Where to Watch the 2018 World Cup

A version of this post originally ran over at Barred in DC. Bars and restaurants in our area are highlighted in bold.

Official FIFA World Cup artwork, via screenshot.

The 2018 FIFA World Cup, played in Russia, kicks off at 11 a.m. Eastern time TODAY, Thursday June 14, with Russia v. Saudi Arabia, and ends with the Final at 11 a.m. on Sunday, July 15 (schedule). Between June 15th and June 28th there will be 3-4 group stage games daily (usually 8 a.m. 11 a.m., and 2 p.m.), followed by the Round of 16/Quarterfinals at 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. from  June 30th – July 3rd & July 6th-7th, and the Semifinals at 2 p.m. July 10th-11th. Even without the U.S. in it and a record 38 games on broadcast TV (so you can get the game with your antenna), expect many DC bars to be be lively affairs filled with fans of the competing nations.

Although there will only be games before 10 a.m. on 10 days (June 15-25th) and only 1 game that’s even before 8 a.m., DC has enacted a law (the 2018 All-Star Game and World Cup Emergency Amendment Act of 2018) allowing any bar to pay $100 for the privilege to be open for boozing at 7 a.m., an hour earlier than normal, for the entire tournament, even when there aren’t games on. 75 bars that have ponied up the $100 to get the extra hour, which you can see here on the map/listing. Don’t expect all 75 to especially raucous spots to watch soccer but I’ve listed them below with any available details as well other spots with plans. I’ve listed other spots who have announced World Cup plans since only one game actually starts before the normal 8a opening time (France v Australia at 6a this Saturday). More spots/details to be added.

*-Not approved to open before 8a.

Confirmed Showing All Matches 

• The Midlands
• Bonchon Chicken

Showing All Matches (Except possibly 6a Sat. 6/16 France-Australia)

• Lucky Bar
• World Cup Pop-Up Bar (old Prospect DC)
• Across the Pond
• Fado
• The Big Board
• Duke’s Counter
• The Star & Shamrock
• James Hoban’s
• Blackfinn

H Street/NoMa

• Biergarten Haus
  • open at 11a weekdays/8:45a on weekends
  • 20 TVs / 12 German beers on tap
• Dangerously Delicious DC
• Dirty Water
  • open for all matches
  • $18 pitchers of Estrella Jalisco / $18 bottomless mimosas/select cocktails available till end of final game
  • open 30 minute before 1st game of day
• The Big Board
  • open for all matches
  • $16 Peroni pitchers (possibly just for Thurs 6/14 game)
  • coffee & limited menu until 11:30a
• Wunder Garten*
  • open for select matches (Fri June 15 -2p Portugal v. Spain; Sat Jun 16 (noon & 3p games); Sun June 17 (11a and 2p games)
  • gates open 1 hour before kickoff
  • 9 foot big screen w/ sound on weekend games
  • $1 from each Devils Backbone Vienna Lager donated to DC SCORES charity
• Stable*
  • Shows all Swiss team matches (opening early at 1p on June 22 and June 27)
  • Swiss food / drink specials / Swiss beer buckets / Schnapsicles
• The Queen Vic*
  • $5 20 oz. Carlsbergs
  • England bar
• The Star & Shamrock*
  • open early for all matches
• H Street Country Club*
  • select watch parties (more TBD)
    • Spain/Portugal 6/15 open at 1:30p (during game, $16 Tecate buckets / $5 Agave azul tequila shots)
    • Germany/Mexico 6/17 open at 11a – $14 bottomless mimosas + (during game, $16 Tecate buckets / $5 Agave azul tequila shots)

Eastern Market/Capitol Hill

• The Brig
  • open 2p M-F & 11a Sat-Sun (extended HH 2-7p M-F)
  • open 11a 6/14 for opening match and special early-open dates (check Facebook page)
• Ted’s Bulletin – breakfast spot usually open at 8a
• The Capitol Lounge
• Union Pub
  • Doors open for opening match 6/14 at 11a & $5 beer specials (Hoegaarden bottle, Stella Artois Draft, Bass bottle, Spaten bottle, Estrella Jalisco on draft)
• Belga Cafe*
  • Showing Belgian World Cup games w/ HH specials
• The Dubliner*
  • drawing contest for purchases of Teeling Irish Whiskey
• The Ugly Mug*

Navy Yard/The Wharf/SW

• Capitol Skyline Hotel
• Bonchon
  • open for all matches (even 6a one)
  • food/drink specials
  • Korean fried chicken
• Chloe – fancyish restaurant
• Intercontinental Wharf – hotel
• Mandarin Oriental – hotel
• Field House DC (World Cup Bar DC)*
  • new 42,000 square foot bar next to Audi Field
  • 20-foot LED video wall
  • food trucks
  • WTF
  • beer specialties from countries each day
  • open for all matches
• The Brighton*
  • open early w/ sound on for selected matches

Ivy City/NE

• Ivy City Tavern
• Dock FC
  • appears to be open for 11a matches or later soccer bar
  • Food & Beverage package-$50: pitcher of beer + Cholula chicken wings + nachos + churros
  • pro-Argentina bar
• Power Night Club – nightclub
• Sip – lounge

REST OF TOWN:

