Philadelphia's World Cup home, the open-air Linc in the South Philly sports complex and fortress of the NFL's Eagles, hosts six matches at the 2026 World Cup, reaching a Round of 16 tie on 4 July in which France beat Paraguay 1-0. A natural-grass stadium a short subway ride from Center City. FIFA calls it Philadelphia Stadium during the tournament.
Updated 19 July 2026 · WorldCuply.com editorial · Independent, not affiliated with FIFA
6
Matches hosted
~69,000
World Cup capacity
2003
Year opened
R16
Deepest stage
The Venue
The Linc joins the world stage
Lincoln Financial Field, universally known as The Linc, opened in 2003 in the South Philadelphia Sports Complex, alongside Citizens Bank Park and the Wells Fargo Center. Home of the NFL's Philadelphia Eagles and Temple University football, its passionate, close-to-the-pitch bowl is one of the loudest venues in American sport, and for the summer of 2026 it became Philadelphia's World Cup stage.
Philadelphia hosts six matches: five in the group stage and one Round of 16 tie on 4 July, the deepest stage the venue reaches. Open to the sky and already laid with natural grass for the Eagles, The Linc needed none of the artificial-to-grass conversion work required at some other host stadiums.
Under FIFA's clean-venue sponsorship policy the ground is called Philadelphia Stadium during the tournament, because its commercial name, Lincoln Financial Field, belongs to a non-FIFA sponsor. For how it sits among all 16 venues, see our stadiums and host cities hub.
Editor's Spotlight
Match 89: France edge past Paraguay
Round of 16 · Match 89
Paraguay 0-1 France
Date
Sat 4 Jul 2026
Kickoff
5:00 PM local
Venue
The Linc · Philadelphia
Stage
Round of 16
The biggest occasion of Philadelphia's World Cup came on 4 July, US Independence Day, when France returned to a stadium they already knew, having beaten Iraq here in the group stage, to face a Paraguay side that had stunned Germany on penalties in the previous round. France were made to work for it but won 1-0 to reach the quarter-finals.
It was the deepest stage The Linc reached, and it sent France on toward Boston, where they beat Morocco in the last eight before falling to eventual finalists Spain in the semis. Paraguay's run, one of the stories of the knockouts, ended in Philadelphia. To see how the last 16 lined up across all venues, read our Round of 16 preview.
Philadelphia Schedule
All six 2026 World Cup matches at Lincoln Financial Field
Lincoln Financial Field hosted five group-stage matches and one Round of 16 tie, six in total. Times below are local Eastern Time. As an open-air venue, most Philadelphia fixtures kicked off in the late afternoon or evening.
Lincoln Financial Field's biggest advantage for the World Cup is simplicity: it is an open-air stadium that already plays on natural grass for the Eagles, so unlike the turf venues it needed no surface conversion to meet FIFA's grass-only requirement. Its steep, close-in stands make for a genuinely intimidating atmosphere, a quality that translated well to knockout football.
Being open to the sky, Philadelphia's matches were played in real summer conditions, which can be hot and humid in June and July, so most fixtures kicked off later in the day. The South Philly setting, shared with the Phillies' and Flyers' arenas, gave the tournament a compact, walkable sports district right at the end of the subway line.
Capacity
~69,000
The World Cup capacity. Lincoln Financial Field seats roughly 69,600 for the Eagles, adjusted for the tournament to fit FIFA's larger pitch and media positions.
Roof
Open air
No roof. Matches were played in the open Philadelphia summer, with kick-off times managed to avoid the warmest part of the day.
Surface
Grass
A natural-grass pitch, already the Eagles' regular surface, prepared to tournament standard with no artificial-to-grass conversion needed.
Getting There
How to reach Lincoln Financial Field
Lincoln Financial Field is one of the most transit-friendly venues at the whole tournament, sitting at the southern end of Philadelphia's subway line in a compact sports complex.
Subway: SEPTA's Broad Street Line runs straight down from Center City to the NRG station at the South Philadelphia Sports Complex, a short walk from the stadium and the easiest way in and out on matchday.
