Orlando’s World Cup Summer!

By Simon Veness

We know the question already: “Where can we see the World Cup?” It’s sure to be uppermost in many UK visitors’ thoughts, especially while both England and Scotland are fully involved. And the good news is – it will be harder to miss games than to see them!

Just to start with, all games will be broadcast live on regular TV by Fox TV and Fox Sports 1, which are fairly standard in all villa TV packages. It will also be live streamed by Fox One and Peacock, and in Spanish by Telemundo and Universo. FOX’s main channel will air 70 of the 104 matches, while FS1 will broadcast the other 34.

But then it gets even better. When the 2026 FIFA World Cup officially kicks off on June 11, Orlando has positioned itself to welcome a global wave of football fans. With 11 American cities hosting matches, plus those in Canada and Mexico, our part of Central Florida aims to provide a truly world class viewing destination for those who want to experience the tournament’s energy without breaking the bank on stadium tickets.

From the first games on June 11 to the final on July 19, our destination promises to pulse with the heartbeat of the world’s game. And, whether you’re a die-hard supporter or just a casual fan looking for the summer’s sporting vibe, Orlando will be able to offer far more than big screens and cold beer. It is all set for a seven-week celebration of soccer, with free festivals, immersive experiences, sizzling sports venues and options for every budget.

The Orlando City Soccer Celebration

The crown jewel of our World Cup experience will be the Orlando City Soccer Celebration presented by Verizon, a free, large-scale fan festival transforming Pointe Orlando on International Drive into Central Florida’s soccer heart. Running for the entire tournament, it will broadcast all 104 matches live in a communal setting designed to replicate the energy of a major stadium.

Crucially, organisers have designed a festival atmosphere, with live entertainment, global food vendors, appearances from Orlando City players and club legends, an official World Cup pop-up store and dedicated fan zones. At the centre will be sports venue Sports & Social – Live!, located on the second floor, which serves as the hub for match viewings with a full bar and restaurant. The aim is to be the physical heart of Orlando’s World Cup summer, where you’ll see locals in national colours, international visitors and dyed-in-the-wool fans, all creating a football melting pot of extensive dimensions.

Best of all: it will be free to enter and watch. And it is that level of accessibility and fan fervour that is promising to make Orlando attractive to families and fan groups who might otherwise spend thousands on travel and tickets to Miami, the closest official host city. Our advice – stay in The City Beautiful!

Elite Sports Viewing Venues

For fans looking for a more curated experience, many of Orlando’s sports bars and restaurants have also invested in boosting their World Cup viewing offerings, and this selection is also ideal if you’re out and about at the theme parks but still want to catch the FIFA action.

In the heart of I-Drive (at the junction with Sand Lake Road), Tom’s Watch Bar stands out as a flagship sports destination, a sprawling new venue that has quickly become a major host for big sporting events. Boasting more than 100 screens and a 360-degree viewing experience, the bar pairs its technical prowess with sky-high scenery and immersive gaming bays, ensuring you have a perfect view regardless of where you sit. Game-day fare is also chef-driven and substantial.

Over at Universal’s CityWalk, the NBC Sports Grill & Brew offers a different vibe, with this two-storey venue featuring nearly 100 high-definition TVs and in excess of 100 varieties of beer and cider. The food menu rises above typical sports-bar fare, too, and we can heartily recommend their crispy grouper sandwich, smoked chicken pesto pasta and scrummy Pretzel Bread Pudding. It’s the perfect spot if you’re spending the day at Universal and want to pop out of the parks to catch the games.

For those seeking a more partisan atmosphere, The Lucky Leprechaun Irish Pub on I-Drive will emphasise Scotland, England and Brazil matches, transforming into a de facto fan zone for those national teams. After 40 years in the city, the pub understands what its communities want, and, during the 2026 World Cup, it will be delivering exactly that.

Part of Orlando’s acclaimed Restaurant Row near I-Drive, American Social Bar & Kitchen is a high-energy gastropub and sports bar with award-winning food and drinks. You can catch all the football action on 100-plus HDTVs, with full game sound for featured matches, drink specials, World Cup packages, special events and more.

Beyond the Bars: Theme Parks and Unique Experiences

The theme parks and other attractions won’t be sitting on the sidelines, either. LEGOLAND Florida Resort is hosting its own FIFA World Cup 2026 Experience throughout the tournament, and families will discover interactive challenges, brick-built tributes to soccer legends like Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi, custom jersey design activities and unique photo ops with the official LEGO FIFA World Cup Trophy, all included with standard park admission.

TopGolf Orlando will also host major watch parties, complete with HDTVs in every bay and a dedicated sports bar with multiple screens. For those who fancy combining sport-watching with actual sport – golf in this case – it should be an unusual and entertaining hybrid.

When it comes to Walt Disney World, City Works at Disney Springs is positioning itself explicitly for footy fans, with a beer-lover’s collection and a total commitment to World Cup coverage. It’s usually a quieter alternative to the larger sports bars, hence ideal if you’re looking for conversation alongside your viewing. And don’t forget to stock up with soccer souvenirs and the essential team jerseys at the nearby Pele Soccer shop!

The Perfect Warm-Up: England v Costa Rica

As reported in the Debbie’s Villas blog in April, Orlando gets a marquee international friendly featuring England on June 10 at Orlando City’s Inter&Co Stadium. This World Cup warm-up game with Costa Rica will be the team’s last chance to fine-tune their preparations before the opening group match with Croatia on June 17 (a 4pm kick-off) and it’s a rare chance to see international stars in Central Florida.

Now, what all this means is that Orlando hasn’t created a replacement for attending matches in person, it’s something different. It is a summer-long celebration accessible to everyone, whether you want an all-day festival at Pointe Orlando, an elite viewing experience at a premium sports bar, a family outing to LEGOLAND or a simple gathering with friends at a local pub. From June 11 to July 19, Central Florida becomes a World Cup city, not by hosting matches, but by inviting the world in to watch them together.

*Simon and Susan Veness are Orlando-based travel experts and guidebook authors writing exclusively for Debbie’s Villas. *