Where To Eat In Philadelphia On 2026 World Cup Match Day
Order cheesesteak 'wiz wit.' Pat's and Geno's are tourist theatre. John's Roast Pork is the real one. Six matches at Lincoln Financial Field — eat first.
Order the cheesesteak with Cheez Whiz and onions. Say "wiz wit." Pay, step aside, eat it on the pavement outside. You are now doing it correctly. Philadelphia has six matches at Lincoln Financial Field and a food culture that is better than its reputation — partly because its reputation is built almost entirely on a sandwich, and partly because the city decided to let that happen and get on with producing excellent food for the people who actually live here.
John's Roast Pork is where Philly people eat. Pat's and Geno's are where visitors go first. This guide is going to redirect you — but it will also explain exactly how to behave at Pat's and Geno's so that if you go, you go correctly.
Best Cheesesteaks In Philadelphia For 2026 World Cup Match Day
Pat's King of Steaks on Passyunk Avenue invented the cheesesteak in 1930. Geno's is directly across the street. They have been competing for the same customers since 1966. The theatre of ordering at both simultaneously is a genuine Philadelphia experience and you should do it — but understand that it is theatre.
At Pat's: approach the window, state your order clearly in the format "wiz wit" (Cheez Whiz, with onions) or "wiz witout" (Cheez Whiz, no onions), pay immediately, collect, step to the side. There are signs explaining this. Follow them. Philadelphians behind you in the queue will lose patience if you pause, reconsidering your life choices, with people waiting.
At Geno's: same format, neon-lit, slightly more aggressive décor, equally good sandwich. The rivalry is largely mythological. Both are fine. Neither is the best cheesesteak in the city.
Jim's Steaks on South Street is the institution with the longest queues on weekend afternoons. The steak is shaved thin, the onions are properly cooked down, and the roll absorbs the fat at the correct ratio. Worth the queue.
John's Roast Pork in South Philadelphia is where the argument ends. A James Beard Award winner. A counter operation. The roast pork sandwich