30 places to watch the 2022 World Cup in Charlotte

State of play: The 2022 FIFA World Cup kicked off in Qatar last month, with 64 games taking place between Nov. 20 and Dec. 18. It’s the first time the tournament has taken place outside of the summer months. Why? Organizers needed to beat Qatar’s summertime heat.

Why it matters: Bars and restaurants have been packed with people watching matches. Plus every bar in Charlotte is a little bit more soccer-friendly after Charlotte FC’s inaugural season.

Details: The tournament started with eight groups and four teams in each group. Now it all comes down to the final:

• Dec. 18: 10am Argentina vs. France.

The United States finished second in Group B, advancing to the round of 16 where they were knocked out by the Netherlands.

You can watch the entire tournament on FOX, FOX Sports and FS1.

Of note: Charlotte FC striker Karol Świderski is represented Poland in the tournament. France knocked them out of the round of 16. 

Here is an event and 29 other places to watch the World Cup in Charlotte.

1. Charlotte FC World Cup final watch party

Charlotte’s MLS club will host one final watch party for the tournament. Head to Kilted Buffalo in Plaza Midwood on Sunday.

Details: Doors open at 9am. A breakfast menu will be available from 9:30-11:30am.

Location: 1212 Central Ave.

2. All American Pub

Details: The South End spot will open at 9:30am for the final.

Location: 200 E. Bland St.

3. Angry Ale’s 

Details: They’ll open at 9:30am for this weekend’s matches. Their regular menu will be available, plus breakfast biscuits and drink specials:

• Bud Light buckets $18
• Mimosa bottles $14
• Fireball shots $5

Location: 1518 Montford Drive

4. Belfast Mill Irish Pub 

The Tottenham Hotspur bar in Uptown will certainly be packed during the tournament.

Details: Expect an ample whiskey selection, along with cocktails and pints of Guinness.

Location: 144 Brevard Ct. Unit A 

5. Big Ben Pub 

The Elizabeth spot is ready for the World Cup after hosting Charlotte FC watch parties all year.

Details: They’ll open at 9am for this weekend’s matches. Expect a special menu reflecting the countries participating in the tournament, like empanadas ($11) for Argentina. Plus there will be $4 mimosas, $5 bloody Marys, $18 carafes and $30 mimosa flights.

• The bar has had expanded hours all tournament, owner Neel Gandhi tells Axios.
• Reservations are encouraged if you want to secure seating instead of showing up hours before a match to claim a table. To make a reservation call 704-817-9697, message them on Instagram or email [email protected].

Location: 1535 Elizabeth Ave.

6. Carolina Beer Temple 

Grab a craft beer and cheer on your team.

Details: They’ll open at 9:30am for the final. QC Sellars will serve free breakfast.

Location: 195 N. Trade St. Matthews, N.C.

7. Caswell Station

The former Elizabeth home opened as a bar and restaurant in 2017.

Details: They will open at 9:30am for the final.

• Specials: Domestic buckets will be $15. 

Location: 366 N. Caswell Road

8. Clutch Kitchen & Pour House

The Uptown sports bar sits right next to Bank of America Stadium.

Details: They’ll open at 9:30am for the final and offer $15 Modelo beer buckets and domestic bucket specials throughout the tournament, owner Neel Gandhi tells Axios.

• Fireball shots will be $6.  

Location: 601 S. Cedar St. 

9. Courtyard Hooligans

Charlotte’s OG soccer bar is always packed during the World Cup. It’s across from Romare Bearden Park in Brevard Court.

Details: Hooligans is an intimate setting, and you’ll probably be standing for the entire match. Expect plenty of craft beer and liquor options. Doors open at 9am this weekend.

Location: 140 Brevard Ct.

10. Dilworth Grille

This is another regular spot for soccer fans and home for the American Outlaws’ Charlotte chapter (USA supporters).

Details: It’s a kid-friendly environment, but leave your fur babies at home. Doors open at 9am for the final.

Location: 911 E. Morehead St.

11. Duckworth’s Grill & Taphouse

The popular Charlotte restaurant chain recently opened its sixth location in SouthPark, Axios Laura Barrero reported.

Details: Expect plenty of TVs, burgers and beer. They will open at 9:45am on for both games this weekend, and their full menu will be available.

Location: Ballantyne: 14015 Conlan Circle, Suite C1

• Huntersville: 16609 Statesville Road Huntersville, N.C.
• Mooresville: 560 River Highway Mooresville, N.C.
• Rea Farms: 9805-D Sandy Rock Place
• SouthPark: 4625 Piedmont Row Drive Suite 115A

• Uptown: 330 N. Tryon St.

12. Ed’s Tavern 

This Dilworth favorite will open early.

Details: Doors open at 9am for the final.

Location: 2200 Park Road 

13. Freemore Tavern 

Watch the final in Wesley Heights. It’s the younger sibling of Ed’s Tavern.

Details: Doors open at 9am for the final.

Location: 1500 W. Morehead St. Suite C

14. Gilde

Head to LoSo to this German brewery for the tournament.

Details: It will open early for certain matches. Doors open at 1:30pm for the semifinals and just before kickoff for the final. Check out the full list here.

