World Cup fever is hitting soccer fans all over Northeast Ohio, with the start of the tournament just two weeks away. This year’s FIFA Men’s World Cup takes place in North America, creating even more interest in this year’s games throughout the U.S.
Though Cleveland is not on the list of American cities hosting a World Cup game, the teams from Brazil and Egypt will play a pre-tournament “friendly” at Huntington Field at Cleveland Browns Stadium on Saturday, June 6. That’s one week before the start of the tournament.
In addition to the money brought into Cleveland’s economy by the Brazil-Egypt game, local entertainment venues are expected to get an economic boost from the World Cup. Bars and restaurants showing the tournament could experience up to a 40 to 60% spike in sales, according to Jason Lansdale, principal of the soccer sports marketing agency Offside Marketing.
“Even though Cleveland is not a FIFA host city,” he said, “we will still see an increase in regional tourism and watch parties as a spillover effect of the overall World Cup.”
Your passport to the World Cup
Offside Marketing and Cleveland Soccer Group, the organization behind the new men’s and women’s pro soccer teams starting in Cleveland in 2027, are hosting a Summer of Soccer Passport Program. The program rewards fans who want to join in the World Cup fun. You can sign up online to pick up a free passport at North Coast Yard and get it stamped every time you attend a World Cup game at a participating bar or restaurant. You can also hit up some local league games to get more stamps. Cleveland Soccer Group will redeem stamps for prizes, including tickets to the new pro soccer teams’ games next year.
“The passport is designed to turn Summer of Soccer into something everyone experiences across the whole summer rather than a single event,” said Noah Tourmert, executive director of the Cleveland Soccer Foundation. “Every stamp is a reason to show up somewhere new, connect with a different part of Cleveland’s soccer community, and be a part of what we’re building.”
Don’t get sent off!
Every four years, soccer newbies and true fans – known as hooligans – descend upon the Old Angle Tavern in Ohio City, known as the primary soccer bar in Cleveland, to watch the World Cup. In recent years, the Old Angle has had to turn people away after reaching maximum capacity during the most popular games. The spillover of fans rush into other bars on West 25th Street or jet off to Iggy’s or Merry Arts in Lakewood, the other best-known soccer bars around town.
Now, the FIFA Men’s World Cup, featuring 32 national teams from countries around the world, begins June 11 and ends July 19. Our ⚽golazo is to give you the most comprehensive list of bars, clubs and other places where you can watch the World Cup so your plans to hit a soccer venue don’t get 🍺tapped out:
See that 🌐 symbol next to a venue’s name? It means that spot is participating in Cleveland Soccer Group’s Passport program.
Cleveland Heights
Parnell’s Irish Pub at Cedar-Fairmount
Parnell’s Irish Pub will be hosting fans of all World Cup teams at both its downtown and Cleveland Heights locations. The Cedar-Fairmount location will open an hour prior to all World Cup matches. “I think part of catching the matches at Parnell’s is that we don’t have all the song and dance and kitsch,” said Manager Declan Synnott. “It’s simply true soccer fans gathered around a TV, enjoying pints and cheering on their home countries. A watch party every day.”
Detroit-Shoreway
Eagle Kafe
The Albanian coffee shop Eagle Kafe, 11100 Detroit Ave., will be open late night and show all the World Cup games on several large TV screens inside the cafe. The shop hopes to also show the games outdoors at the cafe the way it’s often done in Europe, with just a plain white curtain or sheet, a wall, and a film projector. Fans of all national teams are welcome here, with regulars at the shop most likely to support teams like the USA, Germany, the Netherlands and Croatia.
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Downtown Cleveland
Cocky’s Bagels in The Flats
Cocky’s Bagels, 1127 Old River Rd., will be open from 3 to 10 p.m. on select dates for all-ages-welcome World Cup watch parties. They’ll have vendors, music and raffles.
North Coast Yard 🌐
In addition to hosting pick-up soccer for men and women all summer long, North Coast Yard is also hosting a free community soccer party on June 6 before the Brazil-Egypt game. “It’ll be a celebration of soccer activities, community vibes, and the first chance for fans to pick up their Summer of Soccer passport and get their first stamp,” said Tourmert.
A youth street soccer tournament will take place in the lead-up to a USMNT World Cup opener watch party on the lakefront Friday, June 12. Fans can pick up their passport at this event as well. It’s free, but tickets are required.
Parnell’s Irish Pub at Playhouse Square
Both Parnell’s locations at Playhouse Square and Cedar-Fairmount will be showing World Cup games this year. Check ahead for Playhouse Square location hours.
Public Square 🌐
Public Square will shut down on Sunday, July 19, for the World Cup Final. Cleveland Soccer Foundation and Downtown Cleveland Inc. will host the World Cup Final viewing party with a giant screen set up in the square. It will be the largest free community soccer event in Cleveland’s history. Tickets are required.
Expect games, merch from the new Cleveland pro teams Forest City Cleveland and Cleveland Astra, entertainment, food trucks, and a stamp station where summer-long passport holders can redeem their prizes.
