Soccer fans cheer in sports bar
Photograph: Courtesy CC/Flickr/2_dogs
Photograph: Courtesy CC/Flickr/2_dogs

The best NYC bars to watch the World Cup 2022

Find your squad at NYC’s best soccer bars and cheer on your team during these World Cup 2022 viewing parties.

Rossilynne Skena Culgan
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First, we must address the elephant in the room. This year's World Cup is being held in Qatar amid "continued condemnation of the nation’s LGBT record, the deaths of migrant workers erecting infrastructure for the games, and other human rights concerns," as Time put it. Many celebs and expected attendees plan to boycott the competition.

For average weekend game watching, New York is rife with wonderfully dingy dive bars and rowdy sports bars. But when it comes to the 2022 World Cup, especially after four years of waiting, you'll want to stake out space at the city's best spots for soccer—er, football. At these spots, you can toss back a few pints, debate your bracket and cheer on your country's team with fellow fans through the run of the competition from November 20 through December 18. 

RECOMMENDED: Full guide to the best bars in NYC

Best NYC bars to watch the World Cup 2022

1. Olly Olly Market

Chelsea’s new food hall is getting into the World Cup spirit with a big party for the final game. They'll show the match on projector screens inside Olly Olly market's spacious 17,000 square foot location.

They'll show the match on Sunday, December 18 at 10am alongside themed food and drink specials from DDO Bar, including:  

  • Croque Madame
  • Smoked Salmon Benedict
  • Totter Hashbrown
  • Coconut Chocolate Mousse
  • Drinks: Vin Chaud, Red Sangria and Sparkling White Sangria

Plus, Bridge Street Sounds, a collective based out of Brooklyn, will curate DJ sets. 

TailGate Brooklyn, an outdoor sports bar, is all about celebrating feats of athleticism, so it's no surprise they're going all out for the World Cup. The venue offers 25+ TVs, a variety of seating areas and private heated cabanas in the heart of Williamsburg. 

They'll be showing every 2022 FIFA World Cup game. During the World Cup, get 1/2 off pitchers of beer and $6 Guinness. Plus, when you need a break from the action, you can play some lawn games at this 24,000 squre-foot adult playground. 

Be sure to make a reservation to secure your spot. 

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At Pig Beach BBQ in Queens, you can hang out in the backyard beer garden where there's a stadium-sized jumbotron or indoors where 55+ TVs grace the 28,000 square-foot venue. Bascially, you'll see the game no matter where you go. 

The bar/restaurant will show select matches; here's the list of exactly which games they're showing. Doors will open early on gameday mornings, where you can fuel up on BBQ breakfast specials while catching every play in high-def.

(Pig Beach BBQ's location Brooklyn will also be showing select matches; here's the Brooklyn schedule.)

Get into the game at Gamehaus, a giant new arcade and beer hall in Long Island City. 

Watch all the drama unfold on more than a dozen large-screen TVs and an 11-foot tall LED video wall. More than 20 beers from local breweries will be on the menu to add to the experience. 

After the match, play classic arcade games include Atari Pong, Ms. Pacman, Jurassic Park, Pop-a-Shot and Skee Ball.

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For the World Cup, The Red Lion in Greenwich Village is showcasing all the matches live with full sound on multiple large screen TVs (three projectors and three large screen TVs). Out front, you'll see flags representing the teams playing that day.

To help football fans keep track during the knockout stages, The Red Lion will also provide table placemats with brackets to track your team’s progress.

Featured dishes on the menu will highlight several match-ups: 

— For Team Brazil: A Chorizo-beef blend burger with chimichurri on top
— For Team France: A burger with Brie and caramelized onions and Dijon mustard
— For Team England: A traditional fish and chips with mushy peas and Red Lion’s homemade tartar sauce 

Cheer on your favorite team in the finals Parklife in Brooklyn, which is screening the epic match-up between France and Argentina on Sunday, December 18. 

It's free to attend; just make a reservation on OpenTable and note that you're coming for the World Cup. You are required to buy food and drink, but that shouldn't be a problem considering all the deliciousness on the menu, like loaded queso and tlacoyos.

