFA Fan Festival and match day venues.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels7 records

Marketing channels9 records

Core offering

Philadelphia Soccer 2026 is the 501c3 non-profit Local Host Committee that plans, promotes, and executes FIFA World Cup 2026 activities in Philadelphia. Its core deliverables include hosting six FIFA World Cup matches at Philadelphia Stadium and operating the free 39-day FIFA Fan Festival at Lemon Hill in Fairmount Park. The organization also delivers community programming, a 3,000-person volunteer operation, the Rising Stars Academy for college students, and the 26 for 26 Legacy Initiative investing $2 million in youth soccer infrastructure across Pennsylvania.

Product overview

Philadelphia Soccer 2026 is a 501c3 nonprofit Local Host Committee that serves as the operational organization planning and executing FIFA World Cup 2026 for Philadelphia. Its product portfolio centers on the FIFA Fan Festival Philadelphia, a free 39-day event at Lemon Hill featuring match broadcasts, entertainment, and food; Match Day Experiences offering hospitality packages via Stateside Live!; the Rising Stars Academy professional development program for college students; and the 26 for 26 Legacy Initiative investing in youth soccer infrastructure through mini-pitches and U.S. Soccer Foundation partnerships. Supporting offerings include a Volunteer Program (3,000 volunteers across 18 functional areas), Media Credentialing, Public Viewings licensing, Pennsylvania World Cup Fan Zones in Pittsburgh/Reading/Scranton, the official Sonic ID (by DJ Jazzy Jeff), Host City Poster, and the How Do You Phan fan engagement campaign. The organization also manages six FIFA World Cup matches at Philadelphia Stadium. Pennsylvania Fan Zones extend the experience across the Commonwealth.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• FIFA Fan Festival Philadelphia: Official public fan experience of FIFA World Cup 2026 offering live match broadcasts, music, food, entertainment and cultural programming at Lemon Hill in Fairmount Park
• Rising Stars Academy
• 26 for 26 Legacy Initiative
• Pennsylvania World Cup Fan Zones

Products and services

• FIFA Fan Festival Philadelphia A free 39-day public celebration at Lemon Hill in East Fairmount Park offering live FIFA World Cup 2026 match broadcasts on massive screens, cultural programming, food trucks, concerts, and family-friendly experiences. Serves as the central fan destination outside the stadiums for soccer fans, local residents, tourists, and visiting team supporters during the tournament.
• FIFA World Cup Match Hosting Hosting of six FIFA World Cup 2026 matches at Philadelphia Stadium (Lincoln Financial Field), including five Group Stage matches and one Round of 16 match on July 4, 2026. Match tickets are sold through FIFA.com/tickets. Featured teams include Brazil, Côte d'Ivoire, Croatia, Curaçao, Ecuador, France, Ghana, and Haiti.
• Match Day Experiences Premium hospitality packages offered in partnership with Stateside Live!, including pre-game tailgates, VIP suites with gourmet dining, entertainment, and meet-and-greet opportunities with soccer personalities. Designed for corporate and individual buyers seeking elevated FIFA World Cup 2026 match experiences at Philadelphia Stadium.
• Rising Stars Academy A professional development program for college students providing hands-on experiential learning, mentorship from Philadelphia Soccer 2026 executives, educational site visits, and career development opportunities. Inaugural cohort included 24 participants from 15 Philadelphia-area colleges and universities ahead of FIFA World Cup 2026.
• Volunteer Program Program recruiting and managing 3,000 volunteers across 18 functional areas (including Media Operations, Hospitality, and Guest Operations) to support tournament operations at stadiums, airports, fan zones, and other tournament sites. Includes volunteer tryouts, training, accreditation, and uniform pickup at the Volunteer Center at Fashion District Philadelphia.
• 26 for 26 Legacy Initiative Youth soccer legacy program investing $2 million through 26 soccer-related projects across Pennsylvania, including 10 mini-pitches in under-resourced communities, Soccer for Success programming, and endowments for youth soccer organizations. Activated in partnership with U.S. Soccer Foundation as Soccer Legacy Implementation Partner.
• Pennsylvania World Cup Fan Zones Free public watch party locations in Pittsburgh (Acrisure Stadium), Reading (Santander Arena), and Scranton (Lackawanna County Courthouse Square) featuring knockout round match screenings, live entertainment, and food vendors. Each zone accommodates approximately 5,000 spectators and requires advance registration.
• Public Viewings Licensing Licensing framework enabling bars, restaurants, cinemas, stadiums, parks, offices, schools, and community centers to legally show FIFA World Cup 2026 matches to audiences outside private homes. Three categories: commercial, non-commercial, and special non-commercial.
• Media Credentialing Media credential application process for journalists seeking on-site coverage at FIFA Fan Festival Philadelphia, open to broadcast, digital, print, radio, podcast, and photo/video professionals.
• Vendor Opportunities Supplier and vendor participation program for businesses to support FIFA World Cup 2026 tournament operations, including food and beverage concessions, merchandise, and operational services. Includes an AI-powered vendor interest form with interactive chat assistance.

