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Philadelphia 2026 World Cup Transport Guide
How to get to Philadelphia for the 2026 World Cup, getting to Philadelphia Stadium, and traveling around the area during the tournament 🛫
✒️ By the worldcup-travel.com team | 📅 Updated 2 June 2025
With our Philadelphia transport guide, we are here to help you figure out how to get to Philly for the 2026 World Cup, and how to get around the city and its surrounding areas.
Note: All of the information below is current. However, specific transportation guidance will be announced between now and the 2026 World Cup. Sign up to our email list so you get the latest information and deals direct to your inbox 📩 .
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Philadelphia is pretty manageable to get around with a car, compared to other big cities in the USA. It all depends on your plans and driving comfort level. It is also very walkable, especially in Center City and its surrounding neighborhoods. The streets are laid out on a grid (Thanks, William Penn), so it’s easy to navigate both on foot and by car.
Philly’s transit system is also solid for a city its size. Subways, trolleys, buses and regional rail can get you where you want to go, including Philadelphia Stadium, where the games for the 2026 World Cup will be held. (See: Public transport info below.)
Having your own car may be helpful for getting to outer neighborhoods, taking day trips, or if you’re staying outside the city. But parking is tough and can also be pricey, and traffic during event days can be infuriating. Still, if you’re planning on hitting the road for a 2026 World Cup road trip, you may want to have your own vehicle.
Flying to Philadelphia for the 2026 World Cup
The most convenient way to fly into Philadelphia for the 2026 World Cup is through Philadelphia International Airport (PHL). Located approximately eight miles (13 km) from Center City, PHL offers a range of ground transportation options to reach Downtown and Philadelphia Stadium.
PHL is the primary airport serving the Philadelphia area and is undergoing significant upgrades in preparation for 2026 events, including the World Cup. It provides direct flights to numerous destinations across Europe, the Caribbean, Central and South America, and the Middle East. Airlines such as American Airlines, British Airways, Aer Lingus, Lufthansa, and Qatar Airways operate international routes from PHL.
Philadelphia International Airport (PHL) – the primary option for flying to Philadelphia for the 2026 World Cup
✅ Serviced by the SEPTA Airport Line, making it convenient to get to/from
✅ Major international hub
✅ Major building upgrades and expansion of international routes in prep for World Cup
You can search for 2026 World Cup flights to Philadelphia International from the box below through Kiwi.com. Their tech finds flight itineraries that combine multiple airlines (they call it “Virtual Interlining” with options that often aren’t available anywhere else). This can help streamline the booking process and increase savings.
Alternative airports for getting to Philadelphia for the 2026 World Cup
While PHL is the main and most convenient option, there are a few other airports within a reasonable distance that might be worth considering for flying to the 2026 World Cup in Philadelphia, especially if you find cheaper flights, better availability, or want to explore nearby cities.
Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR) At just 90 minutes away, EWR is a good option for international flights. You can get to Philly by Amtrak or NJ Transit + SEPTA, which takes about 1.5 to 2 hours total. Bonus: You can explore NYC before heading to Philly. Visit our New York New Jersey World Cup transport guide to find out more about getting around in the Big Apple.
Baltimore/Washington International Airport (BWI) — Approximately two hours south of Philadelphia in Maryland, BWI offers an option for competitive fares and great domestic flights. Amtrak runs frequently from BWI to Philadelphia and takes about 90 mins.
Trenton-Mercer Airport (TTN) — About 45 minutes away from Philadelphia, TTN services Allegiant and Frontier Airlines and can be super convenient if you’re flying from select cities in the USA and can catch a cheap fare. Beware: You’d likely need a car or rideshare to get to Philly, though.
2026 World Cup car rental in Philadelphia
Tip: If you’re looking for car rentals in Philadelphia for the 2026 World Cup, we recommend Qeeq.com, where you will always pay the lowest price.
Qeeq’s Price Drop Protector 📉 tracks prices daily, and if the rental price drops after you book, Qeeq rebooks at the lower price and saves you the difference. They offer free cancellation, no credit card fees, and you can even pay with crypto if that’s your vibe.
