South Philly Schools Prepare for 2026 FIFA World Cup

Philadelphia school officials and students gathered in South Philly on Tuesday, September 23, to prepare for the 2026 FIFA World Cup events in the city.

Student-athletes met at the South Philly Super Site to celebrate the announcement, held only steps away from Lincoln Financial Field, where World Cup matches will be held next summer.

According to NBC10 Philadelphia, organizers said the district plans to introduce soccer programming, professional development, new equipment, and schoolyard beautification projects at schools throughout the district as part of the celebrations for the FIFA World Cup.

After-school programs and youth initiatives will focus on developing soccer skills, fostering teamwork, and promoting motivation to support student development.

According to organizers, 21 schools across Philadelphia will work with district partnership groups to support World Cup-related activities.

Action News 6 reported that several students from SLA Beeber expressed their delight about a new soccer field being built at their school, along with one at Olney High School. 

"I definitely feel like when we get the field, it's going to improve all of our stamina, our speed, how fast we are on the field, how we play, because getting on SEPTA is a really hard issue," said Angel Oburu, an 11th grader at the Science Leadership Academy at Beeber.

Ayana Lewis, executive director of the Office of Strategic Partnerships for the district, said the investment was "amazing."

School District of Philadelphia Superintendent Dr. Tony Watlington detailed the long-term goal of the initiative.

"Joy is one of the core values in our five-year aggressive strategic plan entitled Accelerate Philly," Watlington said in a statement shared with Action News 6. "And we expect to have lots of joy over the next year."