Dupont Circle

• Lucky Bar
  • open at 7:30a everyday (when games early); 10a for opening ceremony Thursday
  • Russian food specials available during lunch + Russian cocktails/beers
  • Big crowd for Colombia (YESSSSSSSSSSSS!!! ??????????– MHC)
• Duke’s Grocery
  • large TV set up on patio when weather permits
  • England team watch: specials on Fullers draft beer + Pimms Cup
• Across the Pond
  • show every game
  • $5 Heinekens
  • $10.99 breakfast special (scrambled eggs, bacon/sausage, home fries, toast, tea/coffe
• Darlington House
• Mission
• Emissary – coffee/drinks spot
• The Front Page
• Cafe Citron
• Mad Hatter
• Sauf Haus – surely German spot
• Public Bar
• Camelot – strip club
• Sign of the Whale
• Abigail Room – lounge
• Fox & Hounds*
  • open at 11a every gameday
  • express lunch weekdays + bottomless brunch on wknds
• Buffalo Billiards*
  • open earlier for select matches
  • open at 2p for Portugal-Spain 6/15
• James Hoban’s*
  • showing all matches
  • specials on beer/cocktails
  • private rooms available

U Street/14th Street

• Drafting Table – soccer bar
• Red Light
• Ted’s Bulletin – always open at 8a for breakfast
• Exile’s
• Red Lounge
• Franklin Hall
  • open early for select games
  • 2p 6/15; 9a Sat June 16 for Arg v. Iceland; 11a Germany v Mexico Sun June 17)
• Hawthorne
• World Cup HQ (In old Prospect DC)
  • open 8a-8pish everyday
  • cocktails/frose/beer in giant steins/wine carafes
  • $4 beers/$4 wine/$6 cocktails from 4-7p
  • daily international food specials
• Amsterdam Lounge
• Dukem – Ethiopian spot
• El Rey*
  • open at 11a for opening match 6/14; noon Thurs-Sun
  • HH during all WC games + $5 Modelo Tall boys + $22 buckets of 5

Shaw/Bloomingdale

• Unity (Salina?) – Ethiopian spot
• MK Lounge – Ethiopian spot
• Cloud Restaurant – Ethiopian spot
• Right Proper
• Shaw’s Tavern
• 1230 DC – champagne lounge
• Queen of Sheba – Ethiopian spot
• Boundary Stone*
  • open at 2p for M-Th; 11a-Fri; 8a Sat-Sun

Adams Morgan/Cleveland Park/Tenleytown/Upper NW

• Ventnor Sports Cafe
  • open for all matches
  • expanded breakfast menu / early AM drink specials
  • coffee drinks w/ or w/o booze
  • additional outlets + Wi-Fi
  • open at 10a for opening match
• Asmara Lounge – Eritrean/Ethiopian spot
• Duke’s Counter
  • all matches w/ sound
  • $5 Modelo pints for all matches
  • England matches: specials on Fullers London Pride, Pimms Cupps
• Kitty O’Shea’s
• Chatter*
  • Showing all matches during business hours (after 7a on weekdays and certain hours on weekends)
  • Cans of Schaefer beer $2.18 + $3 bar snacks (fried pickles + sweet corn fritters)
• Cleveland Park Bar & Grill*
  • Select games shown, some with sound
  • $4 Bud/Bud Light bottles during games
• Nanny O’Brien’s*
  • open at 11a, sound on at least for select matches
• The Blaguard*
  • open early for select games (1st match at least)

Columbia Heights/Park View/Petworth/Brightwood/Takoma

• The Midlands
  • open for all matches (even 6a match on Saturday) with audio inside/outside
  • Nitro Cold Brew coffee
  • potentially wear World Cup gear for additional discounts
• The House – strip club
• La Molienda – Salvadoran spot
• La Dulce Noche – Salvadoran spot
• Sabor Latino & Grill – Salvadoran spot
• Safari – East African
• EL Pulgarcito – Salvadoran spot
• Bettys Gojo – Ethiopian hookah spot
• DC Reynolds*
  • open everyday at 11a like usual
• The Airedale* -soccer bar
• The Pinch* -international sports bar
• Lou’s City Bar*
  • open for select matches at 8a w/ sound on
  • Heineken special
• Esencias Panamenas*
  • food/drink specials for all Panama matches

Penn Quarter/Chinatown/Mt Vernon Square

• Penn Social
• Fado Irish Pub
  • open for all matches
  • $25 5 beer buckets (Bud/Bud Light/Mich Ultra 16 oz, Goose Island IPA/Summer/312 + Harp + Guinness Blonde 12 oz
  • $4 mimosas/Red Bulls
  • $8 Bloody Mary
  • contest to predict winners/scores of each match (get pub credit
• Umaya – Japanese izakaya
• Hooters
• Marriott Marquis (High Velocity Sports Bar)
• Irish Channel Pub*

Downtown

• Elephant & Castle Pub Restaurant 19th STreet
• Sofitel Lafayette Square
• Blackfinn
  • showing every match
  • “DC’s Official World Cup Kick Off Party” w/ food/drink specials feat. Heineken + replays
• The Park at 14th
• Living Room
• Cuba Libre*
  • viewing parties at 2p for Poland v. Columbia June 24; Spain v/ Morrocco June 25 & Nigeria v. Argentina June 26
  • HH specials ($5 caipirinhas)
• St. Regis DC*
  • bar transforms into “Astor World Cup Lounge” breakfast/lunch/beer specials inspired by cuisine generally 9-5:30p everyday

Georgetown/West End

• Church
• Fairmont*
  • hotel
  • lobby becomes “Soccer Central”
  • re-runs at 5:30p
  • $9 international snacks
  • HH starts at 5:30p with discount soccer-themed cocktails/beer
• Ri Ra* 
  • global food specials
  • every match live
  • scratch card for prizes w/ purchase of Guinness
• Bodega*
  • 6/15 Spain-Portugal w/ $5-6 drink specials

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