Philadelphia Offers Free SEPTA Rides After World Cup Games
4/21/2026
Philadelphia's World Cup host committee confirmed on April 20 that fans can ride SEPTA's Broad Street Line home for free after each of the six matches the city will host at Lincoln Financial Field. Airbnb is underwriting the program through Philadelphia Soccer 2026, the local host committee, in a move that sets the city apart from other US venues. Free rides start at halftime and run for two hours after the final whistle, with Sports Express trains scheduled every 10 minutes or less. The announcement is the clearest signal yet that host city operations, not just stadium readiness, will shape how fans judge the 2026 tournament.
Airbnb Global Head of Policy Jay Carney framed the partnership as part of a broader accessibility push, telling reporters that "At Airbnb, we believe the world's most extraordinary moments are meant to be shared." Daniel J. Hilferty, chair of Philadelphia Soccer 2026, said in the committee's announcement that "Accessibility has been a central priority" for the city since the bid. Governor Josh Shapiro tied the program to the state's wider events strategy, noting that "Sports are big business here in Pennsylvania and a key part of what makes our Commonwealth a great place to live and visit."
Why host-city operations matter for 2026
For the road to 2026, this matters because host readiness is judged on the quiet details: transit on match day, security perimeters that do not strangle neighborhoods, broadcast compounds that do not overwhelm the venue's surroundings. With three host nations, sixteen host cities, and a tournament window that stretches logistics beyond any single-nation precedent, every local decision sets a precedent. Our daily US host-nation briefing has tracked the steady accumulation of these choices, and Philadelphia's move adds a data point that other US hosts will have to answer, whether by matching the offer or explaining why they have not.
The free service runs out of NRG Station on the SEPTA B Line, the stop closest to the South Philadelphia Sports Complex where Lincoln Financial Field sits alongside Citizens Bank Park and the Wells Fargo Center. SEPTA General Manager Scott Sauer said "The B Line is the best way to get to and from the Sports Complex," and the agency will operate regular service alongside Sports Express trains at roughly 10-minute intervals. Regular SEPTA fares of $2.90 still apply for trips to the stadium, so only the return leg is subsidized. The window opens at halftime so early leavers can clear the platform ahead of the full-time surge.
How Philly compares to other hosts
The contrast with other US host cities is striking. According to CBS News Philadelphia, MetLife Stadium in New Jersey is charging $150 for 40,000 limited round-trip transit tickets per match, while Lincoln Financial Field is among the few US venues permitting tailgating during the tournament. Fans mapping out match-day logistics, from hotel stays to rail passes, will want to weigh those policies alongside kickoff times when planning a tournament trip. Full venue rundowns are available on our US venues guide for cross-city comparisons.
The six Philadelphia matches run from June 14 through July 4. Group play opens with Cote d'Ivoire versus Ecuador at 7:00 PM on Sunday, June 14, followed by Brazil versus Haiti at 8:30 PM on Friday, June 19; France versus Iraq at 5:00 PM on Monday, June 22; Cote d'Ivoire versus Curacao at 4:00 PM on Thursday, June 25; and Croatia versus Ghana at 5:00 PM on Saturday, June 27. A Round of 16 fixture at 5:00 PM on Saturday, July 4 caps the Philadelphia slate. All six fall inside the free SEPTA window.
Ticket holders can reach the Sports Complex via NRG Station on the B Line and ride home without tapping a card, provided they travel between halftime and two hours after the final whistle. For anyone still building a tournament itinerary, our US match schedule lists kickoff times and venues across the eleven American host cities, and the how-to-watch page clarifies which matches air on English and Spanish networks. The Philadelphia deal may not be the last of its kind among US hosts, but it is currently the most generous publicly announced transit arrangement of the eleven.
Sources
- Airbnb Newsroom, Airbnb and Philadelphia Soccer 2026 to offer free SEPTA rides home
- CBS News Philadelphia, Philadelphia secures free SEPTA subway rides home for 2026 FIFA World Cup, April 20, 2026
- NBC10 Philadelphia, Airbnb to provide FIFA World Cup fans with free SEPTA rides after matches, April 20, 2026