New York City is going all-in on the 2026 FIFA World Cup over the next two months. The city is already crowded with tourists during any regular summer. But many more visitors are expected to turn up by mid-July, especially as the final match will be hosted at MetLife Stadium (renamed to New York/New Jersey Stadium) in New Jersey, just across the Hudson River from Manhattan, on Sunday, July 19 at 3 p.m. eastern.
Whether you are local or visiting, you do not need to spend thousands on a match ticket to soak up the atmosphere. New York has plenty of places to watch every game surrounded by fellow fans. The state government is investing $20 million in World Cup-related programming across the five boroughs. City and state officials have even put in place a series of measures designed to make watching matches—whether at a bar, a park, or a plaza—easier than usual.
The most significant change for fans is the World Cup One-Day Permit, a new offering from the New York State Liquor Authority that allows bars, restaurants, and event organizers to host outdoor watch parties and expand alcohol service into adjacent spaces for the duration of the tournament, without the usual four-day cap on temporary outdoor service. Another temporary bill will also allow restaurants and bars in select New York counties to serve alcohol until 4 a.m. during the World Cup group stage, running from June 11 through the early morning of July 20.
For fans who want to watch games for free, the city has set up a network of fan zones across all five boroughs. However, not all of the locations are open the entire tournament, so plan ahead. The largest of the free fan zones is at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center in Flushing Meadows, Queens, home of the U.S. Open each year (and even the Westminster Dog Show a few times). It will be open June 11 through June 27. The Bronx Terminal Market fan zone will be open on June 13 and 14, and Staten Island hosts its own multi-day setup at Staten Island University Hospital Community Park from June 29 through July 2.
Brooklyn gets the longest-running activation: a waterfront fan zone at Brooklyn Bridge Park running from June 13 through July 19 with daily screenings overlooking the Manhattan skyline. But if you want to be in Manhattan, Rockefeller Center is hosting the NYNJ World Cup 26 and Telemundo Fan Village from July 6 through July 19, with extended hours during finals week. There will also be a watch party for the final matchon July 19 hosted on Central Park’s Great Lawn for up to 50,000 spectators. Tickets are free and will be distributed by Global Citizen through a lottery system; anyone interested in attending can sign up for the lottery between June 10 and July 16.
For fans who want something more neighborhood-specific—and surrounded by fellow supporters of their national team—New York’s diversity means there is almost certainly a bar for every community. Below, a neighborhood-by-neighborhood guide to the best bars in New York City to watch the World Cup, organized by country. Note that some bars appear under more than one country (i.e. Legends in Midtown, for instance, shows up for several different fan bases). That is because these spots are screening multiple matches throughout the tournament, making them solid options regardless of which team you are supporting.
ArgentinaBoca Juniors Restaurant — 81-08 Queens Blvd, Elmhurst, NY 11373 (Queens)Buenos Aires — 513 E. 6th St., New York, NY 10009 (East Village)El Guachito — 94-60 Corona Ave., Elmhurst, NY 11373 (Queens)La Esquina Criolla — 94-67 Corona Ave., Elmhurst, NY 11373 (Queens)La Fusta — 80-32 Baxter Ave., Elmhurst, NY 11373 (Queens)La Pulperia — 338 W. 46th St., New York, NY 10036 (Midtown)Río de la Plata Bakery — 94-65 Corona Ave., Elmhurst, NY 11373 (Queens)AustraliaOld Mates Pub — 170 John St., New York, NY 10038 (Financial District)Thirsty Koala — 35-12 Ditmars Blvd., Astoria, NY 11105 (Queens)BelgiumBXL Café — 125 W. 43rd St., New York, NY 10036 (Times Square)Brazil
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Fans watch the 2014 World Cup at Miss Favela.
