The FIFA World Cup kicks off this Thursday, and the Bay Area is set to help host one of the largest tournaments in FIFA history.
Lots of other records are set to be broken this year too: This is the first men’s World Cup co-hosted by three nations (the United States, Canada, and Mexico) and the first to feature a massive expansion of 48 teams competing across 104 matches (the last World Cup in 2022 only hosted 32 teams and 64 matches).
The Bay Area will host six matches between June 13 and July 1. But some of the best (and by far most affordable) places to see those games will be at watch parties across San Francisco.
Whether or not you know what the hell an offside rule is, or what VAR stands for, this is your chance to get tribal-like over a leather ball getting kicked into a rather large rectangular net.
With that in mind, Mission Local has put together this handy map and guide on where to gather.
Where are the official FIFA watch parties?
FIFA has partnered with the city to host several free public events and watch parties. Expect to brave big turnouts.
Events include a fan march from Crane Cove Park to a viewing party at Thrive City for Team USA’s first match on June 12, and a fan march from Pier 48 to Thrive City for Team Mexico’s first match on June 18.
Watch parties will also be held at Chase Center’s Thrive City, China Basin Park, Pier 39, Yerba Buena, The Midway, the Crossing at East Cut with Street Soccer USA. Other viewings throughout the tournament will be hosted at the Presidio Main Lawn and SPARK Social.
With the World Cup overlapping with Pride Month, Pride House San Francisco will also host viewing parties for Team USA’s matches with the Big Gay Watch Party at Beaux in the Castro on June 12, a Family Day at the Crossing at East Cut on June 19, and a Pride Watch Party on Yerba Buena Lane on June 25.
For the World Cup Final on July 19, watch parties will be held at the Yerba Buena Gardens, KQED’s headquarters in the Mission, Pier 39 on the Embarcadero, Thrive City, and at China Basin Park in Mission Rock.
What bars or restaurants are showing the game?
Over 100 bars and restaurants are expected to participate in “World Cup festivities” around the city, but we bogged it down to about 55 worth checking out, depending on where you are in the city.
These destinations span from belligerently loud iconic soccer legacy bars, all the way to small — but mighty humble — cafes where you can shit talk the games with the owners. One thing is for certain: all these places at the least have a screen or two, and will have the matches to stream within their respective operating hours.
Mission Local has some special recommendations, field-tested by our staff and contributors, where you are guaranteed to find OG soccer fans:
- Kezar Pub is a historic San Francisco sports bar known for being home to Liverpool FC fans.
- Maggy Mcgeary is an iconic Irish bar known for hosting Arsenal FC fans.
- Mad Dog in the Fog is an English-style pub that is a haven for Leeds United and FC Barcelona fans.
- Danny Coyle’s is a similar style to all of these, normally housing Manchester United and Tottenham fans.
- The Pig and Whistle is as British as it gets, with the owners hailing from across the pond, proudly housing Crystal Palace fans.
Staying in the Mission? Check out Balompié Cafe #1 for a pupusa-watch party combo, or Pop’s bar and Napper Tandy on 24th Street if you’re trying to bar hop in between halves.
These bars have been, historically, packed to the gills at the wee hours of the morning for British Premier League games, so you best believe they’ll be a great atmosphere for (finally) normally timed games. And fear not, it’s not just a European crowd– soccer is a global sport, and so is its audience.
Don’t forget about MuniMania …
On June 11, the San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency and the San Francisco Chamber of Commerce will launch Muni Goal Rush, where fans will be able to collect stamps by riding Muni to World Cup events and submit for a chance to win prizes.
For the Bay Area’s four late-night matches, Muni will provide extended service past midnight, including bus shuttles from Fourth Street and King Street to Union Square helping riders connect seamlessly between Caltrain and BART. Shuttles will also serve stops along the 45 Union‑Stockton route.