The best World Cup bars in America, hand-picked by our food writers

You may have heard — there's a little soccer tournament going on this month.

The FIFA World Cup kicks off in Mexico City June 11, and, for the first time, 48 teams will participate in 104 matches across 16 cities in three countries.

Stadiums across those cities will be packed with fans. Cheering! Booing! Gasping!

But for those of us without a ticket? There are always soccer bars.

Big TVs and lots of them. Soccer memorabilia. Watch parties on bar stools and in parking lots. At these 5 great soccer bars across the U.S., you'll find just the camerardie you're looking for, whether your team is team USA or one far away from home.

These five bars were handpicked by our USA TODAY Network food writers as among the best in the nation. Goal!

George & Dragon English Pub | Phoenix

Details: 4240 N. Central Ave., Phoenix, 602-241-0018, gndphx.com

George & Dragon is one of the only English pubs in metro Phoenix. David Wimberly and his mother, Anne, opened the bar in 1995 after moving to there from the United Kingdom. In true British fashion, George & Dragon is a haven for soccer fans."The difference between going to your neighborhood bar to watch the game and watching the game in the pub, it's like watching a regular season (baseball) game versus the World Series," Wimberly said.George & Dragon World Cup watch parties offer an atmosphere unlike any other soccer bar in the state. —Eddie Fontanez, Arizona Republic 

Royal Mile | Des Moines, Iowa

Details: 210 Fourth St., Des Moines, 515-282-2012, royalmilebar.com.

Royal Mile brings British pub charm to downtown Des Moines, complete with dark wood, cozy corners with a fireplace and a menu that leans hearty. The atmosphere feels like part of the story with a British telephone box, a beefeater greeting customers, scarves hanging overhead for soccer teams and eclectic signs on the walls. The British fare (a full English breakfast, fish and chips, Guinness stew and chips and curry) is on point, while the Scotch eggs (a soft-boiled egg wrapped in seasoned sausage, breaded and fried, served with mustard) are must-orders for anyone who loves a classic pub snack. Paired with a pint, the food feels comforting and timeless. British beers and scotch are specialties here, so much so that Esquire called it "a holy house of alcohol" in 2007. A small, almost alley-like patio sits to the side of the bar. —Susan Stapleton, The Des Moines Register

Varitage Brew Works | Bloomfield, New Jersey

Details: 58 Washington St., Bloomfield; varitagebeer.com.

This craft brewery blends the beautiful game with artful beers and a vibrant community. Several fan clubs of soccer teams in the U.S. and abroad spend match days (and sometimes mornings, as early as 7 a.m.) watching one of 10 TVs or a giant mobile LED screen in parking lot while sipping on lagers, milds and more.

Owner/brewer Mark Costa is a local high school soccer coach and lifelong soccer fan, and he's helped cultivate a unique soccer-loving community in North Jersey, hosting Binho (basically soccer knock-hockey) nights, soccer festivals and markets, and special beer collaborations with supporter groups and U.S. soccer legends like Tab Ramos and Tony Meola.

For the World Cup, Varitage will be open all day for 39 straight days, showing nearly every match and hosting fan fests during select U.S. and semifinal matches. Go for the soccer, stay for the beer and come back for the community. — Matt Cortina, The Record and NorthJersey.com

D’Arcy’s Tavern | Bradley Beach, New Jersey

Details: 310 Main St., Bradley Beach, New Jersey, 732-774-9688​, darcystavernnj.com

"Building soccer fans one beer at a time" is the motto at this longtime soccer-watching headquarters, so the barstools will surely be filled for the World Cup.

D'Arcy's has expanded through the years to accommodate fans who watch matches on 25 televisions, including six 75-inch screens outside, and marvel at a framed shirt signed by late Brazilian soccer great Pelé.

The ceiling is covered in soccer banners, from pro clubs to high school teams, and an eight-foot-high board displays the Premier League standings. If you're looking to get in the soccer spirit, this is the place. — Sarah Griesemer, Asbury Park Press

Moran’s Pub | South Milwaukee, Wisconsin 

Details: 912 Milwaukee Ave., South Milwaukee, Wisconsin, 414-902-0148, moranspub.com

South Milwaukee Irish pub Moran’s is going all out to celebrate the 2026 FIFA World Cup.  “We’ve been showing World Cup games at the pub since 1998 and this will be our biggest celebration,” owner James Moran said. The pub will air all World Cup games and host four block parties during the tournament, closing the street outside for all USA matches. 

Each block party will feature multiple World Cup matches throughout the day, outdoor viewing areas, an open back patio, live music and family-friendly programming designed to celebrate the diversity surrounding the matches. Attendees are encouraged to bring folding chairs. The block parties will have food from Azteca Restaurant, which will also park its food truck outside the pub during the Mexico games on June 18 and 24.  During the June 12 and 19 USA games, Graveyard Gallery will host a pop-up market selling arts and crafts. 

The bar owner is British, the owners of the restaurant providing food is Mexican, and the owner of the art market that will be on-site is Salvadorian. "At the end of the day, we're a bunch of immigrants getting together to throw massive parties for the USA soccer team and celebrate soccer on a global level," Moran said. —Rachel Bernhard, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel