Updated with fresh details on Mexican transport and festivals.
Forget “intimate” gatherings. With three countries, sixteen cities, a record-breaking forty-eight teams, and one hundred four matches, this FIFA World Cup is sprawling. It is expensive too. Tickets aren’t cheap. Yet millions are booking flights. From Mexico City’s opening kickoff on June 11 to the New Jersey final on July 19, fans will flood stadiums and bars.
Did you save years for this trip? Did you get lucky with a random ticket drop? Good. You need a map.
This guide covers schedules, where to drink, how to not get stuck in traffic, and what to do when the ball goes out of bounds. Soccer is the draw, but the cities are the host. Welcome.
UNITED STATES
Atlanta
The Games
Spain opens against Cape Verde. Czech Republic meets South Africa. Later, Spain faces Saudi Arabia. Morocco takes on Haiti. DRC plays Uzbekistan. The tournament ramps up here with the Round of 32, the Round of 16, and a Semifinal.
The Vibe
Centennial Olympic Park—yes, the one from the ’96 Summer Games—is the main stage. Screens are big. Entry is free, though VIP costs extra. Walk ten minutes from the stadium or wander the seventeen miles of the Atlanta Beltline for scattered watch parties.
Where to Sip
STATS Brewpub is practically at the gate. Brewhouse Cafe in Little FivePoints has grit. Fado Irish Bar in MidTown stays traditional. Park Tavern in PiedMont Park is open and breezy.
The Commute
Don’t drive. Traffic will choke you. Take MARTA. It’s faster. Tap-to-pay costs $2.50 for a one-way. Trains run frequently now. A new bus line links downtown to the Beltline.
Other Stuff
Buy tickets early for the Georgia Aquarium or the National Center for Civil and Human Rights. The Krog Street Tunnel is great for photos if you like concrete art. The World of CocaCola is sugary but historic.
— Shannon Sims
Boston
The Games
Haiti plays Scotland. Iraq faces Norway. Later, England battles Ghana. Norway meets France. Expect chaos and celebration through the Quarterfinals.
The Vibe
Boston breathes sports. City Hall Plaza turns into a free festival zone from June 12–27. Live streams, loud music, heavy drinking.
Where to Sip
Dorchester’s Banshee is local. Phoenix Landing in Cambridge is reliable. If you are near TD Garden, try Greatest Bar or Banners Kitchen. Want coffee? Caffè dello Sport exists for that.
The Commute
Gillette Stadium is in Foxboro. It’s twenty-eight miles away. Driving takes thirty-five minutes and feels longer. Express trains run from downtown for $80 round-trip if you have a ticket. Uber shuttles back cost $45. The “T” subway ($2.40) runs Boston well. Staying in Providence, RI is a cheap hack, just twenty-five miles away.
Other Stuff
Walk the Freedom Trail. It ends at Bunker Hill. For art, head to the Museum of Fine Art in Back Bay. They have “Framing Nature” until late June. TD Garden offers museum tours too. You will understand the “City of Champions” tag eventually.
— Derek M. Norman
Dallas
The Games
Netherlands versus Japan. England plays Croatia. Argentina faces Austria. Later, Argentina meets Jordan. The stadium hosts the Round of 32 and a Semifinal.
The Vibe
Fair Park hosts the FIFA festival. It’s the same site as the State Fair. Free entry. The party spills into Deep Ellum immediately.
Where to Sip
Deep Ellum is the epicenter. Try Off the Cuff or Craft and Growler. Peticolas Brewing is good in the Design District. Londoner Pub near SMU is safe.
The Commute
AT&T Stadium is in Arlington. No train goes there. You must mix systems. Take DART light rail to Victory Station. Transfer to the TRE train. Get off at CentrePort. Free shuttle buses run from there to the stadium gate if you hold both tickets. Otherwise, rent a car and endure Texas traffic. Uber returns are $45.
Other Stuff
Perot Museum has a soccer exhibit this summer. Deep Ellum has live music until late. The Katy Trail is old railroad tracks now paved for biking.
— Shannon Sims
Houston
The Games
Germany vs Curaçao. Portugal plays DRC. Netherlands meets Sweden. The Round of 32 lands here too.
The Vibe
EaDo (East Downtown) hosts the main fan fest from June to July. It’s fifteen minutes from the stadium if the light stays green.
Where to Sip
Pitch 25 Beer Park is soccer-themed. Little Woodrows has views. Social Beer Garden in MidTown is spacious. Phoenix on Westheimer is classic.
The Commute
Metro Light Rail goes near the stadium. Tap-to-pay is cheap, just $1.25. Parking costs $125 minimum. Houston is built for cars, so Uber might be easier than navigating street parking.
Other Stuff
Viet-Cajun crawfish are mandatory at Crawfish and Noodle. Truth BBQ wins awards for a reason. If Artemis II excites you, NASA Space Center is a forty-minute drive east.
— Shannon Sims
Kansas City
The Games
Argentina faces Algeria. Ecuador plays Curaçao. Tunisia meets Netherlands. The Quarterfinals happen here.
The Vibe
The WWI Museum hosts free fan screenings. Eighteen days of live music and matches. First-come, first-served entry.
Where to Sip
No Other Pub in Power & Light District. John’s Big Deck has rooftop vibes. KC Bier Co. is a beer garden. Strange Days Brewing in River Market is local.
The Commute
RideKC is the local bus system. ConnectKC26 is a new coach service linking the airport, downtown, and Arrowhead Stadium. There’s also a free streetcar downtown.
Other Stuff
Union Station hosts artisans on the streetcar line. Crossroads Arts District has murals. The Money Museum is small but neat.
— Derek M. Norman
Los Angeles
The Games
USA opens against Paraguay. Iran meets New Zealand. Turkey faces USA. The Quarterfinal arrives.
The Vibe
Snoop Dogg leads the charge. Fan zones span from Venice Beach to Burbank. The Memorial Coliseum is ground zero for June 11–14. Adult tickets are ten bucks. Kids are free.
Where to Sip
Guelaguetza serves Mexican classics. Ye Old Kings Head in Santa Monica is a historic dive. La Chuperia offers Mexican beers.
The Commute
Metro boosts bus and rail service. Tap to pay is $1.75. Park-and-ride options drop you directly at the stadium in Inglewood on match days.
Other Stuff
Griffith Observatory has the view. Getty Center has the art. LACMA has a new building. Universal Studios is loud but fun.
— Derek M. Norman
Miami
The Games
Saudi Arabia vs Uruguay. Scotland plays Brazil. Colombia faces Portugal. A Bronze Final decides the third-place team.
The Vibe
Bayfront Park downtown is the hub. Lincoln Road in Miami Beach gets interactive soccer zones and daily pop-ups.
Where to Sip
South Beach spills into the street. Fritz and Franz Bierhaus in Coral Gables is solid. Auld Dubliner serves Irish ale. Black Market Miami has a secret garden.
The Commute
Hard Rock Stadium is in Miami Gables. Brightline trains stop near it. Shuttles run free from the Aventura Station for ticket holders. Driving means parking prepurchase ($175+).
Other Stuff
Wynwood Walls for street art. Rubell Museum for contemporary giants like Kusama. Little Havana for coffee and Cuban sandwiches.
— Shannon Sims
New York / New Jersey
The Games
Brazil vs Morocco. France plays Senegal. Panama faces England. The Final. The whole point.
The Vibe
Everywhere is loud. RockFeller Center in Manhattan. Sports Illustrated Stadium in Harrison. Tennis center in Queens. Brooklyn Bridge Park hosts Adidas events.
Where to Sip
Football Factory at Legends in Manhattan is the bar to end all bars. Banter in Brooklyn. La Gran Urugaya in Queens for South American flavors. RiverCrest in Astoria is local favorite.
The Commute
MetLife Stadium is twenty minutes by train from Penn Station. NJ Transit costs $98 round-trip, and you buy via app with a game ticket in hand. Uber shuttls run $49 back to NYC. Local subway is $3 and runs forever.
Other Stuff
Observation decks are pricey but worth one trip. Top of the Rock. Sumnit Vanderbilt. Lake at Central Park lets you row boats cheaply, about thirty dollars an hour. Peaceful after the noise.
— Derek M. Norman
Philadelphia
The Games
Ivory Coast plays Ecuador. Brazil meets Haiti. France faces Iraq. The schedule cuts off, but the energy does not.
