This article is being updated throughout the World Cup. Last updated after the first knockout stage
San Diego is not one of the World Cup 2026 host cities, but with the popularity of it’s football teams – FC in MLS, the Wave in NWSL and the Sockers in the indoor league – it has a good appreciation for soccer.
To celebrate the World Cup, which is June 11-July 18, it may well be more fun to be here than any one of the host cities. For starters, two teams are using San Diego as a training base. New Zealand is at the University of San Diego’s Torero Stadium and Switzerland is at San Diego Jewish Academy in Carmel Valley. On the weekend prior to the start of the World Cup, San Diego hosted a pair of pre-World Cup “friendlies” (for y0u non-soccer fans that’s exhibition games that don’t count in the standings), Switzerland vs. Australia and Colombia vs. Jordan at Snapdragon Stadium.
And then, let the games begin, and once they do, here is a rundown of places to be, watch parties and bars with World Cup viewing in San Diego.
Best places to watch the World Cup in San Diego
- Mission Beach (Fit Social). Best for big-screen viewing, social, casual World Cup fans and a party atmosphere
- Shakespear’s Pub. Best for hard-core soccer fans
- Little Italy. Best for social, casual World Cup fans and a party atmosphere
- North Park (Cafe Calabria, Fairplay & Bluefoot Bar & Lounge). Best for hard-core soccer fans
- Whiskey Girl. Best for the Gaslamp party crowd as well as hard-core soccer fans, especially for early games
Here’s how San Diego experiences the World Cup — and where each type of fan should go for the games. This guide will be updated with official watch parties and events as additional information is available.
Mission Beach Watch Party
The biggest party is at Fit Social in Mission Beach. In a collaboration with Fox 5, which is broadcasting the World Cup, an event called the San Diego FC’s Soccer Celebration is taking place in front of Belmont Park. It has free live viewing for every match, live entertainment, game-day food and drink specials (PubClub.com does not have prices at this point), giveaways and merchandise. Plus it’s right in front of the Pacific Ocean and that’s soooo San Diego. Capacity is approximately 1,500 and, as PubClub.com just learned, you must register in advance (what this gets you, we do not know) for the watch parties in Mission, Beach, Little Italy and Chula Vista. This is a mult-step process, by the way and it did not have the opening match and when we registered for Little Italy it send a QR code for Mission Beach.
Best San Diego Bars To Watch The World Cup
The 2026 World Cup is big business for bars. It’s really “bonus business” as I call people who normally would not be going to bars this time of the year will be doing so in large numbers. At least as long as their team keeps winning. “We’re fully staffed up for it so we’re expecting to be busy,” said Chad Mitchell of Hideaway in Pacific Beach.
PubClub.com consulted our San Diego soccer expert on which are the best bars to watch the World Cup (he’s in several for big European matches) and he stated that Shakespear’s Pub jusr north of Little Italy (on India Street just south of Washington) is the most well known place to watch soccer matches in the city. Obviously by the name it’s an English bar and it’s pretty small so you had better arrive early if you want to watch third-ranked England. The USA, by the way, is way back at #22 in FIFA’s latest rankings.
He also stated that “there will be a soccer scene at all sports bars once the knockout stage begins in July.” For soccer neophytes, the knockout stage is the equivalent of the playoffs in American sports. The tournament begins with the group stage in which every team plays three games. The top two teams in each group advance to the knockout stage.
Gaslamp Quarter Watch Parties
After Mexico advanced, people poured out onto the streets celebrating and honking car horns.
With that in mind, in the Gaslamp Quarter, Whiskey Girl is a Manchester United bar (fans pack the place for those games and, typical of soccer fans, cheer nearly the entire time and break out into song when seemingly nothing is happening on the field and they must welcome other fans because there’s also a Liverpool FC flag hanging outside the bar) so expect it to be busy. PubClub was there for the USA knockout game and it was good; not super-wild tho. It has drink specials during the World Cup, too: Michelob Ultra, Stella Artois & Nutrl ($6), Buchanan’s Cocktails ($12), Don Julio 1942 Shots ($19.42) plus its normal weekday Happy Hour from 3–7 p.m. ($8 Murcielago Tequila and $7 draft beers, well drinks and seltzers with half off some appetizers).
Soccer is also strong at The Field and barleymash and Tom’s is showing every World Cup game. El Chingon is having viewing parties with varous food apecials including a dozen wings for $9.50. Mexico, by the way, is ranked just 24th by FIFA but is the best team in its weak group. That’s why it has a 62% chance of winning its group and a 95% chance of getting to the knockouts.
The Smoking Gun has beer bucket specials for all USA and Mexico games, when open, for the FIFA World Cup. Beer buckets are $15 for Modelo Oro, Dos XX,and Coronitas and you get a free pint glass with every Modelo draft beer. The bar will be open for all World Cup morning games.