Quantifiable outcome

• $770 million economic impact for Pennsylvania
• +5 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles6 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

AI capability2 records

Partnerships

18 partnerships are on record, tiered core, minor and flagship.

• Mural Arts PhiladelphiacoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 26 May 2026Partnership with Mural Arts Philadelphia to create permanent legacy mural 'Love of the Game' by artist Nilé Livingston, commemorating Philadelphia's role in hosting FIFA World Cup 2026. Sponsored by Airbnb and Vanguard.
• Philadelphia Convention & Visitors BureaucoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 8 May 2026Philadelphia Convention & Visitors Bureau leadership (Gregg Caren, Arthur Ayres) serves on Philadelphia Soccer 2026 Board of Directors.
• DJ Jazzy JeffcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 8 May 2026Two-time GRAMMY-award winning producer and West Philadelphia native created Philadelphia's official FIFA World Cup 26 Host City Sonic ID, representing the city's musical identity.
• SEPTAcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 20 April 2026Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority provides transit services including enhanced B (Broad Street Line) service to Philadelphia Stadium. Partnership with Airbnb enables free rides home after matches.
• SEPTAcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 20 April 2026Partnership to operate B (Broad Street Line) Sports Express trains every 10 minutes or less to/from NRG Station for match days.
• Visit PAcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 26 March 2026Visit PA partnership to establish three Pennsylvania World Cup Fan Zones in Pittsburgh, Reading, and Scranton, bringing free public viewing events to communities across the Commonwealth. Fan Zones will feature knockout round matches, live entertainment, and local food and beverages.
• Commonwealth Club PartnersminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 26 March 2026Regional partners including Berks County, City of Reading, City of Scranton, East Penn Manufacturing, Experience Reading & Berks County, Fulton Bank, Henry L. Hillman Foundation (Pittsburgh), Lackawanna County, Richard King Mellon Foundation (Pittsburgh), and VisitPITTSBURGH supporting Pennsylvania Fan Zones.
• AirbnbcoreGTM or Marketing Partner · 12 February 2026Airbnb partnered with Philadelphia Soccer 2026 to provide complimentary rides home on SEPTA's Broad Street Line after all six FIFA World Cup matches in Philadelphia. As an Official FIFA World Cup 2026 Tournament Supporter, Airbnb sponsors B Line service from NRG Station for two hours after each match, expanding access to safe, reliable transportation.
• Delaware Tourism OfficeminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 12 February 2026Delaware Tourism Office partnership to host four statewide watch parties for FIFA World Cup 2026 matches including the final, across various Delaware locations, aiming to boost local tourism and showcase Delaware as a welcoming destination.
• Stateside Live!coreGTM or Marketing Partner · 28 January 2026Partnership with Stateside Live!, a division of Live! Hospitality & Entertainment, to offer exclusive match day experiences at Philadelphia Stadium ranging from pre-game tailgates to luxurious VIP suites with gourmet dining, entertainment, and meet-and-greet opportunities.
• CencoraflagshipGTM or Marketing Partner · 28 January 2026One of eight Host City Supporters for FIFA World Cup 2026, providing investment and partnership with co-branding rights, hospitality opportunities, and visibility through local marketing campaigns.
• Independence Blue CrossflagshipGTM or Marketing Partner · 28 January 2026One of eight Host City Supporters, also sponsoring mini-pitch at Swenson Arts & Technology High School. Provides co-branding rights and marketing visibility.
• PECOflagshipGTM or Marketing Partner · 28 January 2026One of eight Host City Supporters providing investment and partnership for the tournament.
• Penn MedicineflagshipGTM or Marketing Partner · 28 January 2026One of eight Host City Supporters providing investment and partnership for the tournament.
• Philadelphia EaglesflagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 28 January 2026One of eight Host City Supporters, with team leadership (Don Smolenski) serving on the Board of Directors.
• Visit PAflagshipGTM or Marketing Partner · 28 January 2026One of eight Host City Supporters and official tourism resource of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, supporting statewide Fan Zone initiative.
• Fashion District PhiladelphiacoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 28 July 2025Fashion District Philadelphia (901 Market Street) serves as the FIFA World Cup 26 Volunteer Center location, acting as the hub for volunteer recruitment, training, accreditation, and uniform pickup.
• U.S. Soccer FoundationcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 14 April 2025Philadelphia Soccer 2026 partnered with the U.S. Soccer Foundation as Soccer Legacy Implementation Partner. The $2 million partnership will activate 26 soccer-related projects across Pennsylvania including mini-pitches in under-resourced communities, Soccer for Success programming, and endowments for youth soccer organizations.

