With about eight months before Philadelphia hosts its first World Cup 2026 match, work is underway to get Lemon Hill Park ready for thousands of soccer fans expected to attend watch parties at the FIFA Fan Festival next summer.

The historic section of Fairmount Park, formerly a 19th century estate on the east side of the Schuylkill River, was chosen last year as the designated space for a free-to-attend, five-week festival that will run the course of the World Cup from June 11 to July 19. The site will have big screen monitors to watch matches, activity stations and vendors selling food and merchandise.

Although the city's five World Cup matches will be played at Lincoln Financial Field, in South Philly, Lemon Hill Park was picked as the festival grounds because of its sweeping views of

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