Where to watch the FIFA World Cup 2026 in Joburg

26 May 2026

Beer Park Sandton. Photo: Beer Park Sandton website.

Mexico City Stadium (Estadio Azteca) in Mexico City, Mexico, will host the opening match. Photo by Manuel Velasquez for Getty Images

Milk Bar. Photo: Supplied.

Hogshead, Illovo. Photo: Hogshead via Facebook.

The FIFA World Cup 2026 is set to be the biggest in history, expanding to 48 teams and taking place across the USA, Canada and Mexico from Thu, Jun 11 – Sun, Jul 19, 2026. That means more matches, more drama and even more excuses to rearrange your social calendar around kick-off times. South Africa’s Bafana Bafana are part of the action this time, so the hype at home is tangible, and the only real question is where you’ll be watching from. Whether you favour a big-screen fan-park atmosphere or quirky old-school local pubs, Joburg has plenty of spots where you can catch every match live. Here’s our guide to some of the best.

FIFA World Cup 2026 Tournament: Host cities, match times and groups

With matches spread across North America’s iconic stadiums and time zones ranging from six to nine hours behind South African Standard Time, expect some late-night and early-morning kick-offs to become the norm.

The tournament will be played across 16 host cities: Mexico City, Guadalajara and Monterrey in Mexico; Toronto and Vancouver in Canada; and Atlanta, Boston, Dallas, Houston, Kansas City, Los Angeles, Miami, New York/New Jersey, Philadelphia, San Francisco Bay Area and Seattle in the USA. From the historic Estadio Azteca in Mexico City to the massive MetLife Stadium in New Jersey hosting the final, the tournament stretches across some of North America’s biggest football, entertainment and cultural hubs.

The FIFA World Cup 2026 will be the biggest in the tournament’s history, expanding from 32 to a record-breaking 48 teams with 104 matches taking place across 16 cities. Hosts Mexico will kick off the tournament against South Africa at Mexico City Stadium on Thu, Jun 11 at 13:00 local time (21:00 SAST), in a rematch of the opening game from the FIFA World Cup 2010. That clash ended in a draw, but both teams will be hoping to start this tournament with a win.

Group A: Mexico, South Africa, South Korea, Czech Republic
Group B: Canada, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Qatar, Switzerland
Group C: Brazil, Morocco, Haiti, Scotland
Group D: USA, Paraguay, Australia, Türkiye
Group E: Germany, Curaçao, Côte d'Ivoire, Ecuador
Group F: Netherlands, Japan, Sweden, Tunisia
Group G: Belgium, Egypt, Iran, New Zealand
Group H: Spain, Cape Verde, Saudi Arabia, Uruguay
Group I: France, Senegal, Iraq, Norway
Group J: Argentina, Algeria, Austria, Jordan
Group K: Portugal, DR Congo, Uzbekistan, Colombia
Group L: England, Croatia, Ghana, Panama

Mexico City Stadium (Estadio Azteca) in Mexico City, Mexico, will host the opening match.
Photo by Manuel Velasquez for Getty Images.

After the group stages wrap up on Sat, Jun 27, the knockout rounds of the FIFA World Cup 2026 begin with the new Round of 32 from Sun, Jun 28 – Fri, Jul 3. The Round of 16 follows from Sat, Jul 4 – Tue, Jul 7, quarter-finals from Thu, Jul 9 – Sat, Jul 11, semi-finals on Tue, Jul 14 and Wed, Jul 15, and the final takes place on Sun, Jul 19, 2026 at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey.

Bars and pop-up spaces to watch the FIFA World Cup 2026 in Johannesburg

1. Beer Park Sandton

If you’re looking to catch the FIFA World Cup in Sandton with a slightly more polished game-day atmosphere, Beer Park Sandton gives you live football action with craft cocktails, ice-cold beers and a solid food menu. Watch the game on the big-screen alongside music, beer pong, board games and a lively crowd – it's the kind of spot where popping in for one match can easily turn into an all-night hangout.
24 Central, 6 Gwen Ln, Sandton

2. Benchwarmers Sports Bar

Benchwarmers' street-side seating. Photo: Omer Kaovic via Google.

