Portland won't be hosting any World Cup matches, but there are still plenty of ways for Soccer City residents to get in on the action.

The big picture: For one glorious month, fans here and around the world stop to watch the same thing.

Zoom in: The biggest watch party kicks off this weekend at Pioneer Courthouse Square, with local food carts, a "mini pitch" and special promotions from Casamigos Tequila.

• Matches will be broadcast on a big screen starting with Canada vs. Bosnia-Herzegovina at noon Friday followed by the U.S. vs Paraguay at 6pm.
• The party runs through Monday with nearly 12 hours of soccer each day. Find the full schedule here.

Plus: The Oregon Museum of Science and Industry will also be showing matches on its own big screen at the Empirical Theater. Admission is free, but it's first come, first served.

• Find their match schedule here.

🍻 Zoom out: There's no shortage of soccer bars in Portland if you want to nestle yourself among rowdy soccer revelers.

• GOL, on Southeast Hawthorne, is in the running for best soccer bar in the country, but there's also T.C. O'Leary's Irish Pub on Northeast Alberta, Mad Greek Deli on East Burnside and Kells downtown, to name a few.
• Honestly, it's going to be hard to find a bar with a TV that isn't showing the World Cup.

📺 Yes, but: If you prefer to take in the action from the comfort of your couch, games get underway tomorrow with Mexico against South Africa airing at noon on FOX and Telemundo.

How to watch: Games will be broadcast in English on FOX, FS1, and the FOX One app.

• Telemundo will air Spanish-language broadcasts in the U.S., and will air games on Universo, Peacock and the Telemundo app.
• Tubi will show the opening game between Mexico and South Africa tomorrow and the U.S. men's national team showdown against Paraguay on Friday.

Tell a fan

When the World Cup kicks off tomorrow it will be played across the United States, Mexico and Canada, a first for the tournament.

Why it matters: More Americans are tuning into soccer ahead of the sport's most prestigious tournament, with hopes that this summer will spark the kind of breakthrough interest the 1994 World Cup did the last time it was played on American soil.

State of play: 37% of people anticipate their interest in soccer will increase over the next 18 months, according to Nielsen data.

Context: Soccer was still foreign to many Americans in 1994. Now, people have local teams they support or they've started watching leagues in other countries.

• "People are willing to pay to see soccer," Wake Forest economics professor Todd McFall tells Axios. "They've made soccer a part of their life."

By the numbers: Participation in the sport has also increased.

• Of the 5.6 million high school athletes who played sports in 1993-1994, 7.5% of them played soccer, according to data from the National Federation of State High School Associations.
• As of 2024-2025, 10.6% of high school students played the game.
• For ages 6 and up, more than 16.7 million people played outdoor soccer in the U.S. in 2025, Sports & Fitness Industry Association data shows.

Zoom out: Much has changed in the U.S. since the tournament took place here 32 years ago.

• Now there are several professional leagues for both men and women, more people playing the game overall, and more ways to watch the sport than ever before.

🗳️ Former Multnomah County commissioner Sharon Meieran entered the race for county chair, pledging to overhaul the county's approach to homelessness and mental illness. (Willamette Week)

🏥 The Oregon Clinic merged with Portland's Broadway Medical Clinic, adding 20 new providers to its network and expanding into primary care, pediatrics and behavioral health. (The Lund Report)

⏸️ Utility regulators delayed a new Portland General Electric rate structure that would raise costs for data centers and lower bills for other customers. (Portland Business Journal)

🌡️ Heat-related illness in the Pacific Northwest could double by 2040, according to a new study from Portland State University. (OPB)

The 2026 World Cup runs from tomorrow to July 19 across 16 host cities.

• 48 teams (up from 32) will play 104 matches over 39 days.

The favorites: Spain, France and England headline the sportsbooks, with five-time winner Brazil and reigning champ Argentina right behind.

• Norway is the buzzy dark horse, back on the World Cup stage after a 28-year absence.

State of play: The U.S. Men's National Team drew Group D with Paraguay, Australia and Turkey, opening Friday in LA. Argentine coach Mauricio Pochettino runs the show.

• BetMGM gives the U.S. roughly a 2.4% chance of winning the trophy (so you're telling me there's a chance).

The intrigue: This World Cup looks different from the ones you remember. The larger field of teams means a brand new round of 32 before the bracket reaches the round of 16.

Stunning stat: The prize pool totals $727 million, with $50 million going to the winner. Every team pockets at least $10.5 million just for booking the trip.

Let's say you've got a rooting interest in the World Cup but tune into soccer only every four years.

• Here's a refresher on the rules of the tournament and what you need to know about this year's World Cup.

The group stage: There are 12 groups of four teams, decided by the World Cup draw in December. Each team plays the other three teams in their group.

• A win gets you 3 points, a tie 1 point and a loss no points.
• The top two teams from each group advance to the first single-elimination knockout round. Additionally, the top eight teams from among the third-place teams in each group advance.

The knockout rounds: This year's expanded format means there will be a round of 32 for the first time. The winners of those games will advance to the round of 16. That round is followed by the quarterfinals, the semifinals and then the final.

• The losers of the semifinal round play each other in the third-place game.

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