2026 FIFA World Cup countdown clock unveiled in Philadelphia
The countdown to World Cup soccer is officially on.
Wednesday, June 11, marks one year until the 2026 FIFA World Cup, which will be played in cities across the United States, Mexico and Canada.
Philadelphia is among the host cities preparing to welcome soccer fans from around the world next year. To celebrate, city leaders unveiled the FIFA World Cup countdown clock in Dilworth Park Wednesday morning.
The year 2026 is shaping up to be a busy one for the City of Brotherly Love. Along with hosting five of the World Cup's Group Stage matches, Philadelphia is the site of the MLB All-Star Game, NCAA March Madness and the PGA Championship, and is set to host a large slate of other events to celebrate America's 250th anniversary.
"So many things that are happening here in the next 18 months, any one of those things would make for a big year in any big city," Gregg Caren, president and CEO of Philadelphia Convention and Visitors Bureau, said.
All that means big business for the City of Brotherly Love. As the countdown continues, the Philadelphia Convention and Visitors Bureau led a summit Wednesday, bringing together tourism officials from across the state and international representatives.
"2026 has 365 days. Our mission is to make sure every one of those days is filled with as many out-of-town visitors that leave Philadelphia with less money than they came with. We want them to feed our local economy," Caren said.
Philadelphia hosting FIFA Club World Cup
Before the official 2026 FIFA World Cup, there will be plenty of soccer to watch in Philadelphia in 2025.
Philadelphia is hosting eight matches in the new FIFA Club World Cup tournament, which will be played at Lincoln Financial Field from June 16 through July 4.
Stockton University in Galloway Township, New Jersey, will serve as one of the training sites for the players and staff of Brazil's CR Flamengo, which has millions of followers worldwide.
Over on Arch Street between 10th and 11th streets, Lion Sports Bar was getting ready to open Wednesday.
"For the Champions League final, you couldn't even walk through here," owner Mark Prinzinger said.
He said the bar has become a haven for soccer fans in the city, even after opening only three months ago.
"You wouldn't think there's that many soccer fans in Philly, but there are," Prinzinger said.
Next week, the bar will host the official FIFA Club World Cup 25 watch party alongside Philadelphia Soccer 2026. Prinzinger is ready to do it all over again this time next year.
"The World Cup coming to Philadelphia is absolutely huge. I'm going to be sleepless for the next 365 days!" Prinzinger said with a laugh.