Hasta Mañana Cantina is showing every World Cup game beginning June 11, and featuring specials like $6 Michelob Ultra and Modelo drafts; $10 Jameson; $12 Del Maguey Vida Margarita; $14 Casamigos Blanco Margarita; $20 Don Julio 1942 Shooter,; $25 Michelob Ultra buckets; $40 Estrella Tall Can buckets and $30 “El Jefe,” an Estrella Tall Can with a 1942 Shooter
North Park Watch Parties
Cafe Calabria in North Park is a popular place for Euorpean soccer fans and 30th street has been closed off for a big street party in the past for European soccer finals and the World Cup so it’s reasonable to expect it will be a lively place during this World Cup. Fairplay is another North Park bar that was SRO for the first game and is a good choice for all games. Fun Fact: The flags hanging from the ceiling are of the countries in the World Cup. An interesting drinking game would be to see how many you can identify.
Bluefoot Bar & Lounge was voted one of the Top 10 Soccer Bars in the Country by Men in Blazers. It has 11 TVs, a large patio and you can bring in food other restaurants. During the World Cup, it is partnering with Truly, Modelo and Michelob Ultra for daily drink specials and giveaways.
Little Italy Watch Parties
In Little Italy, there will be a party in Piazza della Famiglia on Friday, June 12 for USA-Paraguay at 6 p.m., as well as an earlier match at Noon between Canada and Bosnia & Herzegovina. Paraguay is ranked 27th so this likely will not be an automatic win for Team USA. The owners of Princess Pub & Grille are from Liverpool and they regularly show games of Liverpool F.C., so it is a World Cup destination. On the eve of the World Cup, I went into Princess Pub to see there was any world cup vibe. There wasn’t but when I asked the the bartender if she expected it to be busy she said, “oh yes. For the entire World Cup. I hope so, too, because I need money for my September tript go Greece!”
The casual and often lively Waterfront Grill on Kettner is pouring $15 pitchers of Easy Rider & Estrella during every game and for every USA or Mexico goal it’s slinging $5 shot specials. The rooftop at the Carté Hotel is hosting FIFA watch parties throughout the tournament with a large screen in an open-air setting with fire pits and TBD specials on food. The newly reopened Rooftop Cinema Club in Little Italy is hosting World Cup watch parties at its outdoor cinema atop the fifth floor of the Porto Vista Hotel.
Queenstown, a New Zealand–themed restaurant and bar that a few locations including Little Italy, is home base for fans of the All Whites, New Zealand’s 41st-ranked national men’s soccer team.If the team wins, drinks are half-price all day. This is good at all four locations.
More World Cup Bars
The aforementioned Hidwaway has several drink and food specials, plus giveaways and raffles and will also be opening early for some games (the exact games will determined as the World Cup progresses from the group to the knockouit stage). The World Cup drink specials at Hideaway are as follows: 22-ounce Modelo draft (served in a cup that resembles a soccer foot!), 32-ounce Truly drafts for $16.50, $30 for a bucket of six Coors Banquet beer and $40 for a bucket of six “mix and match” beers.
Also in PB – which is somewhat arguably San Diego’s top nightlife areas to begin with – Duck Dive has the Irish Mule ($12), with Jameson, Thomas Henry’s Ginger Beer, and lime; the Sparkling Paloma ($12) made with Real De Valle Blanco, Thomas Henry’s Grapefruit, and lime and The Suiiiii ($12) – a Modelo and a shot of Real De Valle or Jameson. Food specials include The Bench ($35) – fried pickles, chicken wings, calamari, and garlic parmesan fries – and Fried Pickles ($12).
At Puesto, people there cfor games can enter for a chance to win a free taco through its Puesto Fútbol Championship promotion. Just fill out a form before kickoff and every time your selected team wins a game, you receive an email the next morning redeemable for a free taco that same day at all Puesto locations (Seaport Village, Mission Valley and La Jolla).
The Goal Post Garden in Mission Valley, located on the lawn outside the San Diego FC’s official team store, Eighteen Threads, and Novo Brazil Brewing Co., is having watch parties. Novo Brazil is live streaming every game and will have TBD drink specials throughout the tournament. Note to PubClubbers: this is very much a family area so expect parents with kids at this location.
In North County’s Encinitas, Temaki Bar: Handroll, Sushi, Sake is offer a limited-time lineup of globally-inspired sushi, shareable appetizers and beverages available throughout June.
Add “What to expect in San Diego during World Cup 2026”
• Expect crowded bars
• Outdoor screens likely filling up fast
• Bars with hard-core soccer fans being full well before the start of big matches
FIFA World Cup 2026 Schedule
The entire world Cup 2026 schedule can be found here on the FIFA World Cup website.
San Diego World Cup Q&As
Where is the official World Cup watch party in San Diego?
Fit Social in Mission Beach.
Are there outdoor watch parties?
Yes, at Fit Social and for the first Friday games in Little Italy. Also in Little Italy at the rooftop Carté Hotel and Rooftop Cinema Club.
Do I need reservations in the bars?
No, you do not need reservations but for small and popular bars you will need to arrive at least one hour before matches. If England is playing then you should arrive at least two hours early if you want to watch games at Shakespear’s Pub and Princess Pub.
Where will be the biggest crowds?
The biggest crowds will be at Fit Social in Mission Beach.
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