This article is sponsored by TOCA Social
The 2022 World Cup takes place 20 November-18 December 2022, in Qatar. It's different from usual World Cups, taking place in the winter, due to Qatar's climate. The usual sprawling beer gardens and open-air fan parks, then, are less likely to happen. But there will still be plenty of places to watch the World Cup in London — particularly if it's England you're supporting.
If none of the below take your fancy, or are all sold out, London's best sports bars, and the city's best football pubs are a good bet for watching any of the matches.
England matches in the World Cup 2022
England are in Group B, with their initial matches scheduled as follows (UK time):
- 21 November, 1pm: England vs. Iran
- 25 November, 7pm: England vs. USA
- 29 November, 7pm: Wales vs. England
Where to watch World Cup matches in London
Boxpark (Shoreditch, Croydon and Wembley)
All three Boxpark venues are showing World Cup games — not just the England matches either, so this might be one to keep an eye on if the Lions aren't your team. Full details TBC but sports screenings are usually free yet ticketed, and things tend to get pretty lively (think beers chucked around when England score...).
The Blues Kitchen (Camden, Shoreditch and Brixton)
All three London venues are screening England's World Cup matches. In true Blues Kitchen-style, the fun continues after the final whistle on Friday and Saturday night games, with live performances by the house band, including a rendition of Sweet Caroline with a twist. Southern-inspired food such as Buffalo chicken wings and cajun popcorn squid is available throughout the match. It'll cost you £5 per person to reserve a table.
City Taverns pubs
Aldgate's Three Tuns, Smithfield's The Hope, and The Three Kings in Clerkenwell are among the venues in the City Taverns chain screening World Cup matches. Book ahead with the individual venue to guarantee a seat.
Belushi's bars
Belushi's bars in London Bridge, Hammersmith, Camden, Greenwich and Shepherd's Bush are showing every 2022 World Cup match live, using HD screens and projectors to ensure no-one misses a second. Various food and drink packages are available to book in advance, featuring burgers, sharing platters and drinks tokens.
Young's pubs
Various Young's pubs across town including the Hope & Anchor in Brixton, The Bull in Streatham, Adam & Eve in Oxford Circus, and the Grand Junction Arms in Acton are screening the matches — check individual venues for details.
Nordic Bar, West End
Though Nordic Bar's Fitzrovia venue is currently closed for a refurb, the Nordic team are hosting a World Cup pop-up. Exact details are TBC, but it'll be somewhere in the West End, screening every game across multiple screens.
Pizza Pilgrims
Pizza Pilgrims branches at Liverpool Street, West India Quay, Hyde Park and Camden are screening all England matches (plus finals games) — offering a deal that gets you bottomless Neapolitan pizza and three drinks tokens.
Tiger Tiger, Haymarket
Central London nightclub Tiger Tiger turns sports bar for the duration of the tournament, with every game being shown. Bookings are now being taken — but be aware that your booking doesn't guarantee you entry, it just gives you priority on the day.
FIFA Fan Festival
Some sort of fan base will be popping up in central London — a collab between FIFA and Budweiser — as well as five other cities around the globe. Keep an eye on the FIFA site for more details.
Arcade Food Hall, New Oxford Street
Six large screens are broadcasting all 64 World Cup matches at Arcade Food Hall on New Oxford Street, with DJs and MCs bringing the party vibes to all England matches, plus finals games. Plenty of decent nosh on offer, including a special World Cup Menu.
Where to watch World Cup matches in north London
The Hive London, Edgware
The Hive London is the only place in London that we know of where you can watch the England matches in an actual stadium — albeit on a screen. Capacity for the events is 4,500, so you'll have plenty of company in your rendition of Three Lions.
Big Penny Social (formerly Truman's Social Club), Walthamstow
The massive beer hall at north-east London venue Big Penny Social has two big screens, showing every World Cup game with a capacity of 1,400 fans. It's somewhere for people who take their beer as seriously as they take their football — the place has 98 beers on tap, so don't spend so long choosing your tipple that you miss a goal.
Camden Beer Hall
The 500-capacity Camden Beer Hall offers at least 10 big screens on which to watch each match, at both indoor and heated outdoor seating. Food and drink options include 24 taps of fresh beer on draft, including limited-edition beer creations and one-off specials, and dishes such as crispy fried spiced cauliflower, and a Camden Town Brewery sausage roll with homemade pickles.
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Watch World Cup 2022 footie from the comfort of a private box
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Prefer to spectate surrounded by your fellow (and possibly rival) fans? TOCA Social — which is inside The O2 — also has two HUUUGE communal screens, with both seating and standing options — ideal for smaller groups. Feel inspired by what you've seen on screen? You can get stuck into the fantastic football games available to play at TOCA Social (involving actual footballs) — back of the net!
