2018 FIFA World Cup: Where to Tune In, Drink, and Dine in Denver

Thursday marked the official start of the four-week, global football phenomenon known as the FIFA World Cup, taking place June 14 through July 15. While the competition is unfolding on the field in Russia, Denverites don’t have to miss out on the action. They just have to know where to look.

Given the time difference, many of the games will be in the morning and early afternoon. Check out these cafes, kitchens, and watering holes where all 64 gripping games and suspense-filled rivalries will play out throughout the Mile High City.

BREWPUBS

Boulder fans can celebrate the soccer fest with happy-hour pricing at The Post Brewing Co. on all draft beers the first week of the tournament, plus $10 pitchers.

Even though the Irish didn’t make it to the Cup, grab a Guinness at The Irish Snug and settle in, for games will play sporadically.

LoDo’s Rhein Haus and its sister bar next-door, Wally’s Wisconsin Tavern, are primarily presenting German games, serving up sausages and steins to fans.

With no allegiance to any particular team, the beer is flowing at Falling Rock Tap House, with more than 75 brews on tap. There, games will air during regular business hours. Same goes for LoHi’s microbrewery, Prost Brewing Co.

SPORTS-FRIENDLY SIT-DOWNS

For this year’s World Cup, the South Broadway location of Maria Empanada will feature daily games and will open before 7:30 a.m. when the Argentinian team is up.

Between the two sister restaurants, Highland Tap and Burger and Sloan’s Lake Tap and Burger have a whole lot of televisions. The latter location will be running happy-hour pricing from 11:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. on weekdays and during matches on weekends throughout the event.

Low-pressure Thirsty Lion puts the food first, but its two Denver locations at Union Station and in Cherry Creek North will indeed screen games during regular business hours.

If you’re craving a culinary staple from the UK, all locations of GB Fish & Chips will open early when the English take to the field.

Good news for football fans: Atomic Cowboy will open early at 8 a.m., and if you request, they’ll play whatever game you want.

BARS

Sunday, June 17, $5 bloody marys and $4 mimosas at The Monkey Barrel will turn up the volume on the 11 TVs showing two games — Germany v. Mexico at 9 a.m. and Brazil v. Switzerland at noon.

The Denver bar for fans of Czech sports, beers, and bites, Sobo151, will highlight European matches throughout the four-week stretch.

For a standard LoDo sports bar experience, try Sports Column, which can always be counted on to broadcast major games.

Colfax tavern Three Lions calls itself a “world football pub,” playing host to all soccer fans year-round. For the World Cup, the venue will be open for every game, no matter the hour.

Also on Colfax, The Abbey Tavern has been a longtime hangout for Liverpool Football Club fans and has at least two drink specials running. Rooting for a similar neck of the woods, the old-school British Bulldog opens early — as early as 4 a.m. — on weekends to welcome soccer fans, no matter the time of year.

A go-to for televised sporting events — now with two locations — Stoney’s plans to show some of the early-round matches starting around 8 a.m.

Not your typical sports bar vibe, The Living Room opens at 8:30 a.m. on Sunday, June 17, for Germany versus Mexico, passing out free shots every time Mexico scores.

Celtic on Market is particularly jazzed about the Tuesday, June 21 match between Croatia and Iceland, and planning on pouring plenty of vodka.