When looking for a great place to watch futbol in the Jacksonville area, think football. With the World Cup coming to North America, fans will gather to cheer on their favorite soccer teams and, in many cases, they’ll do it at the same places they gather to watch the Jaguars and the Gators.
Just about any bar with a television and a license to show the matches is likely to have one on, and some places will cater to fans of a specific national team. This year’s tourney is being played in the U.S., Canada and Mexico, so you won’t even have to get up in the middle of the night to see your favorite team.
Here are some places that plan on catering to World Cup fans throughout the tournament, which will include 104 matches running from June 11 to July 19.
The Block Jax
7520 Quarter Mill Drive, theblockjax.com
The outdoor food hall/dog park/music pavilion/kids’ playground has a huge LED wall that will be put to good use during the World Cup. Dozens of matches are on the schedule, with at least one showing nearly every day. While you’re there, enjoy the fare at one of the eight restaurants at The Block.
Players Grille
600 Park St. No. 10, and 1040 San Jose Blvd., playersgrille.com
Players now has two locations for watching the World Cup, one in Mandarin that opened in 2023 and a newer location inside the Home 2 Suites by Hilton hotel off Interstate 95 in the historic Brooklyn neighborhood. Both offer a full kitchen and plenty of TVs for watching your favorite matches.
Sneakers Sports Grille
111 Beach Blvd, Jacksonville Beach, (904) 482-1000, sneakerssportgrille.com
With 10 jumbo TV screens and a zillion smaller ones, you won’t miss any action. They also have a dog-friendly outdoor patio with its own screens, in case Fido’s a big fan. Spanish-language matches will be shown at the nearby Ajua Mexican Kitchen & Bar.
Strings Sports Brewery
1850 N. Main St., (904) 475-2970; 1618 Penman Road, Jacksonville Beach, (904) 746-7933, stringssportsbrewery.com
Kick back with a Bullet Bob hazy IPA at the place that was voted as Jacksonville’s favorite local brewery. They have a ton of TVs at both the Springfield location, built into an old service station, and at the Beaches, where Strings is housed in an old general store.
Wobbly Whale Public House
6460 U.S. 1, St. Augustine, (904) 257-3211, thewobblywhale.com
Fans of the British and Scottish teams might feel at home at the Wobbly Whale, which is housed in a cottage and features European fare and pints of Guinness and other ales. It’s not a sports bar, but if the televisions are on, they are showing sports.
Walk-on’s Sports Bistreaux
495 Durbin Pavilion Drive, St. Johns, (904) 946-7719, walk-ons.com
You’d be hard-pressed to find a seat that doesn’t have a view of at least a few of the 55 televisions at Walk-ons, part of a national chain co-owned by NFL Hall of Famer Drew Brees. Walk-ons started in Louisiana, so expect a bit of spice on the menu.
This article originally appeared on Florida Times-Union: Ole! Here are some places to watch the World Cup in Jacksonville
Reporting by Tom Szaroleta, Jacksonville Florida Times-Union / Florida Times-Union
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
By Tom Szaroleta, Jacksonville Florida Times-Union | USA TODAY Network
