Fans from around the globe will be coming to the United States for the FIFA World Cup, which kicks off June 10, including for several games in the Boston area. There are plenty of ways to take in some of the atmosphere and the spirit of the world’s largest sporting event in and around Watertown.
The 2022 World Cup was viewed by 5 billions people globally, according to FIFA (compared to about 115 million for the Super Bowl in the United States), and thousands of fans at the stadiums but it may not be as big an event for the local economy as once thought.
The United States is a co-host, with Canada and Mexico, of the tournament featuring 48 teams and 104 games. The Americans will not play in Boston in the group phase, when the U.S. faces Paraguay (June 12), Australia (June 19) and Turkiye (June 25).
How to Watch
If y0u don’t have tickets to the games at Boston Stadium (as Gillette Stadium is called for the tournament) the games will be broadcast by Fox networks (Channel 25 and FS1). Spanish language broadcasts will be shown on Telemundo and Universo.
Watch parties have become a popular way for fans to gather and watch in large groups. While the main watch party for the area will be in Boston’s City Hall Plaza with watch parties through the tournament. (You must register to attend the free event, and registration does not guarantee entry).
If want to save a trip into Boston, there are a couple of gatherings planned in Watertown. The Sons of Italy invites the public to join them in the members lounge to watch the Mexico-South Africa match on Thursday, June 11 at 3 p.m. Enter from the rear of the building at 520 Pleasant St. in Watertown.
A watch party for the World Cup Final is planned at Saltonstall Park (next to City Hall). The outdoor screening is being hosted by the Watertown Free Public Library and the Recreation Department on Sunday, July 19 starting at 3 p.m. The event is free and open to the public, bring your lawn chair.
If a sports bar is more of your speed, Watertown has some options. Donohue’s Bar & Grill (87 Bigelow Ave.) announced it will show all the games on its 28 HD TVs with sound, with some on the outdoor patio.
Conley’s Pub & Grill will also be showing all the World Cup games at their location at 164 Belmont St.
On the westside, West on Main all the games will be shown during the tournament. The pub (in the former Fit-Z’s location) is at 451 Main St. in Watertown.
At Arsenal Yards, City Works Eatery and Pour House will show all the games, and will be serving special items during World Cup games, including the Golden Ball, Penalty Shot, and Trophy Fries. The restaurant is located at 91 Arsenal St.
WBUR compiled a list of watch parties around Greater Boston (click here).
Economic Impact
The global tournament was predicted to be a huge boost for tourism in Boston, but on the eve of the tournament the large influx of fans does not appear to be heading to the area.
According to a story by CBS Boston, around 80 percent of Boston hotels reported their bookings are falling short of seasonal averages.
During a discussion of tourism in Watertown, hosted by Little Local Conversations podcast host Matt Hanna in April included discussions of the World Cup, as well as other events over the summer including Watertown’s Treaty Day Celebration on July 18, and Sail Boston’s Tall Ships on July 11-16.
Korinne Robertson, Residence Inn Boston Watertown‘s Director of Area Sales, said the hotel were not full, but the Residence Inn was targeting fans in areas such as Scotland (which has a pair of games in Boston) with advertising on social media and web searches.
“So right now the hotels aren’t actually seeing ample demand for that special event,” Robertson said in April. “There’s probably a host of reasons why that’s the case at this moment.”
A check of hotels in Watertown shows that rooms are available around the dates of the games in Foxborough.
Listen to the Tourism Panel Podcast here.
Erin Rathe, the City of Watertown’s Senior Planner for Economic Development, said recently she is focusing more on Watertown’s celebration of the 250th anniversary of Treaty Day, the first treaty signed by the United States after independence that took place in town. The event will be at the Mosesian Center for the Arts on July 18 from 2-5 p.m.
The City released a Visitors Guide that is available at local hotels, City Hall and other places. The four-page bookley includes events, a list of restaurants, hotels, and other information.
When she speaks about Watertown, Rathe said she emphasizes that the City has 90 restaurants featuring 14 different cuisines within its 4+ square miles.
Around the Area
Soccer fans may get a glimpse of some global soccer stars without venturing to Foxborough. Kylian Mbappé, Ousmane Dembélé and the French National Team will be training at Bentley University in Waltham. The first practice is June 11.
Large numbers of Scottish soccer fans, known as the Tartan Army, are expected to venture across the Atlantic, and there are events planned around the area. Some bars in the area are preparing special events, including The Haven in Jamaica Plain, the Dubliner in Boston’s Government Center, and The Anchor in Charlestown.
Those bars, and others, have imported the popular Scottish beer, Tennent’s Lager, but you don’t have to hit the Hub to give it a try. Tommy Doyle’s in Nonanutum serves Tennent’s.
The Red Sox will host a Scottish Celebration on June 14, with the Tartan Army marching in prior to the game.
Norwegian fans won’t be left out of the festivities. Roadrunner, located in Allston’s Boston Landing will host Norgefest on June 25.