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This German bar is bringing the football festivities to Brooklyn. Black Forest will host a series of live soccer watch parties on giant HD screens at both of their locations (Fort Greene and Boerum Hill). 

Tickets to final cost $20/person/game and include one full liter of a select German draft beer (or a soda or coffee).

Be sure to make a reservation because tickets are going fast. 

Watch the most exciting moments in the mega tournament live in WNYC's broadcast studio with the station's very own John Schaefer. Grab a drink from the cash bar, hear live inerviews, try your luck at some games and hear performances in an all-ages, fully accessible venue at The Greene Space in Hudson Square.

Events will be held from Monday, November 21 through Sunday, December 18. Here's the full schedule.

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If sports bars aren't for you and you prefer a more luxurious venue, then Soccer Club at Midnight Theatre in Manhattan West is your spot. Events start on Sunday, November 20 and will run through the course of the World Cup. 

The venue offers the feel of a private club, including first-come, first-served luxe velvet booth seating, a huge screen with 4K high definition video resolution of 5120x3200 and powerful D&B surround sound.

A day pass costs $55/person, including breakfast.

The Brazilian-inspired family-run spot in Carroll Gardens will screen the World Cup matches indoors and outdoors in their courtyard on a large projection screen. Complementing the matches, sip made-to-order caipirinhas, snack on platters with Brazilian bar food (think coxinha, pastel, wings, yucca fries).

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  • Beer bars
  • Williamsburg

That's Banter, not to be confused with Bantr, the dating app in the delightful soccer comedy Ted Lasso. But you will definitely find a love of soccer here, no need to swipe right. 

Soccer fans find common ground at this airy Brooklyn saloon with two dozen taps dispensing both European classics and American microbrews so you can toast to every goal you see on the big screen. 

Banter's showing ALL the matches—yes, even the ones at 5am with breakfast specials for morning matches. Check out their super cool World Cup T-shirt produdly proclaiming "soccer never sleeps."

  • Beer bars
  • Financial District
  • price 1 of 4

This chain of beer halls dotted across the city is hosting a series of special happy hours for World Cup matches at all of its locations. Soccer fans will be able to order dishes like quesadillas with a choice of eggs, beef or chicken for just $10 for those morning games and quench their thirst with a beer bucket full of six Founders Solid Gold beers for $30.

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  • Sports Bars
  • Midtown West
  • price 1 of 4
Football Factory at Legends
Football Factory at Legends

This soccer institution—a tried-and-true standby for over 20 years—streams 100 live games per week. The venue is home for nearly 40 suppoters clubs as well. Screenings have a tendency to overflow the giant bar during grandstand events like the World Cup. Here's the schedule of World Cup matches you can see at this Midtown West bar.

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  • Beer bars
  • Williamsburg
  • price 1 of 4

Putting “soccer above all,” this Williamsburg watering hole will stream matches across 14 flatscreens. Plus five outdoor TVs will show the matches tailgate style. The bar also offers a private room for viewing parties if your crew would rather avoid the rowdy crowd and sprawl out. Whether you win or lose, take a victory lap or self-pity stroll along the waterfront and marvel at sweeping views of the Manhattan skyline.

  • Sports Bars
  • Noho
  • price 1 of 4
Sláinte
Sláinte

This no-nonsense hangout—with wood booths and stools, exposed-brick walls, flat-screen TVs and 24 constantly-rotating beers on tap—sets the quintessential scene for a full afternoon and evening of World Cup watching. 

The Irish pub teamed in Noho up with American Outlaws for Team USA games, so expect a packed house. Make reservations now right here.

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  • Sports Bars
  • Astoria
  • price 1 of 4

You’ll be well imbibed at Sunnyside’s soccer destination, which features 25 taps pouring local and domestic beers and hard ciders, plus a deep roster of liquor and riffs on classic cocktails.

  • Pubs
  • Midtown West
  • price 2 of 4

In addition to acting as home for numerous New York supporter clubs, this Irish pub in the heart of Midtown also hosts world-famous FIFA footballers and local MLS talent during live soccer events. Stake out a spot on one of two levels to watch the ongoing matches during the World Cup, when this sports hub is sure to get slammed with soccer fans.

Want more action? Check out NYC’s best sports bars

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