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Home > News > SEPTA Welcomes FIFA Club Fans to Philadelphia: How to Use Our System to Travel to the Games

SEPTA Welcomes FIFA Club Fans to Philadelphia: How to Use Our System to Travel to the Games

Published and updated Category: Bulletins

Welcome! Willkommen! ようこそ! Sejam bem-vindos!

This year the United States is hosting the FIFA Club World Cup tournament for the first time, and Philadelphia is thrilled to have been chosen to be part of it. Lincoln Financial Field, located in the South Philadelphia neighborhood, serves as the venue where games will take place beginning June 16 through July 4. To see the full schedule of match teams and locations, visit FIFA’s website. 

As Philadelphia prepares to welcome visitors from across the globe, we know that many people will be riding with SEPTA for the first time. SEPTA is proud to provide everybody with safe and reliable service to travel to the matches, and we’re happy to share this guide that will help you get to Lincoln Financial Field. You won’t have to stress about transportation and can focus on enjoying the football games – or soccer, to us Americans 😉. Let the games begin! 

Riding SEPTA

SEPTA offers three transit networks to meet different needs:

  • Bus – There are over 100 bus routes that serve both Philadelphia and extend well into the surrounding areas. The bus costs $2.50 per trip. 
  • Metro – SEPTA’s Metro network provides frequent service around the clock for $2.50, transfers  included. The Metro is made up of subways and light rail (trolleys), and are designated with a letter (L, B, T, G, D, M). Services are designated with a letter and number (T1, T2, etc.) 
  • Regional Rail – SEPTA’s commuter rail service moves people between the City of Philadelphia and nearby suburbs, cities and the Philadelphia International Airport. Fares for Regional Rail vary based on trip details including the zone of your start and end stations, the day of the week, time of day and payment method. Check a schedule before you use Regional Rail.

If you’re coming from within the city to travel to Lincoln Financial Field for the games, you’ll want to take the Broad Street Line [B] to NRG Station, just a 10-minute walk from the stadium – or bus routes 4 or 17. For additional guidance on planning your trip, please see the sections below.

We highly encourage you to download the SEPTA App for the latest schedules, maps, alerts and real-time information (when available).  

  • Buses – Buses are identified by numbers. After identifying the nearest bus stop on the route you want, make your way there. Wait for the bus to arrive (the app will keep you up-to-date on this). After the bus stops, first wait for any riders who are exiting. Next, board the bus through the front doors and pay using the validator, which will be right in front. Pay attention to where you are while riding; you’ll need to request a stop when you want to get off. To do this, pull the yellow cords which hang around the edges of the bus. The bus will then let you off at the next stop. When possible, exit through the back doors. 
  • Metro – Metro services are identified by letters: L, B, T, G, D, M. Arrive at the station and head to the correct platform. Pay at the turnstile and then wait at the platform; always stay behind the yellow safety line. When the train arrives, wait for exiting people to get off before boarding. The T, G and D lines are trolley services, when these are running on the street, follow the same directions as for buses. This includes needing to request a stop when you want to exit. 
  • Regional Rail – Arrive at the station and head to the correct track. Depending on the station, either tap at the validator or pay at the turnstile. Wait for the train at the platform; always stay behind the yellow safety line. When the train arrives, wait for exiting people to get off before boarding. While on the train, a conductor will come around to ask for fares. If you have already paid, simply present the same method you used for confirmation. If you haven’t paid, present whatever method you want to use, including cash. While on the train, listen to the overhead announcements to hear what station is coming up next so you know when it’s time to get off. 

Video instructions on how to ride with SEPTA are available on our YouTube channel.

Planning a Trip and Navigating

One of the easiest and best ways to prepare for any trip on SEPTA is by using our own Trip Planner, which can give you directions for travel on all of SEPTA’s modes from any starting point to end point. This same Trip Planner is also integrated into our mobile app, so it’s easy to navigate when you’re already on the go.

