With the 2026 FIFA World Cup taking place in the U.S. this year, no one will have to worry about getting up during the wee hours of the morning to see the American men’s team in action.
There are plenty of places in and around Pittsburgh where soccer fans can gather to watch the games as the round-robin portion of the tournament kicks off Thursday.
Some of the biggest local parties will likely be at FNB Stadium on the Monongahela River in Pittsburgh, as the Riverhounds Soccer Club opens up its home turf for U.S. matches on Friday (Paraguay, 9 p.m.), June 19 (Australia, 3 p.m.) and June 25 (Turkey 10 p.m.).
On Friday , the stadium will also host the Pittsburgh Riveters women’s team against Erie SC at 6 p.m.
For more, or to reserve free tickets, go to Riverhounds.com/watchparty.
The Riverhounds are also partnering with venues across the city to host free public watch parties for every World Cup game and giving fans a chance to win $25,000.
Fans will have the chance to watch every World Cup moment while enjoying interactive games like bingo and trivia, as well as tasting new, nation-specific food and drink specials at select parties.
Fans will receive one entry into the $25,000 Boot for Loot raffle each time they check in at a watch party. To win the $25,000 prize, the contestant must kick a soccer ball from midfield and have the ball rest on the goal line during halftime of the Riverhounds home match on July 11 against Loudoun United FC. Contestants must be able to attend the match at FNB Stadium.
Fans can RSVP for the free watch parties and begin their journey toward a chance to win $25,000 by visiting Riverhounds.com/watchparty.
Here are some other area watch parties happening during the World Cup’s opening weekend.
• La Palapa Mexican Cuisine, 2224 East Carson St. on Pittsburgh’s South Side, will host a watch party Thursday for Mexico vs. South Africa, 2 p.m.
• Tom’s Watch Bar, 261 North Shore Drive on Pittsburgh’s North Shore, is offering a VIP World Cup Soccer Experience with guaranteed seating, no waiting and 100 screens, and is taking seating reservations for every game during the tournament. For more, or to reserve a seat, see Toms-pittsburgh.buysitickets.com.
• VisitPA and Philadelphia Soccer 2026 announced that they will host fan events at Acrisure Stadium on several dates during the World Cup.
Hours of operation for the Pittsburgh Fan Zone in Acrisure Stadium on the North Shore will be as follows: 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. July 4 for the 1 p.m. round of 16 knockout match and 5 p.m. round of 16 knockout match; 2-9 p.m. July 5 for the 4 p.m. round of 16 knockout match and 8 p.m. round of 16 knockout match; 2-7 p.m. July 9 for the 4 p.m. quarterfinal match; and 2-6 p.m. July 19 for the 3 p.m. World Cup final.
• Sewickley Sports Arena, 474 Chadwick Street in Sewickley, will host a watch party Saturday at 5:30 p.m. for the Brazil vs. Morocco match, with multi-screen viewing, games on the turf, prizes, raffles, concessions and more. There is a suggested donation of $5 to $10, and tickets must be reserved at GiveButter.com/SAS-WorldCup-watch-party.
• Shooters Golf, 50 Pine Creek Road in McCandless, will host a Friday World Cup tailgate party from 5-11 p.m. with live match viewing, live music from 5:30-8:30 p.m. and more. For more, see ShootersGolf.com.
• East End Brewing, 147 Julius St. in Pittsburgh’s Larimer neighborhood, will host World Cup viewing parties Thursday at 3 p.m. for the Mexico vs. South Africa match; at 9 p.m. Friday for the U.S. vs. Paraguay match (kitchen closes at 10 p.m.); at 6 p.m. Saturday for the Brazil vs. Morocco match; at 4 p.m. Sunday for the Netherlands vs. Japan match; and at 3 p.m. June 19 for the U.S. vs. Australia match.