The Coolest Places to Watch the World Cup Around the Globe

Last night, I watched the U.S. match from a pool house in Austin, Texas. My wife and I were down there celebrating her birthday. A little fun in the sun. And somewhere between floating in the pool, grilling dinner, and nervously yelling at the television in the 97th minute, I realized something. The World Cup has a funny way of making wherever you are feel like the center of the soccer universe. Especially if you’re watching it in a cool or unusual location. The location cements the memory of watching it in a way that your living room does not.

Naturally, that sent me down an internet rabbit hole. If watching the match from a backyard pool in Texas felt special, surely there were even better ways to experience the world’s biggest sporting event. There are. From beachfront fan festivals to alpine villages and safari lodges, these are some of the coolest places around the world to catch a World Cup match. Tune in accordingly.

Watch El Tri with Your Feet in the Sand

If there were ever a place to watch Mexico play, it’s Puerto Vallarta’s Fan Zone. Set along the city’s iconic Malecón, the massive beachfront gathering blends everything that makes Puerto Vallarta magical. Ocean views, delicious food, mariachi music, cold cervezas, limes, and thousands of passionate supporters dressed head to toe in green. Kickoff looks less like a sporting event there and more like a citywide festival. Even if you don’t have a rooting interest, seems like the kind of place you’ll leave feeling like you do.

Soccer at 5,300 Feet

The Alps might not be the first place you’d associate with football (soccer), but that’s precisely what makes it memorable. During major tournaments, mountain villages like Zermatt transform plazas into open-air viewing parties where fans gather beneath the Matterhorn. Imagine finishing a day of hiking or mountain biking, ordering a fondue and local beer, then watching the world’s biggest sporting event as the sun disappears behind snowcapped peaks. Difficult combo to beat.

Safari by Day. Soccer by Night.

A handful of luxury safari lodges across South Africa have embraced the World Cup by setting up viewing lounges so guests don’t have to choose between game drive and game day. Spend your morning tracking lions and elephants, your afternoon around the pool, then gather around a big screen under the stars with a South African red blend in hand. It’s probably the only watch party where hearing a lion roar in the distance is considered normal.

Sunrise Soccer on the Sand

World Cup kickoff times aren’t always convenient in Australia, but Bondi locals have learned to embrace it. During past tournaments, beach clubs and surf lifesaving clubs have opened before dawn, serving flat whites alongside pints as supporters gather to watch the sun rise over the Pacific before the opening whistle.

Luxury Après, World Cup Edition

St. Moritz has long perfected the art of the après-ski lifestyle, and during international tournaments that same social energy spills into elegant hotel lounges and outdoor plazas. Think champagne bars swapping jazz for match commentary, luxury hotels rolling televisions onto terraces, and impeccably dressed fans debating tactics over cheese and wine. At least that’s how I imagine it.

Rooftop Football Above the Skyline

Singapore has no shortage of rooftop bars, but during the World Cup several transform into some of the city’s most coveted viewing spots. Watching a match hundreds of feet above Marina Bay while the skyline glows around you feels worlds away from your neighborhood sports bar. The tropical evening air, incredible food scene, panoramic city views. Not bad.

Beach Football Meets the Beautiful Game

I mean… Obviously. In Rio, soccer is less a pastime than a way of life. During the World Cup, giant screens appear along the beaches, where locals gather with folding chairs, coolers, and enough energy to rival the stadiums themselves. Spend the morning playing footvolley on Copacabana, grab grilled queijo coalho from a beach vendor, and settle in alongside thousands of Brazilians who treat every World Cup match like a national holiday.

A Mountain Rifugio with a Match On

Some of the most memorable watch parties aren’t official at all. Across Italy’s Dolomites, mountain huts (known as rifugios) often wheel televisions into their dining rooms during major tournaments. After a day hiking dramatic limestone peaks, hikers from around the world squeeze onto wooden benches over pasta, local wine, and espresso to watch together. Charming.