The city is home to Sporting Kansas City, one of Major League Soccer’s most respected clubs, and boasts a vibrant community of soccer supporters who regularly pack local venues to cheer on international and domestic matches alike. From German-style beer halls like KC Bier Co. to craft-focused hotspots like Strange Days Brewing Co., fans have their pick of welcoming, high-energy spaces to watch every minute of the action. With its walkable entertainment districts, diverse food and drink options, and a fanbase that lives and breathes soccer, Kansas City is the perfect place to celebrate the world’s biggest sporting event.
No Other Pub is an official bar of Kansas City’s MLS team, Sporting KC. As such, the entire place is set up for watching, discussing, crying over, and generally enjoying the game of soccer. It offers a sprawling space with an abundance of TVs, energetic crowds during matches, and a menu packed with craft beers and hearty pub fare. Its central location in the Power & Light District makes it easy to get to from downtown and elsewhere in the city, and the lively atmosphere is hard to beat. There’s also games including a huge shuffleboard court.
The Quaff is a veteran-owned, well-rounded sports bar with a casual vibe and a long history in Kansas City. It’s loaded with plenty of TVs, has a menu that’s based on bar food but expands outward from there, and is a welcoming atmosphere for groups. It’s a reliable choice for soccer fans looking for a lively place to watch the game and possibly catch some live music or trivia after the match.
John isn’t lying about his big deck. In fact, John’s Big Deck spans three levels, hosts a plethora of TVs, and attracts a cool crowd from across the two-state metro area. DJs spin in the evenings, and matches are a big part of the experience. It’s also one of the few soccer bars in Kansas City that accepts reservations, making it an ideal choice for people who aren’t keen on fighting for a table during the biggest and most popular matches. The food menu is pretty extensive, and it runs food and drink specials almost every day of the week.
Varsity Club isn’t your traditional sports bar. In fact, it’s more of a retro cocktail bar, with a funky menu of $8 shooters and cocktails like the “Monkeygun” (Irish whiskey, apple brandy, brown sugar, and granny smith apple) and the “Cowboy Killer” (whiskey, orange marmalade, tonka bean, honey bitters, and an amaro float). But it’s actually an official pub partner of Sporting KC, meaning it’ll show every game and often host giveaways and specials during matches. It shares a space with Disco Burger, a popular local food truck usually parked in the bar’s fun outdoor space.
McFadden’s Sports Saloon offers a classic sports bar experience with a dark-wood interior and plenty of TVs for catching every angle of the action. It will be particularly popping during the World Cup, drawing fans from around the world that have descended on one of the Midwest’s most happening towns. It’s just a few doors down from No Other Pub in the Power and Light District, so you can either jump from one bar to the other during halftime, or visit both over the course of two different matches.
You thought there were only two popular sports bars in KC’s Power and Light District? Think again. A third great option for watching sports is Johnny’s Tavern, a go-to sport for sports fans thanks to its numerous TVs and willingness to show multiple games at once. The central location and lively crowd make it a solid choice for events like the World Cup, as it has been for more than a century. The original Johnny’s Tavern (there are now 14 across the city) opened way back in 1910, so safe to say, it’s a bit of a KC institution. The P&L location has a large food menu, including one of the biggest gluten-free menus in KC, so it’s a good choice if you have a group with dietary restrictions and differing food preferences.
Strange Days Brewing Co. is inside KC’s City Market and easily accessible via the city’s free streetcar. The brewery is a popular destination for soccer fans, regularly hosting watch parties for international matches. Inside, an eclectic setting with retro TVs and arcade games is perfect for the World Cup, especially if you’re looking for . The rotating beer menu features globally inspired brews, from hazy IPAs to crisp kölsches, and while it doesn’t serve food, it does partner with a popular food truck. Keep an eye on the @Burn_theory_sd Instagram account to see when the food truck is on site, serving up nachos, tacos, wings, and burgers.
As authentic of a German beer hall as you’ll find in the Midwest, KC Bier Co. has deep ties to the soccer community. It’s a go-to spot for Bundesliga (German football league) and UEFA Champions League matches, often hosting watch parties in conjunction with local fan groups like FC Bayern Kingdom KC. The high-quality brews and fact that it’s modeled after traditional Munich bierhalls makes it popular not just with beer fans, but with soccer fans, whether they’re rooting for German teams or not. You’ll find a rotating selection of German-style beers—from crisp helles to rich dunkels, while special offerings like Bavarian breakfasts during early matches add to the flair. It’s an ideal spot for people staying in the southern parts of KC. Kids are allowed, and there’s a dog-friendly outdoor section, too.
Ugly Joe’s is a local favorite, known for having more than 30 high-definition big screen televisions, including several massive 96-inch screens. The sheer number and size of TVs ensure that every seat in the house will have a clear view of the World Cup. It’s also popular with locals looking for tasty, no-frills grub, and if you order food there, be sure to add on one of Joe’s famous sauces — the “Montana” is the house specialty. 