The Soccer Faithful's Guide to Brooklyn, World Cup Edition

The Premise

It's 7 AM on a Tuesday in June. Someone in your group chat just sent a "who's watching?" message with a flag emoji.

Look, this is your neighborhood-by-neighborhood breakdown of where to plant yourself, order something good, and absolutely lose your mind when that goal goes in. Eight venues, one borough, zero bad options. (Trust me on this one.)

The Ranking Method

Venues were ranked using GameDayScore (out of 100) as provided in our venue data, with soccer-specific team affiliations and atmosphere tags used as tiebreakers for the World Cup context.

1. Roebling Sporting Club — The Full Production

For the soccer fan who refuses to watch the World Cup on a 42-inch TV wedged between a dartboard and a paper towel dispenser, Roebling Sporting Club in Williamsburg is your answer. Located at 225 North 8th Street, this upscale venue features large HD screens, an explicitly listed soccer package that includes the World Cup, the English Premier League, and the Champions League, and a GameDayScore of 85/100.

It also carries an affiliation with NJ/NY Gotham FC, which means the staff actually cares about the beautiful game. With 9 dedicated TVs and an upscale vibe — this is the spot where you show up early, claim your table, and stay for the full 90 minutes plus stoppage time.

2. Kent Ale House — The Soccer Bar With 24 Taps

If someone told you the best sports bar in Brooklyn to watch soccer was tucked on Kent Avenue with 24 taps and 11 TVs, you'd probably want directions immediately.

Kent Ale House at 51 Kent Ave lists itself specifically as the best spot in Brooklyn for rugby and soccer — which is exactly the kind of confident self-identification that earns trust. With team affiliations including New York City FC, it's already tuned into the soccer frequency. The casual vibe, full pub menu, and proximity to the L train make this one genuinely easy to get to and even easier to stay at through extra time.

3. Highbury — The Soccer Pub on Cortelyou Road

Named after Arsenal's legendary former ground, Highbury on Cortelyou Road is a compact pub where European beers and meat pies share the menu with soccer on every screen. The dive vibe is a feature, not a bug — there's something uniquely perfect about watching a tense World Cup knockout round in a dim, crowded room where everyone is equally invested.

Its Arsenal and NJ/NY Gotham FC affiliations confirm this is a bar where soccer isn't background noise. Located at 1002 Cortelyou Rd in Flatbush with a GameDayScore of 85/100, Highbury is the kind of place that makes a nil-nil draw feel like an event.

4. BK Backyard — The Outdoor Watch Party

Some games demand fresh air, and BK Backyard at 151 Banker St in Greenpoint delivers it. This alfresco hangout has 40 TVs — forty — which means there is genuinely no bad seat in the house, whether you're near the bar or out in the yard.

The casual vibe and Borussia Dortmund affiliation give it a distinctly European soccer energy, which feels exactly right for a World Cup watch party in the middle of a Brooklyn summer. Buzzing atmosphere, burgers, finger foods, cocktails, and draft beer round out a setup that's hard to argue with when the sun is out and the match is on.

5. Dram Shop — The Park Slope Soccer Staple

Park Slope has opinions about everything, and its local sports bar is no exception. Dram Shop at 339 9th St has been a neighborhood institution for over 15 years with impressive soccer credentials. The bar features 7 TVs and team affiliations including Atletico Madrid and Atletico de San Luis — meaning the soccer credibility is legitimate and documented. It serves classic American fare with a Tex-Mex twist and carries an impressive beer and cocktail selection, according to its venue description.

It's the kind of place where regulars have their stool, but the World Cup brings in the whole block, and somehow it all works.

6. Irish Haven — The Dive That Loves the Game

Irish Haven at 5721 4th Avenue in Bay Ridge earns its spot on this list through pure, no-frills soccer devotion. With a team affiliation that includes Wolverhampton Wanderers and AC Milan alongside a classic dive bar identity, this is the place where the drinks are strong and the soccer is serious.

Honestly? Some World Cup moments — a last-minute equalizer, a penalty shootout — are best experienced in exactly that kind of low-lit, high-energy room (probably with a lukewarm Bud Light in your hand). If you want a bar that doesn't try to be anything other than what it is, Irish Haven delivers.

7. Ho'Brah — The Surf-Taco Wildcard

Nobody expects a California-style taco bar to make a World Cup watch-party list, which is exactly why Ho'Brah at 8618 3rd Ave in Bay Ridge is worth knowing about. This surf-themed spot brings a breezy casual energy to game day, with an NJ/NY Gotham FC affiliation that shows it's got soccer on the brain. The Mexican small plates and cocktail menu give it a vibe that's genuinely different from the standard sports bar — and sometimes different is exactly what the group chat needs.

8. The Hooley Pub & Kitchen — Warmth, Food, and Football

A lively, family-owned pub since 2008, The Hooley Pub & Kitchen at 10310 Cascade Crossing rounds out the list with a warm, welcoming atmosphere and a GameDayScore of 85/100. The casual vibe makes it accessible for groups of mixed soccer enthusiasm — the die-hards, the people who came for the food, and the friend who needed someone to explain the offside rule three times.

It may not have the soccer-specific affiliations of some venues higher on the list, but as a place to gather, eat well, and watch football together, it does exactly what it promises.

Honorable Mentions

Every venue on the full Brooklyn sports bar list earned its 85/100 GameDayScore, so cutting the list was genuinely painful.

BK Backyard deserves a second mention for sheer TV count alone — 40 screens is a logistical flex most venues can't match. Kent Ale House doubles as a rugby bar, which means the staff instinctively understands why you're there at 7 AM for a European kickoff. Highbury's meat pies and European beer selection make it a strong candidate for any early-round group stage marathon.

The Call

Brooklyn doesn't do anything halfway, and its soccer bar scene is proof of that. Whether you want 9 HD screens and an upscale atmosphere at Roebling Sporting Club or a corner dive where the Wolverhampton Wanderers flag has been on the wall since before you moved here, this borough has a seat for you.

Pick your venue, find your people, and settle in. The World Cup doesn't wait for anyone. Looking for the best bars to watch the game in Brooklyn, or need to check the latest odds on tonight's match? Explore the full Brooklyn sports bar guide and lock in your spot before the group stage kicks off.

This article was drafted with AI assistance and edited for accuracy, voice, and local context. Editorial decisions, fact-checking, and quality scoring are handled by our editorial pipeline. Learn more about our editorial process.