HQ for the Houston Gooners, an official supporters group for Arsenal in England’s Premier League, the Velvet Oak Tavern will have soccer fever long after the World Cup is done.
With World Cup fever in full swing, Houstonians are itching for a watch party. Tickets for each Houston match have been hard to get (and super expensive). Still, the city will be full of all kinds of World Cup–related events, including a Fan Festival in East Downtown, featuring free live match screenings and soccer activities. Beyond that, any place with a TV can turn into a watch party. Here are some of the best bars for catching a game.
FIFA Fan Festival
EAST DOWNTOWN
Houston’s biggest World Cup watch party is happening in EaDo, where the 250,000-square-foot FIFA Fan Festival offers free admission for up to 7,500 visitors at a time, plus live performances from over 60 acts, and enough food vendors to eat your way around the world. Cooling structures like the Magic Sky canopy—which drops temperatures by at least 15 degrees—and the fully air-conditioned Esphera dome make the Houston heat manageable, while the Aramco Arena pitch gives fans a chance to actually play. Screens are visible from every vantage point, so whether you’re grabbing a Goode Company plate or queuing up for a cold one at the Michelob Ultra beer garden, you won’t miss a second of any match. Best of all, attendees are steps away from the surrounding dining options in EaDo—part of the host committee’s Football Fiesta partnership with nearby bars and restaurants. For a full rundown of Fan Fest, check out our guide, and remember to get there early. The festival opens 90 minutes before the first match of the day.
EADO & KATY
If you love soccer, you already know Pitch 25. Houston’s self-proclaimed “premier soccer bar,” this spot is known for its giant indoor soccer field and its owner, Dynamo legend and Houston Sports Hall of Famer Brian Ching. For the World Cup, Ching plans to operate as normal. Watch parties and match viewings are a given, but reservations aren’t. “Our plan is to take only one reservation per big game, because we want people to be able to experience the atmosphere,” Ching says. Come thirsty: The beer selection runs deep, with plenty of Houston-made options worth trying. Don’t feel like driving into EaDo? Pitch 25 is opening its second location in Katy ahead of the matches so that suburbanites can revel in the soccer glory, too.
Washington Avenue area
This is the official home of the Houston Red Army—the local Manchester United supporters group. That means patrons might be especially fired up for England, Portugal, and Brazil games, as those national teams feature multiple stars from their favorite Premier League club.
Upper Kirby
One of the city’s best soccer bars, the Velvet Oak is home to the Houston Gooners (Arsenal FC’s official local fan club) and the Houston Cules (FC Barcelona fans), so the soccer energy doesn’t leave when the World Cup is done. Settle in with cold beer and some bar bites, or head to the patio to enjoy whatever Houston weather has to offer.
Montrose
A home base for the Houston Blues, the local fan group for the English Premier League’s Chelsea FC, this Irish pub promises “a proper pint and a friendly atmosphere” for watching all 104 World Cup matches live. Catching a match on a Tuesday? Settle in for Johnny McElroy’s 6pm Bourbon Butter Steak night, featuring a lineup of beefy cuts, plus blackened snapper and pork tenderloin ($24–$150) and $5 sides.
SAWYER YARDS
Whether in need of a footy match or a cup of coffee, Toros in Sawyer Yards has you covered. The coffee shop, which doubles as a soccer field and bar, is open 7am to midnight on weekdays and 8am to midnight on weekends, perfect for early birds and night owls. Stay for pick-up games from local leagues and keep an eye on social media for the watch party schedule.
Spring Branch West
For fans of the Dutch team, Texas T Tavern is the place to be. Owner Jeremy Wagoner has designated the bar as a “Holland Heineken House,” now known as the TeamNL House (a “house” is a temporary meeting place for supporters and athletes of a team). Fans of the Dutch squad, known as the Het Oranje Legioen (the Orange Legion), will take over Texas T Tavern for the duration of the games and the tavern’s various watch parties. The Oranje Legioen is also planning an orange fan walk from EaDo to the stadium on June 20, worth showing up for even if you’re not a Netherlands fan.
River Oaks
Known for its hearty British and Indian fare, this English-style pub has always been one of Houston’s go-tos when the urge to watch soccer arises. It’s a much cozier alternative to the usual sports bar scene, especially if you’re lucky enough to be seated next to the fireplace. Hey, even if it isn’t lit (and why would it be during the summer?), you’re still getting the ambience.
Alief
This lively spot in Alief plans to show every World Cup game, but the crowd will largely be rooting for the Haitian team, given that this is a Haitian restaurant. You’ll eat as well as you’ll party.
Downtown
This downtown destination is already hosting the World Cup Volunteer Center and a soccer-themed public art exhibition. So, of course, it’s going to be one of the biggest spots in the city to catch a game. Plus, with a food hall filled with cuisines from around the world (including from countries competing in the tournament), there’s no doubt loyal fans will come excited and hungry.
Sugar Land
Suburban households don’t have to travel into the city to get in on the fun. Around 25 miles southwest of Houston, this shopping center and gathering place plans to host free public viewing parties, broadcasting high-profile matches with top teams, including Portugal, Mexico, Brazil, and the United States. Soccer fans can expect big screens, photo ops, and plenty of camaraderie.
Montrose
While it won’t be partnering with any consulates or other national representatives to host a watch party, this well-loved Montrose sports bar anticipates large crowds for every World Cup match.
Brittany Britto Garley, Saba Khonsari, and Sofia Gonzalez contributed to this article.
