Philly's largest free World Cup party has begun.

Why it matters: It's showtime for the FIFA Fan Festival at Lemon Hill after years of planning, anticipation and hype.

The big picture: Philly is the only U.S. host city running a fan festival for the entirety of the 39-day tournament.

Driving the news: Thousands of fans filled the outdoor festival yesterday despite severe heat and humidity.

• The festival spans roughly 1 million square feet and boasts watch zones, an official merch store, soccer activities and eats.

Inside the fest: We were expecting packed crowds, especially for the tournament's opening match.

• And while large groups of fans filled the viewing areas, there was good spacing and pacing.

🥵 Beat the heat: To keep fans from overheating during Philly's hot, humid summers, the festival has free water stations and several cooling stations, including three massive cooling tents.

🪭 Plus: The fest handed out free hand fans yesterday.

⚽ Fun fact: The FIFA Store inside the festival — spanning 10,000 square feet — is the largest in the U.S. among host cities.

• Pro tip: The store has air conditioning.

Get in the game: You can show off your soccer skills on a small pitch and score freebies, like face paint, headbands and capes.

🧦 1 fun thing: The Philadelphia Union invites fans to take part in a shooting challenge. It's all about precision and ball control — neither of which Isaac seems to possess.

• He struggled mightily to drill the lit-up panels, especially when he had to go top shelf.

By the numbers: The festival includes:

• 🍿 Jumbotrons: 5, including the largest spanning 65 feet wide above the main performance stage
• 🍔 Food trucks: 80
• ✋ Daily staff: 500
• 🎤 Local performers: 50 acts over the course of the festival

☝️ Prohibited: Outside food and drink

• Other banned items include coolers, laser pointers, cigarettes, face coverings and animals.

👍 Yes, but: Fans can bring a single empty, reusable, non-metal water bottle (up to 32 ounces) into the festival.

• A single personal bag is also allowed, including a backpack. All bags will be searched upon entry.

Worth noting: The festival is limited to 15,000 fans at one time.

• When that limit is reached, staff will set up a waiting area for fans outside the festival.

Share this guide

Driving to Philly's FIFA Fan Festival is a big no-no as city officials stress that partygoers should take public transportation.

• So we put the city's transit to the test by trekking to Lemon Hill via two separate routes.

Here's what we found:

🚲 Mike here. I took an Indego bike starting from Roxborough in Northwest Philly.

• The roughly 50-minute, 6-mile trip in the sunshine from Fairview Park was smooth, scenic and fun.
• I traveled along some of the best paths in the city — Kelly Drive, Falls Bridge, MLK Jr. Drive — and past Boathouse Row and the art museum.
• There's plenty of space to return your bike at the newly installed Indego racks at Kelly and Sedgley drives, beside the festival's welcome tent and a short walk away from the entrance.

⚡ Energy saver: Rent an electric Indego bike and let the motor do all the hard work.

💭 Mike's take: Nothing beats biking on a sunny day in Philly.

🚌 Isaac here. I took a $5 Philly PHLASH fare from LOVE Park.

• It was a two-hour trek from the burbs, requiring me to drive, park at a lot, then catch the Philly PHLASH at LOVE Park's designated pickup spot (Stop No. 4).
• The good news: The bus ride took less than 15 minutes.

Zoom in: If you're confused about where to go, ask the driver.

• The PHLASH runs two routes — a downtown loop and a Park West loop — and boarding the wrong one is an easy way to add an unintended sightseeing tour to your day.

How it works: Downtown buses arrive every 15 minutes and drop riders near the Philadelphia Museum of Art (Stop No. 9), about a half-mile walk from the Fan Fest welcome tent.

🥵 Pro tip: Dress for survival, not style.

• I showed up in a short-sleeve button-up and pants, a decision that looked great in my mirror and terrible in 90-degree heat.

By the time I arrived, I felt like I had logged serious minutes in a World Cup match.

Tell a festival-goer

💰 Mayor Cherelle Parker signed off on the city's new $7.1 billion spending plan yesterday after City Council gave it the green light. (Philly Tribune)

• The final budget, which kicks in July 1, doesn't include several taxes Parker proposed on rideshares, deliveries, hotels, and short-term rentals.

⛔ Some Philly teachers say they feel pressured to pass students who did little or no work — a practice they warn could have long-term consequences.

• The district says its policies are intended to "accurately reflect" students' academic performance. (Inquirer)

🚢 Spotted: That cool floating island we told you about two years ago is getting closer to opening at Bartram's Garden. Dubbed Floatlab, the 75-circular structure was tugged up the Schuylkill River this week.

• The project — part community hub, environmental education space, stage, gallery, fishing spot and kayak launch — should be open in September. (Philly Voice)

🪧 Frustrated Fairmount residents put up homemade street signs to help direct traffic near the FIFA Fan Fest, saying the city hasn't done enough to ease congestion in the neighborhood. (WHYY)

These are nervy days for fans of the U.S. men's soccer team.

Why it matters: The national team features starters on prestigious European clubs, and on paper it should have its best chance ever to make a deep run in the World Cup.

• But fans worry the team hasn't lived up to its potential and could flame out.

State of play: The U.S. team opens World Cup play today after having lost three of its last four tune-up games.

Yes, but: During the last two games, a 3-2 win over Senegal and a 2-1 loss to Germany, the USMNT controlled play for long stretches and talisman Christian Pulisic (a Hershey native) broke his scoring drought.

• "We feel good about what we're doing and where we're going," midfielder Tyler Adams said after the Germany game on Saturday.

Keep reading