Top spots to watch the World Cup in the USA

Jun 2, 2010 4:32:10 PM

Robert Reid
Lonely Planet Author

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Contrary to some opinions, the world’s most-watched sporting event is actually watched by some Americans. In fact, many. If you’re looking for a big screen, or beer-drinking cohorts, to watch (and drink) with, here are a few stand-out spots nationwide.

Otherwise, just find a local taquería, which is pretty much guaranteed to be playing games with Telemundo’s thrilling ‘gooooooooooooolllll’ broadcasts.

CHICAGO
Wrigleyville’s Ginger’s Ale House has 20 HD TVs and nothing but soccer in the works. The Irish pub makes a mean breakfast too, good for those early games. (Just don’t mention the Burn — the Chicago Fire and Dallas Burn, MLS teams, don’t like each other.)

DALLAS
Texas has always been more soccer-friendly than outsiders think. And certainly at Trinity Hall Pub, an Irish pub with all eyes set on the World Cup (even if Ireland were unfairly disqualified by a naughty Thierry Henry of France).

KANSAS CITY
In the so-called Light & Power District, the Living Room is an outdoor space that will play every game on a huge outdoor screen. KC is a big soccer town, with its Wizards in the MLS.

LAS VEGAS
If you can pull yourself from the casino, the British pub Crown & Anchor is the soccer HQ in Sin City. No worries about it opening in time — it never closes.

MILWAUKEE
Laverne & Shirley’s old town has enough soccer love that Nomad Pub has even made World Cup t-shirts and are having ‘block parties’ for the World Cup opening/finale June/July 11. Their Minneapolis location also will have the US/England game on the Jumbotron.

NEW YORK CITY
Legendary Nevada Smith’s in the East Village doesn’t wait for World Cups to show off world soccer — it’s the de facto New York ‘football’ bar. In Brooklyn, you can watch the first-ever African-hosted World Cup kick off at Fort Greene’s popular South African restaurant, Madiba, which also offers various South African specialties.

Or to follow Brazil, go to ‘Little Brazil’ — or 46th St between Fifth & Sixth Aves — lined with Brazilian restaurants to find a place to watch. Or just go to Queens. The world’s most diverse neighborhood will have locals cheering on essentially every team in the World Cup.

OAKLAND
Just south of Oakland in the heart of ‘Raider nation’ is San Leandro, where legendary sports bar Ricky’s has a throw-back feel, good food, plenty of tables and HD/3-D screens showing all World Cup games.

SAN DIEGO
I’ve long maintained that everyone should be a Mexico soccer fan. If/when Mexico should win the World Cup, so much joy would radiate across the globe, there’d be world peace — at least for a while. A great place to go all-out Mexico is San Diego’s (cheesy) Fiesta Hall, where things will buzz during the opening South Africa/Mexico game June 11.

SAN FRANCISCO
Where else but San Francisco would the city hoist a 13′ x 18′ screen before City Hall to broadcast every game? Really, that’s hard to beat. If you prefer sports bars (as I do), Lower Haight’s Mad Dog in the Fog is one of many places here where soccer is called ‘football.’ I watched many games with beer-fueled breakfasts at the English pub a few Cups back, and watched the shoulder-to-shoulder crowd glumly file out when Italy eliminated England.

SEATTLE
With its basketball team in Oklahoma City (and baseball and football teams generally sucking), Seattle is a surprise ’soccer town.’ (Its Sounders play MLS ball.) And the place to watch, by far, is Fadó. It also has locations in other cities, including Austin, Denver, Philadelphia and St Louis.

TAMPA
The Irish bar/restaurant MacDinton’s will be playing all World Cup games too.

WASHINGTON, DC
Home to MLS’ United, DC has a number of soccer-oriented bars, including Lucky Bar, south of Dupont Circle, which will play games live then re-air them in the evenings. Breakfast starts at 7am.

Any great soccer bars we missed here?