In addition, instructions for traveling with SEPTA services are included in the most popular navigation apps, like Apple Maps, Google Maps and Transit.

We’re confident that you’ll find SEPTA’s system is easy to learn how to use. To make your experience even smoother, here are some quick tips that you can use for reference.

Note that some bus stops have shelters, some just have benches and some are only identified by a sign. Many stops serve more than one bus route, so check the number on the lighted sign on the exterior of the bus to ensure it’s the right one.

It’s important to be aware of your location so you can make sure to request a stop when you need it. Pay attention to street signs; you may also wish to consider tracking your location on a navigation app.

The Market-Frankford Line [L] goes east and west. It’s also known as the L and is associated with the color blue. Eastbound trips head toward the Frankford Transit Center. Westbound trips head toward 69th Street Transit Center. 

The Broad Street Line [B] goes north and south. It’s also known as the B and is associated with the color orange. Northbound trips head toward the Fern Rock Transit Center. Southbound trips head toward NRG Station. 

Any Regional Rail line can take you into Center City – this is called traveling inbound. Going out of the city is called outbound travel. To get to downtown Philadelphia, you’ll want to exit at Suburban Station or Jefferson Station, which are right in the heart of the city. Another prominent location is William H. Gray III 30th St Station, a transportation hub also utilized by Amtrak for travel to places across the country.

Fare Information

To ride on any of SEPTA’s vehicles, appropriate payment is required. SEPTA offers flexible options, depending on what service you’ll be using and how many trips you wish to take. Full details are provided on our Ways to Pay page, but here are the basics.

  • Contactless – Credit/debit cards, in physical form or through apps like Apple Pay, Google Pay and Samsung Pay, are accepted on all SEPTA transit at any turnstile or farebox with a simple tap on the validator. For Bus and Metro services, you only need to tap on. For Regional Rail, please remember to tap both on and off. SEPTA only accepts the following credit cards: Visa, MasterCard, Discover and AMEX. 
  • SEPTA Key – These cards are a SEPTA product that act much like a debit card; you can decide how much money you want to put on your Key card and then use it for contactless payment anytime you want to ride SEPTA. You can purchase a Key card at dozens of locations throughout the city, like automated kiosks, SEPTA sales offices and retail stores.
  • Quick Trip – Customers at Metro stations may purchase a Quick Trip ticket from Fare Kiosks for a single one-way ride on the Broad Street Line [B], Market-Frankford Line [L], Norristown High Speed Line [M] and select Trolley lines. Transit Quick Trips are not valid for bus rides. Quick Trips are available from station Fare Kiosks and are valid on the day purchased until 2 am the following day. Customers attending events in the Sports Complex area are encouraged to purchase a Quick Trip for their return trip prior to the event. Free transfers are not available with Quick Trip. SEPTA recommends that customers simply use a contactless bankcard to travel, eliminating the need for a Quick Trip ticket and adding additional travel privileges.  
  • Key Tix – Key Tix are digital tickets purchased via the SEPTA App. If you want to buy several Quick Trip tickets at one time – for multiple people, or multiple trips – Key Tix is a great option. You can purchase and use up to 10 tickets, all from your phone. Key Tix are only for use on Metro and buses. 
  • Cash – You can also pay cash for any SEPTA ride, but exact change is required. For buses and trolleys, insert exact change into the machine at the entrance. For Metro, give exact change to the cashier in the booth, or use cash to purchase a Quick Trip from a Fare Kiosk. On Regional Rail, purchase a Quick Trip from a Center City Fare Kiosk, or pay onboard if boarding at an outlying station.  

How to Pay

SEPTA uses two devices to accept payments: validators and turnstiles. Here’s what they look like:

Two types of turnstiles
Two types of turnstiles; push-through on the left, gates on the right.
A person using a fare validator
A validator on a bus. As shown, the card reader is below the screen.

Buses use validators only; Metro uses turnstiles only; Trolleys and Regional Rail use a combination of validators and turnstiles, depending on the station.