Scale indicators15 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Kansas City FIFA World Cup 26 Host Committee: Host committee for matches at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium. Operates the 'KC2026' fan activation model with comparable volunteer recruitment scale and free public viewing infrastructure.
• Atlanta FIFA World Cup 26 Host Committee: Host committee for matches at Mercedes-Benz Stadium, leveraging Atlanta's prior mega-event hosting experience (1996 Olympics legacy, College Football Playoff). Uses a comparable nonprofit host committee structure with similar civic board composition.
• Boston FIFA World Cup 26 Host Committee: Host committee for matches at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough. Comparable in running a free FIFA Fan Festival, recruiting thousands of volunteers, and pursuing legacy programming in partnership with U.S. Soccer Foundation.
• Seattle FIFA World Cup 26 Host Committee: Host committee for matches at Lumen Field, leveraging Seattle's established soccer fan base and Pacific Northwest corporate ecosystem. Uses a comparable nonprofit structure and volunteer program to Philadelphia's.
• Miami FIFA World Cup 26 Host Committee: Host committee for matches at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens. Comparable in driving tourism, hospitality, and cultural programming around an international fan base, with a similar mix of corporate and public-sector funding.
• Los Angeles FIFA World Cup 26 Host Committee: Host committee for eight matches at SoFi Stadium, the largest stadium in the tournament. Operates a FIFA Fan Festival in Hollywood Park and is pursuing a comparable corporate sponsor and civic-engagement model to Philadelphia.
• Dallas FIFA World Cup 26 Host Committee: Host committee for the highest match count (nine) at AT&T Stadium in Arlington. Operates a FIFA Fan Festival in Fair Park with a comparable focus on free public access and economic impact storytelling for the North Texas region.
• New York New Jersey FIFA World Cup 2026 Host Committee: The other large-market U.S. host committee operating with the same FIFA-mandated structure, running the FIFA Fan Festival in Liberty State Park and hosting eight matches at MetLife Stadium, including the final. Directly comparable in scale, mandate, and corporate sponsor architecture.
• Houston FIFA World Cup 26 Host Committee: Host committee for matches at NRG Stadium. Comparable in leveraging a diverse, internationally connected community and operating a free public FIFA Fan Festival as the central community engagement vehicle.
• San Francisco Bay Area FIFA World Cup 26 Host Committee: Host committee for matches at Levi's Stadium in Santa Clara. Operates a FIFA Fan Festival at Mission Rock with comparable free public access, corporate sponsorship architecture, and tourism-impact narrative.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/FWC26Philly
• Facebookfacebook.com/fwc26philly
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/fwc26philly/?viewAsMember=true
• Instagraminstagram.com/fwc26philly
• TikToktiktok.com/@fwc26philly

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles10 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Philadelphia Soccer 2026