Luis Fonsi, the Puerto Rican singer of “Despacito,” one of the most-streamed songs in history, will usher Philadelphia into a two-month-long soccer festival on the first day of the 2026 World Cup.
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Fonsi will headline the opening night concert of Philadelphia’s FIFA Fan Festival, a 39-day World Cup party at Lemon Hill inside East Fairmount Park, on June 11, directly following the tournament’s first match between Mexico and South Africa at 3 p.m.
The Grammy Award-winning artist, whose career spans 25 years in Latin America, found even greater greater popularity in English-speaking parts of the world when Fonsi’s hit song featuring Daddy Yankee was remixed by Justin Bieber, adding an English-sung verse to the already beloved Spanish-language track.
“It’s an honor to be part of the opening celebration for the FIFA World Cup in Philadelphia and to perform for fans on such a historic day,” Fonsi said. “Fútbol and music both have a unique power to bring people together, and celebrating that spirit with fans from Philadelphia and around the world is something very special.”
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The Fan Festival will open at 2 p.m. on June 11, one hour before the game, and is free to enter. Alongside Fonsi’s performance, fans can sample food from a curated lineup of Philly food trucks and explore the one million square feet of festival grounds, complete with a gigantic screen for World Cup watch parties, interactive soccer games, and a vendor market. The festival and concert are free, but there is a capacity limit, so entry is on a first-come, first-served basis.
“From the first match on the big screen to thousands of fans celebrating together, FIFA Fan Festival Philadelphia is designed to be the ultimate watch party for 39 days. Luis Fonsi is the perfect artist to help us launch this experience and create an incredible opening night atmosphere,” saidMichael DelBene, executive producer of FIFA Fan Festival.
Fan Festival will close down all of Lemon Hill’s roads and the immediate surrounding areas throughout June and most of July. Plan ahead with The Inquirer’s guide to road closures around Lemon Hill.
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