Where to Watch the World Cup in NYC This Summer
Outdoor screenings, cold drinks and World Cup fever across downtown NYC.
This summer, New York will once again come alive as one of the world’s great cities for watching soccer. Between packed bars, outdoor screenings and games running throughout the day, the World Cup tends to take over the city in a way that even casual fans get swept up in — especially once the knockout rounds begin.
With World Cup fever almost here, Soho Grand Hotel and The Roxy Hotel are getting in on the spirit too, with games playing throughout the tournament at Soho Diner and Roxy Bar respectively. And if you can’t make it to one of our screenings, there are plenty of other downtown spots worth heading to for this year’s matches. Below, a few of our favorites.
For anyone looking to catch World Cup matches without surrendering to sports bar pandemonium, Soho Diner is screening games on its patio TVs throughout June and July. Coverage kicks off June 11 with the group stage, running through the Round of 32, Round of 16, Quarterfinals, Semifinals, and the Final on July 19.
The setting feels a little more relaxed than your typical viewing situation, with a tournament-ready menu of hot wings, loaded nachos, and beer buckets. Cocktails like the mezcal-forward Mez Around and Find Out and the lychee-kissed Lookin’ For a Kiss keep things firmly in downtown territory, and a full bar and food menu are available throughout. It’s an especially good option for early-round games — the ones that call more for hanging out than emotional investment.
320 W Broadway; (212) 965-3011
The Spaniard has long been one of the city’s go-to soccer bars, especially during major international tournaments. The West Village pub gets crowded quickly during big matches, but that’s also part of the appeal — dark wood interiors, tightly packed tables and a room full of people loudly reacting in unison as the game progresses.
There’s a reason people keep returning here every World Cup. The atmosphere feels lively without becoming overwhelming and, for bigger knockout matches especially, expect the space to fill up well before kickoff.
190 W 4th St; (212) 918-1986
Hair of the Dog leans a little more chaotic in the best possible way. The Lower East Side sports bar is known for big crowds during tournaments, cheap drinks and the kind of high-energy atmosphere where strangers start talking to each other by halftime. There are plenty of TVs throughout the space, pitchers flowing constantly and the kind of bar food that actually works during a long game — wings, burgers, loaded fries and mozzarella sticks. In other words, all the classics.
For bigger matches later in the tournament, especially weekend games, expect it to fill up early.
168 Orchard St; (212) 477-7771
For a more traditional pub setting, Josie Woods remains a longtime favorite for soccer fans in the West Village. The Irish pub draws serious football crowds during international tournaments and the energy inside during major matches tends to feel genuinely electric. Expect Guinness, crowded wooden booths and a room full of people paying very close attention to the game.
It’s the sort of place where people arrive well before kickoff and stay long after the match ends. The menu also leans toward classic pub fare — fish and chips, shepherd’s pie, wings and burgers — which makes settling in for an afternoon match very easy.
11 Waverly Pl; (212) 228-9909
Roxy Bar will screen the World Cup Final on Sunday, July 19 at 3 PM, making it a strong downtown option for anyone wanting a slightly more elevated atmosphere for the match. If your vibe leans more toward lingering over cocktails than downing shots as the game rages on, Roxy has you covered — though for the Final, expect the energy to shift fully into event mode.
The Tribeca space already draws a crowd for drinks and live music most nights, and the setting feels a little more polished than the average sports bar. Ideal for people who want to watch the game somewhere that still feels distinctly New York rather than purely sports-focused.
2 6th Ave; (212) 519-6661
For those wanting to go larger-scale, Rockefeller Center will once again host major public World Cup screenings this summer. Expect huge outdoor crowds, large-format screens, branded activations and a much more event-style viewing experience than your neighborhood bar.
It may be less intimate than watching downtown, but for semifinal and final matches especially, the atmosphere can feel surprisingly exciting — particularly if you want to experience the tournament alongside thousands of other New Yorkers.
1 Rockefeller Plaza; (212) 588-8601
WORDS Hillary Sproul
PHOTOGRAPHY Stanislav Ivanitskiy on Unsplash