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As the 2026 FIFA World Cup approaches, Philly is prepping for its part in the summer’s soccer festivities, the six games at the Linc and the free 39-day fan festival at Lemon Hill.
There’ll also be plenty of new short and long term places to play “the beautiful game” coming to the city as well.
On Friday morning, a new mini soccer pitch — that’s a field in soccer speak — was unveiled in Dilworth Park, sponsored by Center City District and Vivint and NRG.
“Dilworth Park is at the center of everything and we’re excited to be the host and the central hub for all of the visitors that will be walking around and enjoying Philadelphia this summer,” said Amy Genda, Center City’s District’s vice president of strategy and design.
The pitch will offer soccer fans a space to gather, rest and play from April till October on a 7,000 square-foot artificial pitch that will cover the Albert M. Greenfield Lawn next to City Hall and steps away from the clock counting down the tournament’s June 11 start date.
It will be a part of a major transit hub in the city during the World Cup, as the midpoint between the games at the Sports Complex, the fan fest in East Fairmount Park as well as the FIFA volunteer center in East Market’s Fashion District mall.
“We’re going to have people coming from all over the world. So that’s another reason why this space is so important, for people to have a place to land, come relax, sit, enjoy the time, but also still be a part of the excitement,” said Keri Murschell, NRG’s director of community sponsorship and marketing.
The pitch is not fully playable, Genda said, but anyone looking for somewhere to kick around a soccer ball is welcome to play on it.
Genda said the space will also host cultural performances, free fitness classes and be a part of Center City District’s other upcoming programming in Dilworth Park and beyond, including a “Made in Philadelphia Market Series” from April 10 to 12 and its Open Streets days starting April 5. Vivint and NRG will also use the space giveaways and promotions and to host community partners while the field is in place.
On a more permanent basis, a new soccer park will be built at Tip Top Playground along the Northern Liberties-Fishtown border, provided by VISA, Bank of America and non-profit organization Street Soccer USA.
The park will be revamped with two professional-grade fields with lights. It’s part of the “VISA Street Soccer Parks” program, which aims to put a street soccer park in each of the 11 World Cup host cities in the U.S. before the tournament kicks off. The first one was opened in San Francisco last year.
Along with the fields, the park will have dedicated learning centers offering after-school programming, job training programs and community events through local organizations.
“This is not about short-term excitement—it’s about building something that lasts,” said Lawrence Cann, co-founder and president of Street Soccer USA. “These parks are designed to create consistency and access, but more importantly, they belong to the communities that activate them every day.”
