Soccer fans gather at Auditorium Shores during Austin FC's Austin Soccer Celebration to watch Mexico play South Africa in a FIFA World Cup 2026 match on Thursday, June 11, 2026. Austin FC's free public viewing event continues at Auditorium Shores with Korea Republic vs. Czechia later Thursday, followed by Canada vs. Bosnia and Herzegovina and the United States vs. Paraguay on Friday.
Hundreds of fans turned out Thursday and Friday to watch the first few matches of the FIFA World Cup, including the opening game between Mexico and South Africa. Jerseys in green, white and red dotted the lawn as locals watched that inaugural match with the Austin skyline in the backdrop.
With the monthlong tournament now underway, watch parties are popping up across the city. If you want to enjoy the beautiful game in good company, here's where to go to catch your favorite team in action.
Team-specific watch parties, so you're guaranteed to be among your people
McGuire Moorman Lambert, the hospitality company behind Austin favorites like Swedish Hill and Clark’s Oyster Bar, will host team-specific watch parties across its restaurants throughout the World Cup.
Each bar or restaurant will become a team’s “home base” for the duration of the tournament, showing every match alongside daily, country-inspired food and drink specials.
Pool Burger — Brazil
Easy Tiger North— France
Lou’s Eastside— United States
Howard’s Bar and Club— England
Easy Tiger South— Germany and the Netherlands
Favorite Pizza— Portugal
Lou’s Barton Springs— Spain and Argentina
If a swanky hotel, craft cocktails and DJs are more your vibe
The Austin Proper Hotel is offering watch parties for select matches:
June 12, 8 p.m. to 1 a.m. — USA vs. Paraguay
Friday’s watch party will take place in The Quill Room. Austin-based DJ Who Izzy will perform a live set.
June 25, 9 p.m. to 1 a.m. — USA vs. Turkey
The Quill Room will host a watch party for the USA vs. Turkey match. After the game ends, the party will continue with a live DJ set from Porvoo along with cocktails. Fans can make advance reservations to guarantee their spot.
Groups of up to 18 who want a private viewing experience can reserve a room for $3,500 to watch a game of their choice.
On Rainey Street, with the volume turned up
Part brewpub, part cocktail bar, The Stay Put on Rainey Street is hosting a “Backyard Soccer Party” where the matches will be blasted at full volume.
The bar plans to open early for morning matches and serve a brunch cocktail menu for fans looking to start their soccer Saturdays before noon.
If a match stretches beyond regulation, so do the drink specials. The Stay Put says it will launch an “Extra Time” happy hour featuring $2 house beers until the game ends.
Throughout the tournament, visitors can sip a special World Cup beer dubbed “Crossbar Kolsch” and test their footwork during a halftime crossbar challenge. Anyone who hits the crossbar in a single shot will win a complimentary pitcher for their table. The bar is also running a World Cup raffle in which every pitcher purchased earns an entry toward a final-match watch party package, including reserved seating and a complimentary tab of house beers and cocktails for a group of eight.
On Saturdays, those willing to fully embrace soccer’s most infamous hairstyle can compete in the “Mullet Cup,” where guests receive complimentary mullet trims. Winners will earn a spot on the bar’s Wall of Mullets — and their first beer on the house for life.
Martinis, with a side of soccer
Juliet Italian Kitchen is pairing Team USA's June 19 match against Australia with an afternoon patio watch party and a lineup of drink specials tied to National Martini Day.
Guests can score $8 martinis at both of the restaurant's Austin locations from 1:30 to 4 p.m. The match is set to kick off at 2 p.m.
To keep spectators fueled through the action, Juliet will also roll out a menu of World Cup-inspired food specials.
The event is free to attend, but the restaurant encourages RSVPs.
Lounge seating, big screens and margaritas
Those looking for a slightly more polished World Cup viewing experience may want to head to Foxtail, where the tournament will be shown in the cocktail bar's secluded back room complete with large-screen projectors and lounge-style seating.
Foxtail plans to offer $8 margaritas, $6 beers and discounts on snacks.
The celebrations kick off with a Team USA watch party on Friday, June 12. The event begins at 8 p.m. and will feature cocktails and giveaways.
The watch party is free, though RSVPs are required through Partiful.
A Jell-O shot for every goal
The All Good in Cedar Park plans to show World Cup matches across indoor and outdoor televisions, including a large video wall in the backyard.
Every game comes with a 90-minute happy hour featuring $2 off cocktails and draft beers, plus $5 well drinks. World Cup-long specials include $6 Stella Artois drafts, $6 micheladas and $5 Michelob Ultras.
The real action, though, starts when goals hit the back of the net. Guests can score complimentary red and blue Jell-O shots every time Team USA gets a goal. Whenever either the United States or Mexico finds the net, Jabs will offer $1 smashburgers.
If you have both English and American pride
Electric Shuffle is bringing a little friendly international rivalry to its World Cup programming this summer.
From June 11 through July 19, the shuffleboard venue plans to show every tournament match during operating hours.
The biggest perk arrives whenever either the USA or England takes the field. On those match days, guests can order $25 beer pitchers and $25 margarita pitchers while watching the games.