Philadelphia Soccer 2026, the group planning out the city’s part in the World Cup, is looking for a Pennsylvania-based artist to design the city’s poster for the event, which will be one of the 16 city posters for the tournament, alongside the main tournament poster.
“Designing a FIFA World Cup poster is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity and to be able to put such a personal touch on our poster, given the vibrant arts and culture community in our Commonwealth, is an opportunity we embrace,” said Philadelphia Soccer 2026’s host city executive Meg Kane. “We are confident that Pennsylvania’s artists and designers will rise to this occasion, delivering a level of creativity that will shine on the world’s stage.”
The submission deadline for portfolios with 10 work examples is this Friday and can be filled out at Philadelphia Soccer 2026’s website. Ten artists will be chosen by Oct. 11. They’ll get a $1,000 stipend and all the necessary elements to design a poster by Nov. 4. Three finalists will be selected and awarded an additional $2,500 stipend by Nov. 22. An expert judging panel “from across Pennsylnania’s arts and culture community” will decide the overall winner in 2025. That person will receive $7,500 and promotional opportunities ahead of the tournament.
A sporting event as massive as the World Cup involves so much more than letting 48 teams play 104 games to whittle out a champion. New (and expensive) uniforms will be created for each team, FIFA, Coca-Cola and others will release official anthems, mascots will be revealed and the official posters and artwork will be chosen.
“Sports and the arts have an inextricable link because of the power, emotion, and passion both embody,” said Kane. “FIFA World Cup is unforgettable not only because of the elite competition on the pitch, but because of the powerful culture that surrounds global soccer and art is part of that cultural expression.”
In past tournaments, most of the attention has usually gone to the main tournament poster, which were often the work of local artists and designers — sometimes developed through a competition — and meant to evoke the style and character of the nations hosting the tournament. The city and stadium posters have usually followed the overall design themes of the tournament, but this is the first time each host city has the chance to create its own poster.
The competition for Philly’s poster is for Pennsylvania residents only. The designs must be original, ready for digital reproduction, and not generated by artificial intelligence. Artists under 18 must have parents’ written permission to compete.
In 2026, Philly’s Lincoln Financial Field will host five group stage games of the World Cup on June 14, 19, 22, 25 and 27. The Linc will also have a round-of-16 match on July 4, coinciding with the nation’s semiquincentennial celebrations.
