A Lancaster-based artist is one of 10 finalists selected to create a poster for 2026’s FIFA World Cup, with one of the host cities being Philadelphia.
Each host city for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, with locations in the United States, Canada and Mexico, will have its own poster that reflects the city’s vibe and culture.
Tom Whalen was selected from the more than 400 Pennsylvanian artists who submitted portfolios for consideration.
Whalen says he’s honored to be one of the selected finalists for this competition, as he knows a lot of talented artists submitted their portfolios.
A press release from Philadelphia Soccer 2026, a nonprofit that will coordinate the planning and executing of FIFA’s World Cup programming in Philadelphia, described Whalen as “a designer and illustrator who specializes in collectible, screen-printed posters with a mix of vintage aesthetics and a clean, modern twist.”
Whalen studied at Kutztown University, and has worked with clients like Lucasfilm, Disney, Pixar, The Beatles, Metallica, Primus, Marvel Studios, The Black Keys and Microsoft, among others.
And, hopefully soon, the FIFA World Cup will be added to that list.
“Creating a composition that represents the passion, energy and excitement that Philadelphians and Pennsylvanians have for sports has been a challenge that I have genuinely relished,” Whalen says in a message Wednesday.
Each of the 10 selected finalists will receive a $1,000 stipend to create a full poster.
It’ll then be pared down to the top three finalists, chosen by a committee composed of Lori Shapiro, First Lady of Pennsylvania; Val Gay, Chief Cultural Officer of the City of Philadelphia; Kathy Sachs, founder and chair of ArtPhilly; Amie Bantz, a Lancaster artist and art director; Christian “TAMEARTZ” Rodriguez, a Philadelphia artist and Dan Rugh, a Pittsburgh designer and owner of Commonwealth Press.
The top three artists will receive another $2,500 stipend, and then the artist whose poster is selected will receive an additional $7,500.
The committee expects the final design to be unveiled in the spring, says Elissa Hill, a spokesperson for Philadelphia Soccer 2026.