–> June 12th prediction: USA 2, England 1

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Comments

5 June 2010 9:06PM laokhao Report this comment
In Chicago, the Globe Pub at 1934 W. Irving Park Rd far outstrips Ginger's Ale House as a place to watch the games. I mean it won the best soccer bar in the U.S. in both '07 and '08! I can't really do it justice describing it's attributes on here, so a link to their newly revamped website will have to do!
http://www.theglobepub.com/
6 June 2010 6:28AM usdarts Report this comment
Anywhere with cold beer and a large screen. My buddy Simon's house will do for the England 3 USA 1 game.
Roooooooooooooooooonnnneeeeeeeeeeeeyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy
Whatever you do don't mention FIFA, World Cup 2010, football or soccer in the same sentence. Otherwise Blatter's thought police will be after you.
6 June 2010 11:35PM bobbyfan Report this comment
SAN ANTONIO,TEXAS
LION & ROSE PUBS
In fact 2 of them.Great spirit and all the matches are shown there.Brits,Americans all the Football Fans go there.Really good places to watch any Game and the Beer and Food is good.I live in Mexico [Football Paradise] but when I visit my House in San Antonio I always go to the Lion & Rose[s] to watch any game of significance,Will watch the World Cup there.One final word it is 'FOOTBALL'we will be watching 'not Soccer'[who invented that ??]
7 June 2010 12:50AM bigjimbaxter Report this comment
Well, there's me and four other Brits in Houston in Westchase La Quinta and we are looking for a spot in Houston to watch England's opener on Saturday with the USA?
Anyone out there with any ideas?
7 June 2010 1:04AM duhey2 Report this comment
Big Jim Baxter,
Welcome to Houston! Check out either the Richmond Arms Pub (near the intersection of Richmond Ave. and Fountain View Dr.) which is actually not too far from your hotel if you want to take a taxi and not worry about driving and parking.
Another place (and my favorite pub in town) is the Red Lion Pub on Shepherd Dr. but much further toward downtown.
7 June 2010 1:34AM bigjimbaxter Report this comment
Duhey2
Thanks mate! Really appreciate this. Having two venues to choose from when I thought we'd get zilch is somehting else.
If it was my choice I'd buy you a beer in The Red Lion Pub, but the guys are bound to choose the nearest, so I guess it's the Richmond Arms Pub.
Once again, thanks!
7 June 2010 1:47AM duhey2 Report this comment
BJB,
My pleasure. I since checked out the Richmond Arms website (http://www.richmondarmsonline.com) and they're definitely geared up for the World Cup....you won't go wrong watching the game there.
7 June 2010 2:31AM bigjimbaxter Report this comment
Duhey2,
Thanks mate, I'll check it out!
8 June 2010 9:03AM ib1kid11 Report this comment
A few other places to add for San Francisco are as follows:
The Irish Pub - SF Financial District (www.theirishpub.com) Jake's Steaks - SF Marina District (www.jakessteaks.net)
9 June 2010 2:34AM houstongv Report this comment
bigjimbaxter,
There are two other spots very close to your hotel: 1. Big Johns is a GREAT place to watch too. It's on Wilcrest near Harwin (www.bigjohnsbar.com), just down the street from you, about 1 mile. My friends and I used to watch matches here all the time. Large televisions EVERYWHERE.
2. On Westheimer and Kirkwood (about 3.5 miles), there is the Bull and Bear Tavern (www.thebullandbear-tavernandeatery.com). I've never viewed World Cup there, but a few premier league matches.
I LOVE Richmond Arms too! From your hotel it's about 6 miles.
9 June 2010 3:02AM houstongv Report this comment
I should have specified in my last post that Big Johns and The Bull & Bear are both in Houston, TX.
9 June 2010 3:41AM chrcloe Report this comment
In Dallas, you can watch all the games at the Holy Grail Pub in Plano (northern suburb). They are showing all the games on their big screen and will be open at 8:30 a.m. every morning of the tournament.
10 June 2010 3:26AM paudie26 Report this comment
If your in New York City and watch the 2010 FIFA World Cup visit some these great Irish Pubs (these are great):
Playwright Tavern- 202 West 49th Street (between 7 Ave and Broadway)
Playwright Celtic Pub- 732 8 Ave (between 46th and 45th Street)
Playwright Irish Pub- 27 West 35th Street ( between 5ave and 6 Ave)
Hurleys Saloon- 232 West 48th Street ( between 8 Ave and Broadway- outdoor patio/ beern garden
Legends- 6 West 33rd Street (Between 5 Ave and Broadway)
Jack Demsey's Pub- 36 West 33rd Street (Between 5 Ave and Broadway)
Bourbon Street- 346 West 46th Street (Between 8Ave and 9 Ave- outdoor patio/beer garden
TV's everywhere with surround sound, cold drinks and good food all in a great environment.
10 June 2010 4:59PM johnbill1970 Report this comment
For San Francisco, I would suggest the following:
Financial District: Irish Bank (showing all games, no cover) - http://www.theirishbank.com
Marina: Jake's Steaks (showing all games, no cover) - http://www.jakessteaks.net
SOMA: Jillian's
Mission: Phoenix Bar and Irish Pub
11 June 2010 4:47AM rosalie_t Report this comment
If you're in NYC check out The Hill (416 3rd Ave btwn 29th and 30th); a great sports bar with 25 flat-screen TV's! www.thehillny.com
12 June 2010 3:15AM britinseattle Report this comment
1) Seattle - George and Dragon "by far". 2) What cup were you watching that involved Italy knocking England out? 3) USA 2. England 1. You'll be lucky.