Excitement and surprise as Philadelphia prepares for the World Cup

With the FIFA World Cup set to arrive in Philadelphia, reactions from residents range from eager anticipation to complete surprise.

On a recent afternoon, some people on city streets said they were already counting down to the global event, while others admitted they didn't even know it was coming.

The mix of reactions comes as Philadelphia prepares to host matches during what is widely considered the largest sporting event in the world.

"I'm very excited," said Emma Riverso of Rittenhouse.

Asked whether she follows soccer, Riverso responded, "Not really. I'm more of a casual sports fan. I have some friends who love soccer, but I know this is a big deal."

Others were less certain.

"It does involve soccer -- football, as the rest of the world calls it," said Lindsey Thibeault Lincoln of Rhode Island.

When asked if she knew the tournament was coming to Philadelphia, she replied, "No."

Another man struggled to recall the timing of the event.

"Oh... what year?" he said. "I forgot what year. I think this year or next year."

When told it was this year, he added, "They're supposed to be playing at the stadium."

Edward Smith of West Oak Lane said he understood the scale of the event.

"I heard it can be a big event. A lot of people here," Smith said. When asked if he realized how significant it would be, he added, "Yes. It's one of the biggest events in the world."

This year's World Cup will feature 48 teams for the first time, expanded from 32. More than five million fans are expected to attend 104 matches over 38 days across 16 host cities in the United States, Mexico and Canada.

"So the FIFA World Cup is the world's biggest sporting event," said Megan Kane, host city executive for Philadelphia Soccer 2026. "Oftentimes, people don't realize just how big it is or how many viewers around the world tune in. As Americans, we often think the Super Bowl is the largest event."

While the 2025 Super Bowl drew a record 128 million viewers, the 2022 World Cup final reached an estimated 1.4 billion.

Philadelphia is expected to welcome roughly 500,000 visitors for its six matches at Lincoln Financial Field.

Kane said the city's location gives it a major advantage.

"There's a real opportunity for us to position ourselves both for international travelers in that way," she said. "But also when you think that there's no host city south of Philadelphia until Atlanta, and no host city west until Kansas City, 42 million people in the United States live within a 24-hour drive of Philadelphia."

As the tournament draws closer, city leaders and businesses continue to prepare for an influx of fans, whether or not all Philadelphians yet realize the world is coming their way.