We’re soccer crazy in the Triangle, and the biggest sporting event in the world is upon us.
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The 2026 World Cup kicked off this week. Soccer governing body FIFA has built the largest World Cup ever, with 48 teams and 104 matches.
North Carolina won’t host any games, but there will be massive watch parties throughout the Triangle. Some have already pledged to play every game of the tournament.
Here are 14 soccer-loving bars to watch the 2026 World Cup.
2501 University Dr, Durham. bootroomdurham.com
This soccer-centric bar causes its own traffic jams on game days. Well, it’s Game Day for the next month and a half, and many know this English-style pub serves one of the best pints of Guinness in the Triangle.
110 E Hargett St, Raleigh. instagram.com/thebridgeraleigh
One of the Triangle’s longtime soccer bars will be a watch party for every game this World Cup.
427 W Main St, Durham. bullmccabesirishpub.com
Bull McCabe’s is an international experience, making it the perfect World Cup bar. Traditional Irish pub inside, serving an Indian street food menu and one of the area’s largest outdoor greens, with views of projector TVs and sounds of the game.
2240 Walnut St, Cary. carolinalehouse.com/our-restaurants/cary
This home bar of the NC Courage is ready for the World Cup, declaring this the Summer of Soccer. That means drink specials on Michelob Ultra and Korean chicken wings.
341 W Main St, Durham. eosdurham.com
This nearly brand-new bar has already become a game day destination for sports fans. There are TVs in every direction and perfected pub food, like wings, pizza and house-made foccacia sandwiches.
311 Glenwood Ave., Raleigh. hibernianpub.com
This iconic Downtown Raleigh bar has pledged to show all the games of the World Cup. The question is whether you can split the G.
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508 W. Franklin St., Chapel Hill. italianpizzeria3.com
While IP3 is Chapel Hill’s most passionate Tar Heel bar, soccer is at its soul and the smooth wooden booths at this legendary spot will be the warmest in town.
1009 W Main St, Durham. miniminimart.com
This bottle shop, beer bar and lunch counter has built an outdoor biergarten for the World Cup, with a gigantic TV on a brand new stage.
502 S West St, Raleigh. olesportsbar.com
This former warehouse was turned into an upscale sports bar, with curved leather banquettes and VIP World Cup packages.
105 Oberlin Rd, Raleigh. playersretreat.com
The thing about great sports bars is they show up for every sporting event. While the Players Retreat is best known as a Wolfplack epicenter, its long bank of TVs, legendary burgers and onion rings will make this World Cup one to remember.
614 Glenwood Ave., Raleigh. theraleighbeergarden.com
The biggest sporting even in the world deserves the biggest bar in Raleigh, which happens to be this multi-level draft beer wonderland that has held several Guinness World Records.
301 Fenton Gtwy Dr, Cary. sportsandsocial.com/cary
This Fenton hot spot was the first Triangle sports bar to make watching a game an actual event. Here are the largest screens in the region, where you’ll feel like you’re in danger of being slide-tackled.
6164A Falls of Neuse Rd., Raleigh. thewinchesterraleigh.com
How massive of a soccer bar is The Winchester? It’s altered its opening schedule just for the World Cup. That means this drinks-only bar is open seven days a week for the next month and a half.
8322 Chapel Hill Road, Cary. woodysportstavern.com/
This is the ninth World Cup for Woody’s, a massive number for a Triangle staple that has been showing major soccer events for decades. It’s also known as one of the best wing spots around.
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