Photo courtesy of Piece Out Del Ray
World Cup fans celebrate at Piece Out Del Ray
The world's biggest sporting event is being played in our backyard this summer — and Alexandria has a front-row seat. With the Croatia national football team choosing the city as its official base camp and training at Episcopal High School, there's a special charge in the air around every match. Even if you didn't score tickets to a game, you don't have to watch alone at home. Alexandria pubs, beer gardens, sports bars and waterfront patios across the city are pouring pints, firing up the grills and turning up the volume.
Here's a neighborhood-by-neighborhood guide to catching the action, drawn from Visit Alexandria's official World Cup roundup.
Old Town
The heart of the city is also the heart of the watch-party scene, with everything walkable from King Street.
Bugsy's Pizza Restaurant & Sports Bar (111 King St.) bills itself as Old Town's original sports bar, which makes it a natural home for big-match crowds, cold beer and a slice between goals.
Murphy's Irish Pub (713 King St.) brings classic pub energy and Irish hospitality — the kind of room where a roar goes up the second the ball hits the net.
Alexandria Bier Garden (710 King St.) leans into the European football tradition with German bier, giant pretzels, sausages and schnitzel — fitting fuel for a tournament played a continent away.
Augie's Mussel House (1106 King St.) offers a more relaxed patio vibe in upper Old Town, ideal for a daytime match with a plate of mussels and a glass of something cold.
Union Street Public House (121 S. Union St.), an Old Town institution since 1986, sits in a restored colonial warehouse just off the waterfront — a comfortable, character-filled spot to settle in for 90 minutes.
Cooper Mill (10 Duke St.), a market, tavern and event space in one of Old Town's last waterfront warehouses, brings a newer, buzzy energy to the riverside end of the action.
And for fans with a soft spot for Croatia's run, Old House Cosmopolitan Grill (1024 Cameron St.) is the sentimental favorite. The all-day eatery serves authentic German and Bosnian dishes and has become part of the city's Croatian cultural story this summer — a place to toast the team over food that tastes like home for the visiting fans.
Old Town North
Continues Arcade, Bar, Restaurant (1050 N. Fayette St.) pairs the match with vintage arcade games and neon, a fun, family-adjacent pick when you want a little more than a bar stool.
Del Ray & Arlandria
Gustave Boulangerie & Brasserie (2213 Mount Vernon Ave.) is the spot for fresh bread, pastries, specialty coffee and a traditional French menu — continental cuisine to match a continental tournament.
Northside 10 (10 E. Glebe Road) is a Del Ray/Arlandria neighborhood staple for gatherings of all kinds, from happy hour to brunch, making it an easy call for a casual watch with friends.
Piece Out Del Ray (2419 Mount Vernon Ave.) The eatery held a "Pitches and Pints" watch party sponsored by the Alexandria Soccer Association (ASA) for the USA vs. Paraguay match. Piece Out has become a popular neighborhood hub for soccer fans.
West End
Aslin Beer Company (847 S. Pickett St.) is a spacious brewery and taproom with a modern-Scandinavian look and plenty of room to spread out for the crowd.
Taqueria Picoso (1472 N. Beauregard St.) channels Mexico City street-food culture — a flavorful, festive backdrop for cheering on any of the tournament's teams.
Carlyle / Eisenhower Valley
Theismann's Restaurant & Bar (1800 Diagonal Road), steps from the King Street Metro and the area's hotels, blends a lively atmosphere with easy access — a smart choice for visiting fans staying nearby.
Following Croatia's Run
The local rooting interest got off to a tough start. In their Group L opener on June 17 in Dallas, Croatia fell 4-2 to England, with young midfielder Martin Baturina and Petar Musa finding the net for the Croatians before England pulled away in the second half. Captain Luka Modrić and Zlatko Dalić's side — runners-up in 2018 and third place in 2022 — now have ground to make up against Panama and Ghana.
That makes the next two matches appointment viewing. Croatia faces Panama today (on Tuesday, June 23), at 7 p.m. ET in Toronto, then closes group play against Ghana on Saturday, June 27, at 5 p.m. ET in Philadelphia. Both are must-watch results for a team chasing a knockout-round spot — and a perfect excuse to claim a seat at one of the local spots. Matches air on FOX and FS1.
A Tournament Made for Alexandria
Alexandria's central East Coast location has it positioned as a comfortable home base for the whole tournament, with the Alexandria Amtrak station and nearby Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport offering quick connections to host cities including Philadelphia, New York/New Jersey, Boston, Atlanta, Miami and Toronto. For Croatia fans in particular, nonstop flights from National Airport reach the team's group-stage matches in Dallas, Toronto and Philadelphia.
So pick a neighborhood, claim your bar stool and find your crowd. However far the games are being played, in Alexandria this summer, the World Cup feels like it's right at home.
For the full list of viewing spots, hotel offers and World Cup events, visit Visit Alexandria's World Cup hub.
