For Immediate Release
PHILADELPHIA (Mar 5, 2025)
Philadelphia Soccer 2026, the 501c3 non-profit organization that serves as the operational Host Committee charged with planning and executing FIFA World Cup 26™ for the City of Philadelphia, today revealed its official Host City poster design for the 2026 tournament. The poster, designed by Pittsburgh artist Nicholas McClintock, was unveiled through a floral interpretation at the Pennsylvania Horticultural Society’s PHS Philadelphia Flower Show – the nation’s largest and longest-running horticultural event.
Since the inception of the FIFA World Cup in 1930, it has been a tradition for FIFA to design an official poster for each edition of the tournament. For the first time, FIFA World Cup 26™ will feature unique posters created for each of the 16 Host Cities across Canada, Mexico, and the United States. These artistic representations celebrate the local culture and communities in each Host City and Philadelphia’s poster design is the first of the Host Cities to be debuted publicly.
"The official Host City poster serves as a powerful reflection of Pennsylvania’s dynamic soccer culture and its incredible artistic innovation,” said Meg Kane, Host City Executive/CEO of Philadelphia Soccer 2026. “Hailing from Pittsburgh, our winning designer, Nick McClintock, embodies the distinct creativity that defines the Commonwealth’s passionate arts community and truly sets it apart. Revealing the design at the iconic PHS Philadelphia Flower Show offered the perfect platform to showcase this exceptional piece of Pennsylvania art to a global audience. We are deeply appreciative of the Pennsylvania Horticultural Society for their partnership in bringing this vision to life and we extend our congratulations to Nick on his winning design."
In a statewide design contest, more than 400 artists from across Pennsylvania submitted their portfolios for consideration. The 10 finalists selected to develop full poster designs represented the rich diversity and creativity of the region. A panel of Pennsylvania artists and cultural leaders then selected three final designs for consideration by FIFA, created by Philadelphia artist and designer Hannah Westerman, Lancaster designer and illustrator Tom Whalen, and the winning designer, McClintock.
"I’m truly honored that my design was chosen to represent Philadelphia for the FIFA World Cup. It’s incredible to see it come to life, especially in florals at the Philadelphia Flower Show,” said McClintock. “I’ve always been inspired by the energy of live events, so it’s thrilling to see my design, full of motion and meaning, celebrated in such a unique way."
The esteemed judging panel for the poster contest included:
- Lori Shapiro, First Lady of Pennsylvania,
- Val Gay, Chief Cultural Officer, City of Philadelphia,
- Kathy Sachs, Founder & Chair, ArtPhilly,
- Amie Bantz, Lancaster Artist and Art Director,
- Christian “TAMEARTZ” Rodriguez, Philadelphia Artist, and
- Dan Rugh, Pittsburgh Designer and Owner, Commonwealth Press.
"Pennsylvania is rich in world-class art and creativity – and Nick McClintock’s winning design will help show millions from around the world what our Commonwealth is all about when the FIFA World Cup comes to Philadelphia,” said First Lady of Pennsylvania Lori Shapiro. “I’m grateful to the hundreds of artists who submitted designs for our official host city poster, and Pennsylvanians from all across the Commonwealth are ready to welcome fans in 2026 to the greatest sports city in the world.”
"The Official Host City poster is another important milestone on the road to the FIFA World Cup, and it was important to us to find an artist whose work would accurately reflect the unique history of our state,” said Val Gay, Chief Cultural Officer for the City of Philadelphia. “Nick’s poster truly tells the story of Pennsylvania’s values— tolerance, freedom, and progress—and we are proud to showcase it to the world." The stunning floral interpretation of the poster design was created by Valley Forge Flowers, a family-owned business for the last 50 years. Following the unveiling on Wednesday, March 5, it will be on display at the PHS Philadelphia Flower Show for the remainder of its run at the Pennsylvania Convention Center, through Sunday, March 9, 2025.
“It’s an honor to be part of such a historic moment, and to help celebrate how Philadelphia will be shining on the world stage,” said Matt Rader, President of the Pennsylvania Horticultural Society. “We want to show the world what Philadelphia is all about—our creativity, our diversity, and the spirit of community that makes this city so unique. The Pennsylvania Horticultural Society is proud to play a part in this global event and looks forward to kicking off Philadelphia’s 2026 celebrations with the 2026 Philadelphia Flower Show.”
FIFA World Cup 26™ will be the largest competition ever hosted by FIFA – three Host Countries, 16 Host Cities, 48 teams, 104 matches – uniting an entire continent to showcase a transformative new tournament format. Philadelphia will host five Group Stage matches (June 14, June 19, June 22, June 25, and June 27), and a Round of 16 match on the United States semiquincentennial, July 4, 2026.
Posters for each Host City are expected to go on sale later this year.
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About Philadelphia Soccer 2026
Philadelphia Soccer 2026 is the operational Host Committee charged with planning and executing FIFA World Cup 26™ for the City of Philadelphia. Established in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, it is governed by a 12-person Board of Directors that convenes leaders from across the City of Philadelphia and the entire Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. For more information, follow us on social media @FWC26Philly.
FIFA World Cup 26™ will be the biggest sporting event ever, with three Host Countries, 16 Host Cities, 48 teams and 104 matches uniting an entire continent to showcase a momentous new tournament format. With more countries, cities, teams, and games, FIFA World Cup 26™ will be the most inclusive tournament ever, engaging millions of fans across 16 unique stadiums and billions worldwide. The tournament will take place in June and July 2026. For the latest FIFA World Cup 26™ information please visit the FIFA World Cup 26™ website. For media representatives wishing to stay up-to-date on all things 2026, please register via the FIFA Media Hub.