Lemon Hill launches fan fest for Game 1 of Philly’s FIFA World Cup celebration

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FIFA World Cup 2026 is finally here.

The opening match of the world soccer’s biggest tournament kicked off with Mexico taking on  South Africa in Mexico City’s Azteca Stadium.

The first of Philadelphia’s six games won’t be until Sunday, but fans still got to celebrate with the opening of the city’s official fan festival site at East Fairmount Park’s Lemon Hill. 

“Years of planning, meetings, and partner conversations, site visits and spreadsheets, and none of that matters right now,” said Dan Hilferty, co-chair of Philadelphia Soccer 2026, the city’s host committee. “Because right now we’re standing here, Lemon Hill, in this great city, three days before the first whistle blows on our matches. And Philadelphia is ready.”

Before soccer fans were let into the fan fest, there was a ribbon cutting ceremony with Hilferty, Mayor Cherelle Parker, City Councilmembers Curtis Jones and Jeffery Young,, and other city officials and host city organizers.

Parker took time after the ceremony to meet with the fans — mostly Mexico supporters — waiting at the entrance of the festival grounds. This led to a brief delay for everyone to get in while security recalibrated their equipment. The fans remained in good spirits, singing and chanting to be let in.

She even asked them to help her with an Eagles chant, to redeem her infamous botched attempt. The crowd obliged, and spelt it out correctly.

“Meeting the mayor was like the cherry on top, and she’s very excited,” said Juan Flores, who shared a hug with Parker in between songs. “One of the chants we said was, ‘Mayor, friend, you are Mexican’ — ‘Alcalde, amiga, tú ya eres mexicana.’ And she was enjoying it so it was really cool.”

Parker highlighted how the free 39-day fan fest was helping provide Philadelphians with affordable ways to enjoy the World Cup.

“At a time when families are watching every dollar and costs remain high, the city of Philadelphia, Philadelphia Soccer 26 and all of our amazing partners work together to create a world class experience that is completely free and open to the public,” she said.

It has to be noted that while entry to the fan fest is free, the concessions inside are not. So buying food, beverages and something from the gift shop adds up in a similar way it would in a stadium.

Parker also instructed everyone to stay hydrated and to use the festival’s free water stations and cooling areas during the scorching temperatures of the afternoon.  Fans are allowed to bring in empty plastic water bottles. The region has been under a heat advisory running from 11 a.m. Thursday until 8 p.m. Friday.

That didn’t deter the crowds, with organizers saying that pre-registration for the day had maxed out before the 2 p.m. opening.

Andrew Trinidad and Cesar Hernandez, both 18 from South Philly, called the opening day a surreal moment they’d been waiting four years for.

“It’s just the one thing in a lifetime moment,” Trinidad said. “I know soccer isn’t as big of a sport here in the United States. But it’s awesome to see all these countries here together.”

Mlamuli Mhlongo, originally from Durban, South Africa, said he was excited to be among the few from his home nation representing Bafana Bafana at Lemon Hill.

“I’m a South African by heart. So, I have to come, even if I’m alone,” he said.

Juan Andres Toro is from Colombia, but came to support Mexico with his friends. He said he immigrated to the U.S. when he was 10, and the chance to experience a World Cup first-hand was fulfilling a childhood dream.

“As a child, that’s everybody’s dream, to watch one live eventually. But it’s borderline impossible because of financials and where you’re from,” he said “But since I had the opportunity to come to this country and now be able to witness the World Cup here at home, I mean, it’s once in a lifetime an experience. I’m going to a few games so I can’t wait.” 

The opening of the festival was not just hot, but stormy, too. Michael DelBene, the festival’s executive producer, said that “Despacito” singer Luis Fonsi’s opening day concert at the fan fest was moved to right after the final whistle to beat the thunderstorms expected Thursday evening.

The fan fest runs until July 19 and is the only official FIFA one in the U.S. running throughout the entire tournament. 

The site will have a broadcast of most of the World Cup games — even the six at “Philadelphia Stadium” — live on big screens, along with music from more that 60 local artists, food from over 80 different food trucks, a vendor village and other entertainment.

What about the game?

Mexico opened the scoring within the first 10 minutes through forward Julián Quiñones, who then nearly doubled the score before halftime with a shot that hit the post. 

Early in the second half, Sphephelo Sithole was shown a red card for a challenge on Brian Gutiérrez that denied a clear scoring opportunity.

Raúl Jiménez headed in Roberto Alvarado’s cross for Mexico’s second goal in the 67th minute. 

Themba Zwane was sent off in the 84th minute, after the video referee caught that he struck Alvarado in the face during a challenge. That left Mexico to finish out a 2-0 win comfortably against nine players, but not before César Montes was also red carded in injury time for a challenge on Khuliso Mudau that the official felt also denied a goal scoring opportunity.

This was Mexico’s eighth time playing in an opening match of the World Cup, and the nation’s first time winning it.