Paying for…

  • The bus – When you are boarding the bus, there will be a validator located right in front of the driver. Just tap your payment method on it, and your ride on that bus is paid for. 
  • The Trolleys [T] [D] [G] – If there are turnstiles at the station, tap your payment at the validator beneath the screen. After it is accepted, you will be able to move through the turnstile and access the trolley platform. Your ride is then paid for. 
  • Metro – If there are turnstiles at the station, tap your payment at the validator beneath the screen. After it is accepted, you will be able to move through the turnstile and access the platform. Your ride is then paid for.
  • Regional Rail – Tap your payment on the turnstile screen and then access the platform. You must also tap your payment method at the turnstile or validator before exiting the station at the end of your ride. This closes your trip and ensures you aren’t charged more than you should be. 
  • If there are no turnstiles, then locate the validator on the platform. Tap your payment there to begin your trip. Once onboard the train, the conductor will walk through each car and collect fares from passengers individually. Simply present the same payment method you used on the platform validator. You must tap your payment method at the turnstile or validator before exiting the station at the end of your ride. This closes your trip and ensures you aren’t charged more than you should be. 

Added Service

SEPTA is offering extra service on the Broad Street Line [B] to help fans get to the FIFA Club World Cup matches.

Monday, June 16: Express trains depart Fern Rock Transit Center at 6:10 pm, 6:20 pm, 6:30 pm, 6:40 pm, 6:50 pm, 7 pm, 7:10 pm, 7:20 pm, 7:30 pm and 7:40 pm.

Wednesday, June 18:  B2 to NRG trains operate extended service to NRG Station.  

Friday, June 20:  B2 to NRG trains operate extended service to NRG Station. 

Sunday, June 22: Express trains depart Fern Rock Transit Center at 9:30 am, 9:40 am, 9:50 am,10 am,10:10 am,10:20 am, 10:30 am,10:40 am,10:50 am and 11 am.

Tuesday, June 24: Express trains depart Fern Rock Transit Center at 6:10 pm, 6:20 pm, 6:30 pm, 6:40 pm, 6:50 pm, 7 pm, 7:10 pm, 7:20 pm, 7:30 pm and 7:40 pm.

Thursday, June 26: Express trains depart Fern Rock Transit Center at 6:10 pm, 6:20 pm, 6:30 pm, 6:40 pm, 6:50 pm, 7 pm, 7:10 pm, 7:20 pm, 7:30 pm and 7:40 pm.

Saturday, June 28: Express trains depart Fern Rock Transit Center at 9:30 am, 9:40 am, 9:50 am,10 am,10:10 am,10:20 am, 10:30 am,10:40 am,10:50 am and 11 am.

Train times for the Quarter-final Fixtures on Friday, July 4 will be posted in the coming weeks. 

Getting to Lincoln Financial Field

For events taking place at the Sports Complex (Lincoln Financial Field, Wells Fargo Center, Citizens Bank Park), the Broad Street Line [B] provides convenient service to the stadiums via NRG Station. There is a free transfer to the Broad Street Line [B] from the Market-Frankford Line [L] and Trolley routes at 15th Street/City Hall – and it is a short walk from Regional Rail stations in Center City. Bus routes 4 and 17 provide direct service to the Sports Complex. 

If you’re taking PATCO into Philadelphia from New Jersey, riders can take the Broad Street Line [B] to travel to the stadiums. Exit PATCO at 12th/13th & Locust Street Station. Take the escalator or stairs to concourse level, exit PATCO’s fare gates and follow signs to exit to street level. Head north on S 13th Street toward St. James Street, then left onto Walnut Street. SEPTA’s Walnut/Locust Station is on the corner of Broad & Walnut streets. 

View alerts, advisories and detours across the system. For additional help and information, Customer Service is open Monday – Friday 7 am – 7 pm, Saturday and Sunday 8 am – 5 pm. Call 215-580-7800 for English, En espanol disponible and many other languages.