Famous for being the home of the National Football League franchise, the Philadelphia Eagles, Lincoln Financial Field is scheduled to host several matches during the 2026 FIFA World Cup, starting on June 11.
Construction of the stadium began in May 2001 and was completed three years later in August 2003, at a cost of a whopping $512 million.
It was built to replace the famous Veterans Stadium, which had hosted major sports teams from Philadelphia.
Nicknamed ‘The Linc’, the venue has been rechristened as the Philadelphia, per FIFA regulations governing the naming of facilities during World Cup tournaments to protect sponsors from ambush marketing throughout the competition.
The stadium has a seating capacity of over 67,000, with the size of the field being 241 metres x 251 metres m while the entire facility sits on 15 acres of land located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
In addition, the stadium, owned by the City of Philadelphia, has a Hero Hybrid Grass playing surface and features 172 executive suites.
The naming rights for the venue were sold to insurance and management group Lincoln Financial Group for $139.6 million in 2002, covering 21 years.
Several major sports tournaments have been held at the stadium, including the Red Devils and the 40th annual WWE WrestleMania in 2024.
It has also hosted some of Manchester United’s friendly matches in the United States, including the high-profile
match against Barcelona in August 2003, with over 68,000 fans in attendance.
A preseason game between the Red Devils and Philadelphia Union in July 2010 was also played at the stadium, which was the Major League Soccer club’s first home ground.
The highest-ever attendance record at the stadium still stands at 77,900 during a concert by English musician and songwriter Ed Sheeran in June 2023.
Beyoncé, Taylor Swift, Metallica, and The Rolling Stones have also performed at the venue.
Six matches will be played at the stadium during the 2026 World Cup, including the Group E game between Ivory Coast and Ecuador and the Group C clash between Brazil and Haiti.
Curacao vs Ivory Coast, Croatia vs Ghana and the round of 16 match are also billed to be staged at the venue.
Policies at Lincoln Financial Field include two beer limits per transaction, prohibition of animals on the property except service dogs and offensive banners and signs of any sort.
