The World Cup begins this month, and if you’re a soccer fan, you’ll want to find a place to watch the action. While watching matches in the host country of Qatar is the ultimate experience, the competition will be televised worldwide. In the event you can’t make it to Qatar, have you decided upon an American sports bar to see the world’s most-watched sporting event? If not, here is a list of recommendations of some of the best U.S. sports bars to watch the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar. The event begins November 20 and ends with the final match at Lusail Iconic Stadium on Sunday, December 18.
Best U.S. Soccer Bars to Watch the World Cup
Brewhouse Café
401 Moreland Ave.
Atlanta, GA 30307
(404) 525-7799
www.brewhousecafe.com
For soccer fans in Atlanta, the Brewhouse Café is the place to go for World Cup telecasts. Known as the city’s ultimate soccer bar, Brewhouse Café will show all of the daily games beginning at 5 a.m. You can order breakfast at that time and watch the game of your choice across 27 large-screen TVs. Brewhouse Café has a great food menu and an extensive draft and bottled beer selection. Also on the drink menu are premium wines and spirits, including their famous “Painkiller.” This British-style soccer bar is in the heart of Atlanta’s Little Five Points neighborhood.
Finn McCool’s Irish Pub
3701 Banks St.
New Orleans, LA 70119
(504) 486-9080
www.finnmccools.com
Everyone knows that the hot spot for a night out on the town in New Orleans is in the French Quarter. But if you want to visit the best for a soccer match, go to Finn McCool’s in the Mid-City neighborhood. Sure, it’s a few miles away from Bourbon Street and sports like Finnegan’s Easy and Pat O’Brien’s. However, Finn McCool’s has everything, from multiple TVs to enough beer, wine, and cocktails while watching non-stop soccer games. That’s not to mention an outdoor space to accommodate large crowds for the World Cup. Keep checking their website or their social media for updates on their soccer schedule in the coming days or weeks. Insider tip: try one of their burgers with their spicy NOLA seasonings.
Related: America’s Best Thanksgiving Parades
George and Dragon Pub
206 N. 36th St.
Seattle, WA 98103
(206) 695-2768
www.theegeorge.com
Once the World Cup begins, you won’t have to wait long for George and Dragon to open. That’s because this lively pub might be open before you wake up. In fact, they’ll be open at 4:30 a.m. for the Group Stages, including the England-Iran match on November 22. Set in Seattle’s lively Fremont neighborhood, it serves traditional British pub fare and has a good selection of spirits, wine, and beer. The popular pub will broadcast soccer matches outside during the World Cup to accommodate large crowds. Check out their pub calendar for additional details on upcoming sporting events on their tellys.
Related: Review of the ReliefBand Sport Wearable
Grails Miami
2800 N. Miami Ave.
Miami, FL 33127
(786) 870-4313
www.grailsmiami.com
Unlike West Coast soccer fans, you won’t have to get up early to watch World Cup soccer matches. That’s obviously because of the three-hour time difference between the West Coast and East Coast cities like New York and Miami. In this case, Grails will be open before 10 or 11 a.m. for early-round matches, and reservations remain available. Featuring over 70 HDTVs, the sports bar has an extensive food and drink menu. Grails is known as the world’s first sneaker-themed restaurant and bar in the colorful Wynwood neighborhood. One particularly noteworthy cocktail is The Holy Grail ($250) for a minimum of four guests. There is plenty of room indoors and on the patio, with a giant TV. Grails calls itself Miami’s best bar for sports and entertainment, so you’ll have to see it yourself.
K O’Donnell’s Sports Bar & Grill
14850 N. Northsight Blvd.
Scottsdale, AZ 85260
www.kodonnells.com
No information is available for the World Cup soccer telecast at this popular Scottsdale sports bar. However, you can be confident K O’Donnell’s will draw soccer fans once the matches begin. After all, KO’s has more than 70 TVs indoors and outdoors and 16 beers on tap. That’s not to mention a nice assortment of bottled beer, premium wines, and signature drinks. If that’s not enough, the sports bar has an outstanding food menu, including some of the best pizzas in the Phoenix-Scottsdale area. Table reservations may be booked online through the bar’s Open Table link. A schedule of World Cup games will be available as it gets closer to the kickoff. K O’Donnell’s is led by Jenn O’Donnell, who took over ownership from her well-known father-champion poker player Kevin O’Donnell.