Airport: Philadelphia International Airport (PHL) is only about four miles to the south, among the closest airport-to-stadium distances of any host city.
Driving and parking: the sports complex is ringed by large parking lots off Interstate 95 and Broad Street, well used for tailgating, though matchday traffic is heavy.
Regional rail and bus: SEPTA regional rail and bus connections link the wider region into Center City, from where the Broad Street Line completes the trip.
Fan Experience
One of America's great sports cities
Philadelphia is famous for the intensity of its sports fans, and the South Philly complex is built for big-event energy, from tailgates in the parking lots to the roar inside The Linc. The city's large Italian, Irish, African, Caribbean and Latin American communities filled the stands for fixtures like Brazil, France, Ivory Coast and Croatia. Between matches, the historic core around Independence Hall and the Liberty Bell, the Museum of Art steps and the city's celebrated food scene gave travelling fans a rich base a short ride from the stadium.
How many 2026 World Cup matches does Lincoln Financial Field host?
Six. Philadelphia stages five group-stage matches and one Round of 16 tie on 4 July. The Round of 16 is the deepest stage the Lincoln Financial Field venue reaches in 2026.
What is Lincoln Financial Field called during the World Cup?
Philadelphia Stadium. Under FIFA's clean-venue sponsorship policy the commercial name Lincoln Financial Field is not used in FIFA materials during the tournament, so the venue appears as Philadelphia Stadium on tickets, broadcast graphics and the official fixture list.
What was the biggest match at Lincoln Financial Field in 2026?
The Round of 16 tie on 4 July, US Independence Day, when France beat Paraguay 1-0 to reach the quarter-finals. It was the deepest stage the Philadelphia venue reached and the biggest occasion of the city's World Cup.
Does Lincoln Financial Field have grass or turf for the World Cup?
Natural grass. Lincoln Financial Field already plays on a natural-grass surface for the Eagles, so it needed no artificial-to-grass conversion, and a tournament-grade grass pitch was prepared to meet FIFA's grass-only rule.
Does Lincoln Financial Field have a roof?
No. Lincoln Financial Field is an open-air venue, so its 2026 World Cup matches were played in the open Philadelphia summer weather. Most fixtures kicked off in the late afternoon or evening, though the city can still be hot and humid in June and July.
What is the capacity of Lincoln Financial Field for the World Cup?
Around 69,000 for the 2026 World Cup. Lincoln Financial Field seats roughly 69,600 for the Eagles, adjusted slightly for the tournament to fit FIFA's larger pitch and media positions.
Where is Lincoln Financial Field and when did it open?
Lincoln Financial Field, nicknamed The Linc, is in the South Philadelphia Sports Complex in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, alongside Citizens Bank Park and the Wells Fargo Center. It opened in 2003 and is home to the NFL's Philadelphia Eagles and Temple University football.
Which teams played at Lincoln Financial Field in 2026?
The group stage brought Ivory Coast vs Ecuador on 14 June, Brazil vs Haiti on 19 June, France vs Iraq on 22 June, Curacao vs Ivory Coast on 25 June and Croatia vs Ghana on 27 June. France then beat Paraguay 1-0 in the Round of 16 on 4 July. France and Ivory Coast each played twice in Philadelphia.
How do I get to Lincoln Financial Field on a matchday?
Lincoln Financial Field is one of the most transit-friendly World Cup venues. SEPTA's Broad Street Line subway runs straight down from Center City to the NRG station at the South Philadelphia Sports Complex, a short walk from the stadium. Philadelphia International Airport is only about four miles south, and large parking lots serve the complex for those driving.
Did Lincoln Financial Field host a World Cup final or semi-final?
No. Philadelphia reached the Round of 16 on 4 July. The quarter-finals were staged in Los Angeles, Kansas City, Miami and Boston, the semi-finals in Dallas and Atlanta, the third-place playoff in Miami on 18 July, and the Final at MetLife Stadium in the New York and New Jersey area on 19 July.
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