Location: 3530 Dewitt Lane

15. Growlers Pourhouse 

The NoDa bar is cozy and perfect for a beer and an order of pesto brie fries. It’s expanding its hours for the World Cup.

Details: They’ll open at 9:30am for the final.

Location: 3120 N Davidson St.

16. Hooligans on Elizabeth 

Details: The younger sibling of Hooligans’ OG location. Doors open at 9am this weekend.

Location: 1523 Elizabeth Ave. Unit 120

17. Jackalope Jacks 

The Plaza Midwood favorite among soccer fans.

Details: Expect their full menu and beer specials.

• We tried the barballo (a mix of barbecue and buffalo sauce) wings during the MLS Cup, and we’d definitely order them again ($12 for 10 wings).

Location: 1801 Commonwealth Ave.

18. JackBeagle’s 

Head to NoDa or Wesley Heights for plenty of TVs and plenty of mac-n-cheese.

Details: The NoDa location opens at 7am. It’ll have $5 Mother Earth Brewing’s Beagle Beer on special. 

• The Morehead location opens at 11am.

Location: NoDa: 3213 N Davidson St.

• Morehead: 1404 W. Morehead St.

• Mt. Holly: 125 S Main St. Mt Holly

19. Middle James Brewing Company

The Pineville brewery is ready for the World Cup.

Details: They’ll open at 9am this weekend. Expect special beers like the Deadball Specialist, a New England IPA, and the Mint City Gold Pale Ale, plus a mimosa special ($5) and brunch.

• They will also serve daily food specials with each country’s signature dishes when they play.

Location: 400 N Polk St. Unit B, Pineville, N.C.

20. Midnight Mulligan

Details: Doors open 10am for the final.

Location: 2215 Thrift Road 

21. Queen City Bites & Crafts (QCBC)

Head to the longtime soccer home for the Carolina Toffees Everton Football Supporters Club in Uptown. It’s sure to be packed during the World Cup.

Details: They will open at 9:30am this weekend.

Location: 135 Brevard Ct.

22. Resident Culture Brewing South End 

The Charlotte brewery and Charlotte FC defender Christian Fuchs threw No Fuchs Given World Cup watch parties for all USA matches.

Details: They open daily at 7am. Plus, they re-released the No Fuchs Given lager, which is on draft throughout the tournament while supplies last.

• They also added a new, permanent 110-inch projector screen.

Location: 332 W. Bland St.

23. RÍ RÁ

The Irish pub is no stranger to hosting soccer fans. It was packed when Arsenal played in Charlotte in 2019, and fans have shown up for the World Cup.

Details: They will open at 10am on Saturday and 8am on Sunday. Plus they’ll serve a Carolina Irish Breakfast for the final, with three strips of American bacon or two bangers, scrambled eggs, grilled tomato, Batchelor beans and sourdough toast.

Location: 208 North Tryon St.

24. Salud

The NoDa spot was packed for Charlotte FC matches, and it’s been a popular spot for the World Cup, too.

Details: Salud Cerveceria opens at 8am daily. They’re serving a breakfast special called the griddler for $10. It’s your choice of bacon sausage or soysage, egg, melted American cheese between two house syrup infused hot cakes.

• Upstairs, the Cerveceria will serve $4 Del Patio house lager drafts. Sound will be on in Spanish.
• Downstairs, Salud Beer Shop regular $7 drafts and under will be $4.50. Sound will be on in English.

Location: 3306-C N. Davidson St.

25. Sir Edmond Halley’s Pub

This pub is tucked away in Park Road Shopping Center.

Details: Doors open at 10am on Dec. 17 and 18.

Location: 4151 Park Road

26. Suffolk Punch 

Head to this popular South End spot.

Details: They’ll stick with normal business hours, which means opening at 10am this weekend.

Location: 2911 Griffith St.

27. Tremont

Before it was Tremont, it was Big Ben for a decade, and briefly Bocado. There are plenty of TVs, as well as indoor and outdoor seating at the Atherton Mill spot.

Details: Expect regular hours and plenty of drink specials, co-owner Neel Gandhi tells Axios:

• Michelob Ultra buckets will be $20.
• Modelo and Corona buckets will be $15.
• A Red Bull and vodka will be $8.

Location: 2000 South Blvd. #530

28. Town Brewing Co.

This Wesley Heights brewery has been a watch spot all tournament.

Details: Expect 24 beers on tap, wine, non-alcoholic drinks and a full-kitchen available. They’ll open at 10am for this weekend’s matches.

Location: 800 Grandin Road

29. Valhalla Pub & Eatery

Home of Charlotte’s Liverpool supporters, Valhalla is another Uptown home to fans of the game.

Details: Expect an intimate atmosphere, plenty of drinks and delicious food.

Location: 317 S. Church St.

30. Workman’s Friend

Grab a pint at this Plaza Midwood Irish pub.

Details: They will open at 10am this weekend.

• Special: $5 Wicked Weed tall boy cans and $6 Jameson.

Location: 1531 Central Ave. 

Editor’s note: This guide will be updated throughout the tournament. It was first published in 2018 and last updated in December 2022.