Related: San Francisco’s Best Holiday Attractions
Mulligan’s Pub
159 First St.
Hoboken, NJ 0703
(201) 876-4101
www.mulligansonfirst.net
Like any other top spot in America, there is bound to be more than a few great sports bars to watch the World Cup. Yet, Mulligan’s Pub isn’t just any ordinary spot in New Jersey or elsewhere. What sets this popular Hoboken bar above others is its service and tremendous food and drink selection. That’s not to mention their passionate soccer fanbase, an array of TVs, and sports memorabilia. Regarding food choices, try the chicken Madras soccer pie, Cornish pastie, or the fish and chips. For drinks, you’ll have a full bar with about 40 draft or bottled beers, wine, and spirits. While the World Cup will be televised all day, you might have time to play pool or darts. Mulligan’s Pub is in the lively downtown section, just a short walk from the Hoboken PATH station.
O’Brien’s Pub
4646 Convoy St.
San Diego, CA 92111
(858) 715-1745
www.obrienspub.net
How good is watching a soccer match at O’Brien’s in eastern San Diego? It’s so good that U.S. Soccer was named America’s best soccer bar. In other words, it’s a top choice for soccer fans in California’s second-largest city. If you visit for World Cup soccer, you’ll have outstanding food, craft beers like Pliny the Elder, bottled beers, ciders, and more on tap. Right now, there is no information on upcoming World Cup telecasts. However, you can visit O’Brien’s website or social media hubs like Facebook and Instagram. You can find the pub in Convoy Court, a strip mall in the Kearny Mesa area of San Diego.
Ojos Locos
5809 NW Loop 410
San Antonio, TX 78238
(210) 448-5626
www.ojoslocos.com
Also known as La Casa de la Balón, Ojo Locos is your place to watch World Cup soccer matches in San Antonio. This sports cantina has locations throughout Texas, including Austin, Dallas, and Houston. Ojos Locos San Antonio features wall-to-wall TVs, outstanding Latin cuisine, and a great bar like any other location. For example, you can have made-to-order dishes like soaps, ceviche, street tacos, and fajitas on the food menu. As for drinks, you can order beer, specialty drinks, and premium tequila like Don Julio and Patrón. The San Antonio sports cantina is off Highway 410, near the San Antonio Aquarium. A second location is at South Park Mall, off Highway 35.
San Francisco Athletic Club
1750 Divisadero St.
San Francisco, CA 94115
(415) 923-8989
www.thesfac.com
It’s not exactly what you’d call a classic soccer bar, but the San Francisco Athletic Club is worth mentioning. It’s an exceptional bar that covers almost any type of sport. On the other hand, SFAC is already preparing for what it describes as the world’s most significant sporting event. Indeed, its website has a complete section covering the World Cup. For instance, it has a screening schedule, including games beginning at 5 a.m. and reservation information. Equally important are the food and drink menus and the sizable beer garden with tables and benches. While you’re at it, order one of the Bathtubs with 24 bottles of beer for groups of six or more. The San Francisco Athletic Club is in the Lower Pacific Heights neighborhood near Japantown.
Related: Top Things To Do On Father’s Day In San Francisco
Smithfield Hall NYC
138 W. 25th St.
New York, NY 10001
(212) 929-9677
www.smithfieldnyc.com
In America’s largest city, there are several sports bars where you can watch the World Cup action. However, if you had to pick and choose just one, it might be Smithfield Hall. Smithfield Hall has eight outdoor TVs and 26 more inside blocks from Madison Square. In addition, Smithfield offers a food menu that is a step above your typical sports bar grub. Of course, there is an excellent selection of drinks, including draft and bottled beer, wine, and craft cocktails.
The sports bar also stands out with its host of spirits, particularly its Scotch and Irish whiskeys. Currently, the TV schedule for the FIFA World Cup is unavailable. Nevertheless, you can check Smithfield Hall for updates in a week or so. Both the 23rd and 28th Street MTA subway stations are nearby.