Whistle Taproom 🌐
Whistle Taproom, 818 Huron Rd., has over 50 beers available on a self-serve tap and 18 large-screen TVs to catch the World Cup games. Expect downtown residents, tourists, and even baseball fans to stop in.
Eastlake
Crowley’s 🌐
Crowley’s, 35647 Vine St., has a full lunch and dinner menu and plans to show all the World Cup games. Expect fans of the Croatian and U.S. teams to be here.
Lagano Cafe
The Lagano Cafe, 36091 Vine St., specializes in Balkan cuisine and will have food specials like goulash and cabbage rolls. They plan to show all the World Cup games. Expect fans of the teams from Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, and the USA to show up here.
Have questions about the World Cup? Signal Cleveland’s Gennifer Harding-Gosnell is an insufferable soccer fan and subject matter expert. Submit your questions here or text them to 216-516-0885 to get answers!
Lakewood
Iggy’s 🌐
Iggy’s, 13405 Madison Ave., is the home of Cleveland Outlaws, the Cleveland chapter of the American Outlaws official U.S. team supporters group. Manager Jared Champion said they’ll be showing all matches for the entirety of the World Cup and expect to be very busy for the USMNT matches. Thai Thai will have a pop-up food spot at Iggy’s for the U.S. games on June 12 and 25.
Merry Arts 🌐
Merry Arts, 15607 1/2 Detroit Ave., is home to fans of the Arsenal Football Club. They’ll be teaming up with Don Julio 1942 Tequila to host watch parties and giveaways throughout the World Cup. “We try to make it feel like family here, as opposed to, you know, just a sports bar,” said Merry Arts General Manager Justina Puskas. “We want you to come, stay, have a great time, hang out and be merry at Merry Arts.”
Ohio City
Hansa Brewery
Hansa Brewery, 2717 Lorain Ave., attached to the longtime Ohio City Hansa Import Store, will be showing World Cup games during their regular open hours. Expect fans of teams in the Eastern regions of Europe, like Germany and Poland, to be here.
Kan Zaman Restaurant
Kan Zaman, 1616 W. 25th St., will be a popular spot for fans of the teams from the Middle East playing in the World Cup. The restaurant is typically open late nights and features a Mediterranean food menu, hookah and lounge seating.
Old Angle 🌐
The Old Angle Tavern, 1848 W. 25th St., has been hosting World Cup watch parties since 2006. It is the most popular and best-known soccer bar in Cleveland. Manager Alex Gleason said the Old Angle works with its neighbors, like ABC Tavern and Nano Brewery across the street, to manage the World Cup crowd overspill. [Pro tip: You’ll want to get to the Old Angle at least an hour before game time for popular games and be prepared for a maximum capacity crowd.]
Many European and South American fan bases in Cleveland call the Old Angle their home bar, including England, Sweden, Argentina and Colombia, though fans of all teams are welcome. Gleason’s team often works with fan groups to ensure the specialty drinks of their countries are available at the bar. Gleason said hosting so many different groups of fans at the Old Angle is a celebration of the diversity and inclusiveness of the World Cup, and Cleveland as a melting pot of other cultures.
Olmsted Township
Prost! At Lenau Park
Donauschwaben’s German-American Cultural Center welcomes fans of the German and U.S. teams to watch their games at Prost! At Lenau Park, 7370 Columbia Road. They’ll have food and drinks, raffles, even exclusive World Cup glassware for purchase.
Parma
Schnitz Ale Brewery
Parma’s Schnitz Ale Brewery, 5729 Pearl Road, will have a special soccer edition of its trademarked Yugo European lager on discount for the World Cup. Because it’s Parma, expect fans from the Balkans and Eastern Europe to be in large attendance, though the brewery will be showing all the World Cup games and fans of all teams are welcome.
Rocky River
Market Rocky River
Market Rocky River, 1137 Linda St., will be hosting a USMNT watch party in its parking lot Friday, June 12. They have a special VIP lounge for $42 with premium seating for the game and access to a private bar. That price also includes a complimentary shot of Don Julio 1942 Tequila.
Tremont
Mosaic Brewing 🌐
Mosaic Brewing, 2070 W. 7th St., is a neighborhood brewery for Tremonters and for fans of the Chelsea Football Club. They’ll be showing all the World Cup games and feature special game-day promotions. There’s even a rooftop patio with an extensive view of the city to enjoy at halftime.
“There’s a real gap in Cleveland when it comes to spaces that fully embrace both local beer culture and soccer culture,” said Manager and Founding Partner Bart Gabbard. “We think Mosaic is in a great position to fill that for people who love both.”
Westlake
The Rusty Barrel
The Rusty Barrel, 27026 Center Ridge Rd., is a home for fans of Arsenal Football Club and plans to show all the World Cup games.
West Park
PJ McIntyre’s Irish Pub
PJ McIntyre’s, 17119 Lorain Ave., is home to fans of the Scottish soccer club, Celtic FC. They’ll be showing World Cup games during their standard open hours.
Are you hosting a World Cup watch party? Let us know and we’ll add you to our list.