Beija Flor — 38-02 29th St., Long Island City, NY 11101 (Queens)Beco — 45 Richardson St., Brooklyn, NY 11211 (Williamsburg)Favela Grill — 33-18 28th Ave., Astoria, NY 11103 (Queens)Rivercrest — 33-15 Ditmars Blvd., Astoria, NY 11105 (Queens)Santo Brúklin — 548 Court St., Brooklyn, NY 11231 (Carroll Gardens)Bosnia and Herzegovina11th Street Bar — 510 E. 11th St., New York, NY 10009 (East Village)CanadaThe Canuck — 202 9th Ave., New York, NY 10011 (Chelsea)ColombiaCumbia y Sabor — 45-06 Greenpoint Ave., Sunnyside, NY 11104 (Queens)El Basurero — 32-17 Steinway St., Astoria, NY 11103 (Queens)Ritmos 60 — 32-23 Steinway St., Astoria, NY 11103 (Queens)Costa RicaLegends — 6 W. 33rd St., New York, NY 10001 (Midtown)CroatiaDaly’s Irish Pub — 31-86 31st St., Astoria, NY 11106 (Queens)Hutch Astoria — 35-07 31st Ave., Astoria, NY 11106 (Queens)Istria Social Club — 2809 Astoria Blvd., Astoria, NY 11102 (Queens)Rudar Social Club — 34-01 45th St., Long Island City, NY 11101 (Queens)Curaçao11th Street Bar — 510 E. 11th St., New York, NY 10009 (East Village)Czechia11th Street Bar — 510 E 11th St, New York, NY 10009 (East Village)Bohemian Hall — 29-19 24th Ave, Astoria, NY 11105 (Astoria, Queens)EcuadorEl Encebollado de Víctor — 280 Knickerbocker Ave., Brooklyn, NY 11237 (Bushwick)La Hueca Epa — 104-22 Northern Blvd., Corona, NY 11368 (Queens)Rincón Melania — 35-19 Queens Blvd., Sunnyside, NY 11104 (Queens)England
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England fans watch the U.S. vs. England World Cup match in 2010 at a New York pub.
Berry Park — 4 Berry St, Brooklyn, NY 11211 (Williamsburg)Carragher’s — 17 John St, New York, NY 10038 (Financial District)Central Park Tavern — 327 W 57th St, New York, NY 10019 (Midtown)Grand Street Social — 155 Grand St, New York, NY 10013 (SoHo)Highbury Pub — 1002 Cortelyou Rd, Brooklyn, NY 11218 (Ditmas Park)London Martin & Co. — 6 Stone St, New York, NY 10004 (Financial District)Monro Pub — 481 Fifth Ave, Brooklyn, NY 11215 (South Slope)The Black Horse Pub — 568 Fifth Ave, Brooklyn, NY 11215 (Park Slope)The Churchill — 45 East 28th St, New York, NY 10016 (Gramercy)The Red Lion — 151 Bleecker St, New York, NY 10012 (Greenwich Village)EgyptEastern Nights Hookah Lounge — 25-37 Steinway St, Long Island City, NY 11103 (Queens)FranceBar Tabac — 128 Smith St, Brooklyn, NY 11201 (Cobble Hill)Café du Soleil — 2723 Broadway, New York, NY 10025 (Upper West Side)Félix — 340 W Broadway, New York, NY 10013 (Soho)Le Baratin — 26 Greenwich Ave, New York, NY 10011 (West Village)Lena — 137 Eldridge St, New York, NY 10002 (Lower East Side)Les Enfants de Boèhme — 177 Henry St, New York, NY 10002 (Lower East Side)L’Express — 249 Park Ave South, New York, NY 10003 (Gramercy)The Red Lion — 151 Bleecker St, New York, NY 10012 (Greenwich Village)Germany
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German fans at Reichenbach Hall after Germany won the 2014 World Cup.