Social Beer Garden Houston
3101 San Jacinto St.
Houston, TX 77004
(713) 636-9357
www.facebook.com/socialbeergarden
With an extensive outdoor section, Social Beer Garden will host one of Houston’s largest soccer parties. Moreover, it has a similarly extensive drink menu and a rooftop patio. There is a full bar with over 200 liquors and 44 beers on tap. That’s to say nothing of the gourmet pizza you can get from the bar besides food trucks that will be onsite. Social Beer Garden already has a World Cup schedule, and games will be televised in English and Spanish. The outdoor section features a 20-foot HDTV and over 12 more across two levels. While waiting for games to begin, you can also play pool, table tennis, darts, or arcade games.
The Banshee
934 Dorchester Ave.
Boston, MA 02125
(617) 436-9747
www.bansheeboston.com
If you want plenty of cinema-size TVs with plenty of space, go to WynnBet Sports Bar at Encore Boston Harbor. However, if you’re a soccer bar purist, you might prefer The Banshee. After all, The Banshee bar says it’s Boston’s best sports bar to watch soccer. Moreover, they back up that claim by how many times they’ve been voted best soccer bar. If that’s not enough, there are 10 TVs across two levels, excellent pub grub, and many of your favorite drinks. While there’s nothing wrong with WynnBett, you’ll be with faithful soccer fans at The Banshee. This classic Irish pub is in the Dorchester neighborhood near the JFK/UMass T station.
The Globe Pub
1934 W. Irving Park Road
Chicago, IL 60613
(773) 871-3757
www.theglobepub.com
Plenty of other Chicago sports bars are more significant than The Globe Pub. But when it comes to World Cup soccer, this soccer haven in Northcenter is among the best. You can watch the action on a few dozen HDTVs if you visit. From the 54-foot-long bar, you have 54 draft beers and some affordable bottled beer, wine, and cocktails. Equally important is the excellent pub grub, like shepherd’s pie and bangers and mash. Check back with The Globe Pub for updates on their World Cup soccer telecasts. Take the Metro to Irving Park station to get to one of the city’s most authentic soccer pubs. In 2014, The Globe Pub was named the Best Sports Bar in America by Nightclub & Bar Magazine.
Tir Na nÓg
1600 Arch St.
Philadelphia, PA 19103
(267) 514-1700
www.tirnanogphilly.com
In one of America’s best sports cities, there’s no surprise that many great soccer bars exist in Philadelphia. Among those that get plenty of attention is Tir Na nÓg, a classic Irish pub in Center City. While information is not yet available for World Cup telecasts, you can be sure those games will be on their TVs. In addition, you’ll have everything you need to enjoy a match, including great food, drink, and passionate fans. For example, pub favorites include fish and chips, Irish breakfast, and Irish coffee. That’s to say nothing of several beers on draft, wine, and spirits that don’t cost you an arm and a leg. If you can’t find a seat for some reason, Rittenhouse Square has a cluster of Irish pubs. If you’re wondering, Tir Na nÓg means “Land of the Young” and is the Irish “Otherworld.”
Ye Old King’s Head
116 Santa Monica Blvd.
Santa Monica, CA 90401
(310) 451-1402
www.yeoldekingshead.com
From classic Irish pubs to sports mega-bars, you’ll have many spots to watch the World Cup in LA. Because of this, the real problem is which one would you choose? After going back and forth a few times, Ye Old King’s Head is the top recommendation. For one, it’s conveniently near the Santa Monica Pier. Another reason to visit this British pub is its phenomenal food menu and many beer, wine, and cocktails options. The pub also has enough TVs to watch the action and an outdoor section. In the worst-case scenario, if you can’t get into Ye Old King’s Head, some other sports bars are nearby. For instance, Barney’s Beanery, Britannia Bar, and Cabo Cantina are all a few blocks from one another.
Related: America’s Test Kitchen’s Autumn & Winter Cookbook
About The Author
Randy Yagi is an award-winning freelance writer who served as the National Travel Writer for CBS from 2012 to 2019. More than 900 of his stories still appear in syndication across 23 CBS websites, including New York, Los Angeles, Chicago, and San Francisco. During his peak years with CBS, Randy had a reported digital audience reach of 489 million and 5.5 million monthly visitors. Additionally, his stories have appeared in the Daily Meal, CBS News, CBS Radio, Engadget, NBC.com, NJ.com, Radio.com, and the CW. He earned a Media Fellowship from Stanford University in 2012.