Philadelphia combines a compact, walkable historic centre with a modern stadium complex served by subway, making it one of the most rewarding host cities for fans who want culture alongside football. The city's revolutionary history, its famous food and its famously passionate sports crowds give a World Cup trip here a character quite unlike any other American host.

Lincoln Financial Field sits in the South Philadelphia sports complex, shared with the baseball, basketball and hockey venues, and served by the Broad Street subway line to NRG station, a short walk from the gates. That subway link is the key to a stress-free matchday: park-and-ride or stay in Center City and ride south, avoiding stadium parking entirely.

The stadium is open-air, so summer heat and occasional thunderstorms are part of the experience: check the forecast, bring a light rain layer and a hat, and note that evening matches are far more comfortable than afternoon ones in Philadelphia's humid summer.

Independence National Historical Park is the essential non-matchday programme: Independence Hall, the Liberty Bell and the cobbled streets of Old City are all walkable from each other, and the Philadelphia Museum of Art, with its famous steps, offers skyline views and world-class collections. The Reading Terminal Market is the best single food stop, with Amish baked goods, roast pork sandwiches and, of course, cheesesteaks.

For the definitive cheesesteak debate, try both of the famous South Philadelphia rivals and form your own opinion: locals take the question seriously, and visitors are expected to have a view by the end of the trip.

Stay in Center City or Old City for walkability and subway access, and consider combining Philadelphia with New York, just over an hour away by Amtrak, for a northeast double-header. Philadelphia's summer is hot and humid, so plan museums and markets for midday and outdoor walking for mornings and evenings.

Budget note: Philadelphia is noticeably cheaper than New York for hotels and food, which makes it a smart base for fans attending matches in both cities.

Beyond Independence Hall, Philadelphia's soul lives in its murals and markets: the city has more public murals than almost anywhere in America, and the Mural Arts programme offers tours that turn a walk through ordinary streets into an open-air gallery. South Street, Fishtown and Passyunk Avenue each offer a different Philadelphia, from punk-rock history to craft breweries and Italian markets, and the Italian Market, America's oldest continuously operating outdoor market, is a sensory feast of cheese shops, butcher counters and produce stalls.

For visitors, the best plan is to pair a historic morning with a neighbourhood afternoon: Independence Hall and the Liberty Bell before lunch, then a mural walk and a market meal in South Philadelphia. The city's BYOB restaurant culture, where many small restaurants let you bring your own bottle, keeps dining affordable and convivial. Philadelphia's charm is not polished like some host cities; it is lived-in, passionate and authentic, much like its sports fans, and that authenticity is exactly what makes it memorable.

A final Philadelphia tip for curious visitors: the Eastern State Penitentiary, a haunting former prison turned museum, offers one of the city's most original experiences, with audio tours narrated by former guards and inmates that bring two centuries of American history to life. It is a short ride from Center City and a striking contrast to the colonial history of Old City, showing Philadelphia's many layers, and it pairs well with an afternoon exploring the nearby Fairmount neighbourhood's cafes.