Bierhaus NYC — 712 Third Ave., New York, NY 10017 (Midtown East)Black Forest — 733 Fulton St., Brooklyn, NY 11217 (Fort Greene); 181 Smith St., Brooklyn, NY 11201 (Boerum Hill)Goethe Institut — 30 Irving Place, New York, NY 10003 (Gramercy)HasenStüble — 1184 Nostrand Ave, Brooklyn, NY 11225 (Prospect Lefferts Gardens)Loreley Beer Garden — 7 Rivington St., New York, NY 10002 (Lower East Side)Max Bratwurst Und Bier — 4702 30th Ave., Astoria, NY 11103 (Queens)Reichenbach Hall — 5 W. 37th St., New York, NY 10018 (Midtown)Zum Schneider — 12 Franklin St., Brooklyn, NY 11222 (Greenpoint)Zum Stammtisch — 6946 Myrtle Ave., Glendale, NY 11385 (Queens)GhanaThe Shrine — 2271 Adam Clayton Powell Blvd, New York, NY 10030 (Harlem)Yopcity Restaurant — 2324 Arthur Ave, Bronx, NY 10458 (Belmont)IranBijan — 81 Hoyt St, Brooklyn, NY 11201 (Boerum Hill)Persepolis — 1407 2nd Ave, New York, NY 10021 (Upper East Side)Ivory CoastThe Shrine — 2271 Adam Clayton Powell Blvd, New York, NY 10030 (Harlem)JapanIzakaya + Samurice (Canal St. Market) — 265 Canal St, New York, NY 10013 (Chinatown)Yopparai — 49 Clinton St, New York, NY 10002 (Lower East Side)Mexico
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Mexican fans celebrate a win over Croatia in 2014 in New York.
Juan Bar — 96-15 Roosevelt Ave., Jackson Heights, NY 11372 (Queens)Los Tres Potrillos — 1004 Fourth Ave., Brooklyn, NY 11232 (Sunset Park)Parrilladas Sunrise — 83-11 Northern Blvd., Jackson Heights, NY 11372 (Queens)Roosevelt Ave. between 75th St. and Junction Blvd., Jackson Heights, NY 11372 (Queens)Tacos El Bronco — 4324 Fourth Ave., Brooklyn, NY 11232 (Sunset Park)Tacos Matamoros — 4508 Fifth Ave., Brooklyn, NY 11220 (Sunset Park)Tacos Morelos — 94-13 37th Ave., Jackson Heights, NY 11372 (Queens)Tampico Tequila Bar — 10 Delancey St., New York, NY 10002 (Lower East Side)Xochimilco Family Restaurant — 653 Melrose Ave., Bronx, NY 10455Morocco11th Street Bar — 510 E 11th St, New York, NY 10009 (East Village)NetherlandsLegends — 6 West 33rd St, New York, NY 10001 (Midtown)New ZealandAmity Hall Downtown — 80 W 3rd St, New York, NY 10012 (West Village)NorwayLegends — 6 West 33rd St, New York, NY 10001 (Midtown)PanamaMichelle’s Cocktail Lounge — 2294 Bedford Ave, Brooklyn, NY 11226 (Flatbush)Paraguay11th Street Bar — 510 E 11th St, New York, NY 10009 (East Village)PortugalO Lavrador Restaurant — 138-40 101st Ave., Jamaica, NY 11435 (Queens)Raizes Churrascaria — 139 Nassau Ave., Brooklyn, NY 11222 (Greenpoint)Saudi ArabiaBai’Dar Cafe and Restaurant — 6810 Third Ave., Brooklyn, NY 11220 (Bay Ridge)Bay Ridge Café — 6802 Fourth Ave., Brooklyn, NY 11220 (Bay Ridge)Caffé Borbone — 25-07 Steinway St., Astoria, NY 11103 (Queens)Caffe Expresso — 25-51 Steinway St., Astoria, NY 11103 (Queens)ScotlandIona — 180 Grand St, Brooklyn, NY 11211 (Williamsburg)Smithfield Hall NYC — 138 W 25th St, New York, NY 10001 (Flatiron)SenegalChez Jacob Restaurant — 2479 Frederick Douglass Blvd, New York, NY 10030 (Harlem)The Shrine — 2271 Adam Clayton Powell Blvd, New York, NY 10030 (Harlem)Yopcity Restaurant — 2324 Arthur Ave, Bronx, NY 10458 (Belmont)South Africa11th Street Bar — 510 E 11th St, New York, NY 10009 (East Village)Kaia Wine Bar — 1446 1st Ave, New York, NY 10021 (Upper East Side)South KoreaBangia — 11 E 32nd St, Lower Level, New York, NY 10016 (Koreatown)Hahm Ji Bach — 40-11 149th Place, Flushing, NY 11354 (Queens)Han Joo Chik Naeng Myun BBQ — 41-06 149th Place, Flushing, NY 11355 (Queens)Soju Haus — 315 Fifth Ave., Floor 2, New York, NY 10016 (Koreatown)Spain
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Spanish fans watching the 2014 World Cup at a bar in New York.
