What I learned at World Cup 2026

Pre-game at Lincoln Financial Field (aka Philadelphia Stadium)

This past summer I was blessed to be able to fulfill a dream. When the World Cup sites were announced two years ago, my interest was piqued. I love going to sporting events and this was like a bucket list item for me. Then there’s the timing. Not only is the World Cup taking place in 2026, but I am turning 50 as well. The combination felt serendipitous. I knew I needed to figure out how to get to the World Cup, but how? And how much? My mind flooded with questions and what ifs as I pursued this. And to be honest, the answers weren’t always clear (FIFA is not the most customer-friendly organization). However, things slowly but surely came together and I was able to secure a ticket and have a truly amazing experience. 

Here’s what I learned.

It’s not as hard as it seems

A lot was said about the World Cup experience and, in particular, the challenges in navigating it. Soccer fans have a reputation for being drunk and rowdy. We live in politically-charged times (and the current administration makes a habit of lighting the fire.) So the uncertainty centered around how safe the experience would be and/or how restrictive it would be. Would there be challenges in terms of getting to the game itself? Then there’s the cost of transportation and lodging. Much of the reports were that the prices were extreme. Also, the cost of the ticket itself was far above ticket prices in previous World Cups. I bought mine for $250 on the secondary market and I was blessed to be able to do so. Prices only went up from there. 

However, once the tickets were purchased, the accommodations were made, and I was on the ground in Philly, things were not as hard as they seem. I bought a flight three months in advance, which is on the early side for domestic travel, but I felt that was needed. Honestly, I could have gotten my flight for less, but I farted around and questioned when I should be purchasing the ticket. Don’t do that! If you know you want to do something, put a fare alert on and about six weeks to two months out, buy the damn thing!

Anywho, I booked my lodging like six months in advance. Smart move because those prices skyrocketed with time. I picked a little spot in Center City near Rittenhouse Square. The spot was small and clean and was the perfect launch spot for urban adventuring. There were a ton of spots nearby. 

In terms of the game itself, the most challenging part is that the uber drops you off about a mile from the stadium (the train would have dropped us a couple blocks away.) And while there’s not a lot out near the stadium, there’s an entertainment complex called Stateside Live, which is right across the street. Although it’s pricey, it’s the perfect spot for pre-gaming and has the perfect vibe, which I will get to. 

Entering the game was just like any game. Scan your tickets. Thank the Lord they’re not fake. Grab a beer on the way to your seat. Sit your ass down. Enjoy. 

The vibe at Stateside Live.

World Cup is a Vibe

Say what you will about soccer, but these fans know how to party. For real, it’s almost on SEC or NFL football level. Like baseball has nothing on it. Stateside Live was packed leading up to the game with revelers on both sides. And I don’t know how it is for other teams and fan bases, but the Curacao and Cote D’ Ivory fans brought great energy. Not belligerent as some fans can be, just jolly and ready to have a good time. There was dancing, lots of dancing, people kicking a soccer ball around and doing tricks, a live band, people who were truly excited to be there. My kinda fans. I would do this over and over again. 

Reading Terminal Market, duh!

Philly is a great host city

I feel truly blessed that it worked out that I could see games in Philadelphia. It’s going to sound weird given the reputation that Philly fans have, but they were super helpful and hospitable to tourists. We got outstanding service in just about every place we went and the city is walkable and easy to navigate. Some of the highlights of our trip included:

Reading Terminal Market: I love me a good hall and this is like the OG of food halls. It’s huge, it has an overwhelming amount of food options, and you can grab drinks there. We got breakfast po-boys there one morning and they were awesome. We also had some great sweets there including ridiculously good cookies and mini-cheesecakes. 

Cavanaugh's Riddenhouse: This was our outpost for soccer and drinks while in Philly. It’s a great two-floor sports bar with a great staff, good bar food and reasonably-priced drinks. 

Red Owl Tavern: Across from the Liberty Bell area. It’s fancy enough to feel like you’re having an elevated experience but as with many Philly spots the bartenders have an unpretentious, charming, take no shit attitude. A little pricey, but a nice respite from tourist stuff. 

Wissahickon Brewing Co.: This one is at the edge of the city, but they are a great representative of Philly’s beer heritage. Lots of great options. In particular, they had a really good hazy. 

Our buddies from Curacao

Curacao Fans Showed up

For some political reasons that are worth going into on this platform, not very many Cote D’ Ivory fans were able to travel to the states to attend World Cup games. That was not the case for Curacao. Thousands of fans were in attendance and partying all over town. The market was literally flooded with Curacao fans on game day as was Stateside Live. Lucky for us, they are a truly affable bunch. Unlike some of the tournament’s heavy hitters, I think their fans were just happy to be playing some meaningful soccer in World Cup. It was there moment and they were going enjoy the hell out of it. Side note, we got dropped off about a mile from the stadium and right next the Curacao fan march. A true stream of blue and yellow. 

The Game was Electric

Nothing can beat the feeling of walking into that stadium and seeing that sea of orange and green fans mixed with blue and yellow. Like I said, the Curacao fans were happy to be there and while Cote D’ Ivory is more of a known entity in the soccer world, they were super psyched as well. The cheers, the wave, the explosion of excitement at every goal opportunity and they way fans went absolutely nuclear when Cote D’ Ivory scored (they won 2-0) was amazing. I literally drunk in every moment and loved it. It was such a fun experience. I’ve been to a lot of sporting events over the years, but this ranks up there as one of the absolute best games I’ve ever attended. 

Plan and Do

I thank God for this opportunity to check off a bucket list item. For my part, this trip was a lesson in setting out a goal, figuring out the costs, saving a little, and strategically paying for the components of the trip. At nearly all points of the two-year journey to the World Cup there were moments where I didn’t feel completely confident that it was going to happen. This includes the walk to have my ticket scanned. Lots of doubts. Lots of uncertainty about the process. Unlikely other sporting events, FIFA is not super transparent about the process. However, I kept moving steadily towards this. I assumed it was happening. I bought tickets when I could and it happened. It wasn’t as hard as it seemed like it would be, but it was a long process. However, when I sat in that seat and saw the players taking the field, I knew it was all worth it. 

See you in Spain in 2030!