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Congratulating Daniel Hilferty, Michelle Singer, the Board of Directors and the entire Philadelphia Soccer 2026 team for their successful planning and execution of the 2026 FIFA World Cup in Philadelphia.
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WHEREAS, Philadelphia Soccer 2026 (“PS2026”) served as the Local Host Committee charged with planning and executing FIFA World Cup 2026 in coordination with the City, under the leadership of Co-Chairs Dan Hilferty and Michelle Singer and Host City Executive Meg Kane; and
WHEREAS, Through the hard work and dedication of the PS2026 team, Philadelphia successfully welcomed the world, hosting six FIFA World Cup matches, welcoming hundreds of thousands of visitors, and showcasing the city on a global stage; and
WHEREAS, Philadelphia’s Fan Festival at Lemon Hill provided a free continuous celebration through the 39-day FIFA World Cup, giving fans who did not attend a match the opportunity to experience the excitement; and
WHEREAS, While some other cities increased the price of public transportation during matches, PS2026 partnered with Airbnb to offer free SEPTA Broad Street Line rides from the stadium following each of the six FIFA World Cup matches; and
WHEREAS, Through its “How Do You Phan?” campaign, PS2026 celebrated the City’s unique sports culture and encouraged Philadelphians to embrace international teams and cultures, creating a connection between the city’s sports fans and the world; and
WHEREAS, PS2026 demonstrated its commitment to leaving a lasting legacy after the final whistle through its “26 for 26” initiative, a $2 million commitment supporting 26 soccer-related projects throughout Pennsylvania, such as pitches and youth programming to expand access to the sport; and
WHERREAS, After using Lemon Hill for the 39-day Fan Festival, PS2026 committed $4 million to park improvements, from new picnic pavilions, lighting, and additional safety measures
WHEREAS, PS2026 further demonstrated its commitment to the next generation through their Rising Stars Academy, an immersive three-week program that provided 24 students from 11 local colleges with hands-on experience, mentorship, and the opportunity to learn from PS2026 executives and City leaders; and
WHEREAS, Through their work of PS2026 transformed the World Cup from a series of matches to a citywide celebration that brought together local communities and visitors from around the world; and
WHEREAS, This legislative body is thankful for Daniel Hilferty, Michelle Singer, Meg Kane, Lauren Lambrugo, Melissa Piccoli, Tim Wilson, Bassam Awadalla, Shane Bradley, Steve Connelly, Whitney Constable, Sophia Cucinotta, Seanna Crosley, Michael DelBene, Jackie DiLallo, Melanie Dougherty, Bill Easton, Brian Esposito, Melissa Ferdinand, Bill Gehrman, Alison Grove, Frank Gumienny, Elissa Hill, Emily Malstrom, Siah McCabe, Brea Webster Stanko, Jonathan Todd, Nancy Tucker, and Alan Krigstein for all of their hard work to make Philadelphia’s FIFA World Cup experience a success; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PHILADELPHIA, Hereby congratulates Daniel Hilferty, Michelle Singer, the Board of Directors and the Philadelphia Soccer 2026 team for their successful planning and execution of the 2026 FIFA World Cup in Philadelphia.
FURTHER RESOLVED, That an Engrossed copy of this Resolution be presented to Philadelphia Soccer 2026 as evidence of the sincere appreciation and gratitude of this legislative body.
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