Boqueria — 171 Spring St., New York, NY 10012 (SoHo); 53 W. 19th St., New York, NY 10011 (Flatiron); 1460 Second Ave., New York, NY 10021 (Upper East Side); 260 W. 40th St., New York, NY 10018 (Times Square)Circulo Espanol — 41-01 Broadway, Astoria, NY 11103 (Queens)La Nacional — 239 W. 14th St., New York, NY 10011 (Chelsea)Riazor Blues — 89-05 Northern Blvd., Jackson Heights, NY 11372 (Queens)SwitzerlandCafe Select — 212 Lafayette St, New York, NY 10012 (Soho)The Lavaux — 630 Hudson St, New York, NY 10014 (Greenwich Village)TunisiaCaffé Borbone — 25-07 Steinway St., Astoria, NY 11103 (Queens)Rotana Hookah Place — 25-51A Steinway St., Astoria, NY 11103 (Queens)TurkeyOpera Cafe Lounge — 2255 Emmons Ave, Brooklyn, NY 11235 (Sheepshead Bay)UruguayEl Chivito D’Oro — 84-02 37th Ave., Jackson Heights, NY 11372 (Queens)La Gran Uruguaya — 85-02 37th Ave., Jackson Heights, NY 11372 (Queens)Tabaré Restaurant — 221 South 1st St, Brooklyn, NY 11211 (Williamsburg)United States
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USMNT fans at Jack Demsey’s Bar in 2014.
*Banter Bar — 132 Havemeyer St, Brooklyn, NY 11211 (Williamsburg)BK Backyard Bar — 151 Banker St, Brooklyn, NY 11222 (Williamsburg)Bohemian Beer Garden — 2919 24th Ave., Astoria, NY 11102 (Queens)Crossbar — 250 West 86th St, New York, NY 10024 (Upper West Side)Dalton’s Bar & Grill — 611 Ninth Ave, New York, NY 10036 (Hell’s Kitchen)Jack Demsey’s — 36 W 33rd St, New York, NY 10001 (Midtown)Legends — 6 West 33rd St, New York, NY 10001 (Midtown)McHale’s Bar & Grill — 251 W 51st St, New York, NY 10019 (Midtown)Midnight Theater — 75 Manhattan West Plaza, New York, NY 10001 (Midtown)One Station Plaza — 21310 41st Ave, Bayside, NY 11361 (Queens)Pig Beach BBQ — 35-37 36th St, Astoria, NY 11106 (Queens)*Rivercrest — 33-15 Ditmars Blvd., Astoria, NY 11105 (Queens)Smithfield Bar — 138 West 25th St, New York, NY 10001 (NoMad)The Standard Biergarten — 848 Washington St, New York, NY 10014 (Meatpacking District)
*Home of the local chapters of American Outlaws, the official fan group for the USMNT and USWNT
Rachel King (she/her) is a news writer at Town & Country. Before joining T&C, she spent nearly a decade as an editor at Fortune. Her work covering travel and lifestyle has appeared in Forbes, Observer, Robb Report, Cruise Critic, and Cool Hunting, among others. Originally from San Francisco, she lives in New York with her wife, their daughter, and a precocious labradoodle. Follow her on Instagram at @rk.passport.