This American-style sports bar on a Jan Smuts Avenue corner typically has customers spilling out the door, with many more angling their necks to catch a glimpse of games from outside. Benchwarmers is the ultimate sports lover's venue with plenty of TVs showing games and highlights of a wide variety of popular sports, and it wouldn't be a sports bar without delicious food and beer on tap to match.
2 Bolton Rd, Rosebank

3. Founders at Giles

With numerous TV screens, the atmospheric, old-fashioned front bar area at Founders at Giles, a quiet neighbourhood pub in Craighall Park, is a popular place to hang out and watch sports no matter the event. If you need a big screen, the large restaurant area to the rear also has a projector.
9 Grafton Ave, Craighall Park

4. Hogshead

A suburban strip mall isn't the most inspiring venue for a pub, but it does afford lots of space. Seat yourself outside on the large terrace or in front of the bar inside – there are screens everywhere. Hogshead has a boozy atmosphere and really fills up, so expect things to get wild once the shooter girls with tequila bottles do the rounds. If there happens to be another sporting event you desperately need to watch at the same time, this is also a good option, as the pub is one of the few venues that can screen multiple matches at once.
10 Illovo Muse, 198 Oxford Rd, Illovo

5. Milk Bar

The terrace at Milk Bar in Parkmore. Photo: Milk Bar via Instagram.

The colourful, retro African-chic Milk Bar at Sandton Sports Club in Parkmore became a staple venue for sports fans when it launched its pop-up rugby village in the Milk Shed venue, serving up breakfast and rugby during the 2019 World Cup in Japan. There's always a great atmosphere and plenty of space inside and out to sit – although table bookings are highly recommended. To get you in the stadium spirit in the suburbs, they also have match day specials on quarts of beer.
Sandton Sports Club, 11 Holt St, George Lea Park, Parkmore

6. Molly Malone's

Molly Malone's is a popular option for those in the far northern suburbs; this Irish pub in Fourways always has plenty of beer specials and a full house on the deck where the biggest screen is set up. Bookings are recommended as the venue typically fills up for sports events and big match days. Book online via their website.
Cnr Forest Rd and Sunset Blvd, Pineslopes, Fourways

7. Pirates Club

Big excitement at Pirates Club in Greenside. Photo: Instagram.

There are plenty of sports clubs dotted around Joburg's northern suburbs, although Pirates Club in Greenside likes to claim they are the greatest in the city. Certainly, if you are looking for cheap beers, you'll hardly find better bargains than this clubhouse. There are plenty of screens inside the bar, although seating is limited. There are no bookings taken on big match days, so make sure to arrive early to get the best tables.

25 Braeside St (4th Ave), Greenside

8. The Troyeville

This historic hotel in Troyeville first opened its doors in 1939. In walking distance to Emirates Airline Park (formerly Ellis Park Stadium), The Troyeville is loved by hardcore rugby fans who usually like to drop by for pre- and post-match beers when there are big matches on at the stadium. Football fans, you'll be more than catered for with the upcoming FIFA World Cup. If you are searching for the company of serious sports watchers with encyclopaedic knowledge, you'll most likely find them propping up the bar here. For busy game weekends, make sure to book a table in advance.
1403 Albertina Sisulu Rd, Troyeville

9. Jolly Cool and Jolly Roger, Parkhurst

A 4th Avenue favourite, Jolly Cool is as easygoing as its name suggests. This long-standing Parkhurst hangout boasts jam jars (made infamous by students on the Hatfield Strip), pool tables and plenty of screens for catching the game. The crowd is always lively but laid-back, making it a great spot to meet up with friends, watch the game, or just enjoy the buzz of a Joburg Saturday. Across the road, Jolly Roger (related in name, but nothing else) draws a different crowd. Go for the game, stay to load up the jukebox afterwards. The pizza here is also top notch.
4th Ave, Parkhurst

10. Hydrokicks Watch Party

Catch heart-stopping moments of the Men’s FIFA World Cup at Hydrokicks’ exclusive private screenings at Wits Chris Seabrooke Hall in Braamfontein. Expect big-match energy, world-class football and even better company as they screen all of South Africa’s group-stage clashes, the semi-finals, bronze medal playoff and the final. Tickets are R90 per person.
Cnr Station and Jorissen Sts, Braamfontein