Dallas World Cup watch guide: Where to enjoy the tournament in DFW

Where are we going to watch the game?

It's going to require some creativity to watch every match of the 2022 World Cup. Routines, even those committed to ritual every four years, have to be changed. This tournament not only is no longer in the summer, it's smack dab in the middle of the holidays.

Luckily, you should be able to double dip, enjoying games in the morning and hitting your family Thanksgiving or the company Christmas party at night.

Oh, and as our partners at the Dallas Morning News note ... nobody is getting up to open the bar for you at 4 a.m. They can't sell you a drink then anyway.

FIFA has placed the games of most interest in this time zone, however, later in the day, and there are plenty of spots to watch the games you are probably into if you're a Striker subscriber.

So, where should you watch the World Cup in Dallas?

It depends on exactly what kind of experience you're looking for. Ideally, the place you watch the game isn't too far from where you live - especially if you plan to have a few beers and want to keep the Uber fee low or just walk it.

So, some of the decision is location dependent. Another is the vibe. The real question is you have to answer is ...

Where do you want to watch the game?

With other fans rooting for the same team as me!

There are a number of watch parties for fans of the two most popular national teams in North Texas: The United States and Mexico.

The U.S. supporters' group American Outlaws has every corner of the region covered with watch parties at Peticolas in Dallas' Design District, at HopFusion near Main Street in Fort Worth, at Eastside and Dan's Silverleaf in Denton and up north at The Celt in McKinney.

Barra 76, which aims to be a space for Latino supporters of the Stars and Stripes, will be set up in West Dallas at the Sylvan Avenue Tavern.

Mexico supporters' group Pancho Villa's Army will be watching El Tri at Las Flamas off 75 just south of Spring Valley. 

The excellent tapas spot Sí Tapas in a renovated house in Uptown is great for date night, but it also houses the official fan club of Real Madrid in Dallas. They're your Spain headquarters, welcoming fans for Spain-Costa Rica in the group stage this week.

The same place I watch my club soccer!

FC Dallas is hosting watch parties for the three U.S. group matches at Toyota Stadium. The events are free, but they're taking RSVPs.

In addition to food and drink specials, you may spot an FCD player or two swinging by the office in the offseason.

At a traditional DFW soccer bar!

It's not the same name or management, and we can't vouch for the quality of the cherry Coke (How much grenadine were they putting in those things? Unbelievable), but the go-to space for soccer watching in Dallas will again be showing matches. The second floor of Mockingbird Station houses a new location of The Londoner, opening in the location of Trinity Hall.

There are other Londoner locations around the area, with an expansive location in Addison and another in Colleyville.

On the other side of the Metroplex, Upper 90 sits off uber-hip Magnolia Street but there are few pretensions here. The free nacho bar during happy hour is gone (but not forgotten); there are still tacos close by and a good selection of Fort Worth craft with a bunch of screens and the sound on the game. 

At a soccer bar ... but make it by the office!

The Harwood Arms is designed to be the most British pub in all of Dallas and will open 30 minutes before every game that kicks off prior to 11 a.m. CT. Located in the Harwood District, it's a 30-minute stroll from most of downtown and even quicker to get to if you take public transportation.

In addition to the original Blackfriar Pub location on McKinney Ave., there also is a new location in Lakewood at 6341 La Vista Dr. that plans to show games as well.

It's housed some FCD watch parties, so we'll also sneak Happiest Hour into this section. If you need to pregame a Dallas Mavericks or Stars game while also catching World Cup action or want to be on a patio taking in the action, it's the spot.

Just a solid, traditional sports bar where I can educate some non-soccer fans!

Dallas, as a city, lacks a great sports bar that shows even NFL and NBA games, much less soccer matches — and once you've invested in The Striker, you can get at me for my idea about bringing a sports bar to town).

That said, there are some spots known for always having the game on where you can post up and catch games.

Two bars named the Pour House are good for sports viewing: The one in Oak Cliff goes by PhD and is off Davis and the one in Lakewood is off Skillman and will bring a good pizza over from next door. They're open at 11 a.m. most days.

Off Lower Greenville, Dodie's and Stan's Blue Note are old reliables with lots of TVs, lots of space and lots of beers on draft plus bar food to go along with it. Make it a pub crawl and stop into Dubliner in between them.

Downtown, Frankie's reigns supreme, with a few healthy food options for that early lunch your taking or just beer and wine options.

A great bar with amazing drinks that happens to have a screen!

There are a few spots around town that are way better bars than a place to watch sports, but ask nicely and they might put the game on.

I'm thinking Las Almas Rotas in Exposition Park, Twilite Lounge and Three Links in Deep Ellum, The Libertine on Lower Greenville, even Tiny Victories in Oak Cliff.

The issue you're going to run into is a lot of these spots don't open until the day's slate of games is over and may or may not have events for the tournament since they're not usually places people head to watch games. Support your local businesses, though.

Ruins in Deep Ellum used to open for Premier League games at the back and is open at 11 a.m. daily.

Somewhere I can kick around after!

Does watching the best in the world play make you want to do the same? A couple DFW venues will let you do just that. Soccer Spectrum in Richardson will host Dallas Sidekicks watch parties, while Crossbar in Richardson also is showing games and planning kickarounds. Poke your head into London Calling to check out the vintage jerseys for sale that will make you the best-dressed player on the pitch even if you're not the most skilled out there.

On one of the biggest screens in town!

The Discovery District will show games in the food hall but has special events planned for the U.S. tilt with England on Nov. 25 and Mexico's game against Argentina the next day.

Legacy Hall in Plano is throwing watch parties for U.S. and Mexico matches, while Texas Live! over by the stadiums Arlington is ready for its first-ever World Cup

Wherever you choose to take in the games be smart, enjoy and get ready. The next time there's a men's World Cup, the best view of the tournament in Dallas-Fort Worth will be in the stadium.