As for that age old problem of missing a match while stuck in the office... TOCA Social has the answer. Its special Work & Watch sessions screen all the action* while providing wi-fi and sockets, from just £20pp —so you can get a hard(ish) day's work done, while catching all the action. There's even a lunchtime 'Bun & Beer' deal. They've even gone and made a video about it.
World Cup screenings at TOCA Social, 21 November-18 December. Book your box, table or space today!
*Except England matches
Where to watch World Cup matches in south London
Clapham Grand
Multi-purpose events venue Clapham Grand is showing every England match of the tournament, on a 25ft screen, plus eight smaller screens dotted around. As you'd expect if you've ever set foot in the place, they're going full-on party mode, with live DJs, singalongs, a photo booth, confetti and balloon drops — plus plenty of food and drink available to buy on the day. (Be warned: it'll be hard to do a thorough deconstruction of Southgate's latest tactics with a mass singalong taking place around you and confetti dropping into your pint.)
Infernos Clapham
Another legendary nightclub-turned-temporary-sports-bar, Infernos is hosting The G.O.A.T World Cup pop-up. England matches are shown on a large screen, accompanied by a live brass band leading you in all those classic footie anthems.
Vinegar Yard, London Bridge
Wrap up warm and settle beneath the heaters at Vinegar Yard's al fresco screenings. Ever single match is being screened. If you're wanting to watch England, though, you'll need to book ahead — with £25 tickets including a drink, and food from one of the resident traders.
Flat Iron Square, London Bridge
Southwark's semi open-air food and drink venue Flat Iron Square is selling tickets to its World Cup screenings, available now. A roof covering will be installed on the outside area, but there's also an indoors area that's completely sheltered from the November-December elements. Current traders include Good Slice pizza, Gamekeeper BBQ, and Latin-inspired Streat Arepas, so you'll be well fed while you watch the action. There are two bars on site as well.
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Between the Bridges, South Bank
Embrace the wintry weather, and watch any World Cup game at Between the Bridges, the outdoor village-like setup near the London Eye. They've got seven screens and three video walls. Walk in for any group match, apart from England ones, which are ticketed.
The Prince of Wales, Brixton
An extra-large indoor screen, group booths and after parties are on offer at Brixton's POW, which hosts football fans in the club section of the venue. It's showing all England group matches, plus the semis and final.
The Devonshire, Balham
November is largely dominated by the Autumn Internationals (that's rugby, FYI) at The Devonshire, but the Young's pub does manage to squeeze in all of the England games, as well as a few other group matches.
Where to watch World Cup matches in east London
Skylight Tobacco Dock
Wapping's Tobacco Dock is opening what it claims is the UK's biggest sports bar, especially for the World Cup. Pitchside takes over level 2 of the former car park, with five huge LED screens, and space for 500 fans. General admission tickets go on sale some time in the autumn.
Dalston Roofpark
All cup matches are being screened at Dalston Roofpark, and you've got to fork out to watch them, with a premium on the England games. (Some tickets include a food and drink voucher.) Every England match, we're told, features an in-the-flesh appearance from a footballing "legend" (although the legends are TBC at time of writing).
TOCA Social at The O2
It's no surprise that football-centric venue TOCA Social is screening the World Cup action — and if you're taking things seriously, this is the place to head as one of the offerings is a private box with a screen just for your group. Otherwise, book yourself a table or standing spot in the main bar and lap up the atmosphere with the other footie fans. Whichever ticket you go for, food and drink is available to buy throughout, or you can book a food and drink package in advance.
Goldwood Sports Pub & Kitchen, Bank
With a capacity of 200 seated or up to 500 standing across two bar areas and a mezzanine, Goldwood Sports Pub is already taking bookings for all Group Stage matches. They also offer food and drink packages for anyone wishing to hire the mezzanine area for a private group screening.
Where to watch World Cup matches in west London
OSO Arts Centre, Barnes
Usually associated with comedy shows and small-scale theatre, OSO Arts Centre is screening all of England's matches, as well as the quarters, semis, and final — aimed at those who want to watch with others, but don't fancy the raucousness of a pub. If you book for all of the Group B matches, you'll get a free ticket to watch the final. Screenings take place on a big screen in the theatre, making use of the high-tech projector and sound system.
The Aeronaut, Acton
Circus may be the main focus of The Aeronaut, but this venue is no one-trick pony. All World Cup matches will be shown on two large screens inside the pub.
Know somewhere we've missed? Let us know in the comments.