Alternatively, Trip.com is part of the same group as Skyscanner.com, and allows you to search car rental deals from all of the big companies — with free cancellation, no credit card fees, and often with extra discounts as an incentive
Will fans need a car in Philadelphia for the World Cup?
No, fans attending the 2026 World Cup in Philadelphia will not need a car. The city is actively preparing to accommodate large numbers of visitors through enhancements to its public transportation infrastructure, and getting to Philadelphia Stadium via public transport is simple and cost effective. However, a car may be a handy option for travelling from Philadelphia to other World Cup host cities.
World Cup car rental in Philadelphia is definitely going to surge price wise for the tournament. This means that renting as early as possible will help not break the bank, especially since early birds can choose a flexible cancellation policy that doesn’t leave you locked in.
Philadelphia car rental companies and peer-to-peer rental options
Philadelphia International Airport (PHL) offers car rental options to suit different preferences and budgets. Some of the companies at PHL include SIXT, Hertz, Budget, Dollar, Enterprise, and Avis. The airport's Rental Car Center is accessible via free shuttle buses from Zone 2 outside the baggage claim areas of each terminal.
You can also look for 2026 World Cup car rental options further outside the city, which might be cheaper, but could cost you more for the transport to/from that location.
In addition to the big car rental companies, there are also peer-to-peer car rental options like Turo, where you rent a person’s car rather than a car from a company. This option might offer increased inventory for car rentals in and around Philly during the 2026 World Cup. The city has Zipcar and Enterprise CarShare, too.
Buses to Philadelphia for the 2026 World Cup
Travelling by bus to Philadelphia from cities on the east coast is quite easy. If you’re traveling from New York City (2 hrs), Washington D.C. (2.5-3 hrs), or Boston (6-7 hrs), buses are a convenient, affordable, and a surprisingly comfortable option.
Companies serving Philadelphia are Megabus (cheap, with reserved seating and WiFi), Greyhound (extensive national network, more old-school option), FlixBus (new, modern fleet with frequent East Coast service), OurBus (smaller, comfy buses with direct routes and minimal stops) and Peter Pan (operates especially between New England and Philadelphia).
Most of these buses drop off near Center City, usually at Greyhound Terminal near Jefferson Station, so you're already close to public transit and walkable neighborhoods when you arrive.
Getting to Philadelphia by train
Philadelphia is well-connected by train, especially for travel along the East Coast. It's one of the top rail hubs in the US, with fast, frequent service between major cities, plus solid regional rail for getting around locally. You can take long-distance Amtrak trains west to Pittsburgh, Chicago, and even down to Florida, but most conveniently, Philadelphia is part of the Northeast Corridor, which connects New York City in just over an hour, Washington, D.C. in just under two hours, and Boston in five hours. Baltimore, MD, Newark, NJ, New Haven, CT, and Providence, RI are all easy rides away.
Public transport in Philadelphia
However you arrive in Philadelphia and wherever you are staying in and around the city, Philly is serviced by public transport. SEPTA Regional Rail connects Philly to the suburbs and nearby towns over the state border like Wilmington, DE, and Trenton, NJ. If you need to reach Philly from Newark, the Jersey Shore, or other parts of New Jersey, you can ride NJ Transit to Trenton, then hop on SEPTA to Philadelphia. PATCO is the light rail line connecting Center City Philadelphia to parts of South Jersey, including Camden, Haddonfield, and Lindenwold.
It is also super easy to get to Philadelphia Stadium using public transportation: Just hop on the Broad Street Line (the orange one) and ride it all the way to NRG Station, which is the last stop. The stadium is right there when you exit.
Using ridesharing apps in Philly
Uber and Lyft are, of course, available in Philadelphia, and although they are plentiful and reliable, prices are expected to surge on game days. So, we still recommend using public transport where possible and saving ridesharing apps for when you’re out of options (or want to treat yourself after a long day of watching footy).
