Ready for FIFA Club, Concacaf Gold Cup? Where to see soccer in Sacramento
Soccer fans are crowding around TV screens at capital region bars as international tournaments determine this year’s trophy winners.
Two major competitions — the FIFA Club World Cup and the CONCACAF Gold Cup — are underway.
The FIFA Club World Cup features 32 professional clubs from six global confederations: AFC, CAF, CONCACAF, CONMEBOL, OFC, and UEFA.
Teams in the tournament include Chelsea FC, FC Bayern München, FC Internazionale Milano, Inter Miami CF, Los Angeles FC, Manchester City, Juventus FC, Paris Saint-Germain, Real Madrid C.F., Seattle Sounders FC and Atlético de Madrid.
The CONCACAF Gold Cup, organized by the Confederation of North, Central America and Caribbean Association Football, includes 41 national teams from those regions.
The Gold Cup serves as a qualifier for the 2026 FIFA World Cup. Participating teams include the U.S., Mexico, Canada, Jamaica, Guadeloupe, Haiti, Honduras, Dominican Republic, Trinidad and Tobago, and Costa Rica.
With both tournaments running simultaneously, expect to see crowds at bars across Sacramento. These are a few of the spots known for their soccer fervor:
Old Tavern Bar & Grill
At 1510 20th St. in midtown Sacramento, Old Tavern is a hub for Chelsea FC fans. The bar displays Chelsea flags in the windows and hosts members of the Sacramento Blues, the club’s official supporter club.
That visibility drew in Corey Cheeks, a London native who moved to Sacramento from New York last year.
“As I’m walking around this is the first bar that came up as a sports bar,” Cheeks said. “So this is where I came and it’s kind of been like my second home since I’ve been here. …when you’re English, football is serious, right? And then when you’re in America, it’s not. So when you can find a place that’s devoted like this, that’s rare to find and that’s like the shit that you want to be at.”
Whether five or 30 fans turn up, Cheeks said he found a community.
“When I moved here to Sacramento, I never thought I would ever find a place like this,” he said. “Everyone calls it a tiny city, but the community, — I’ve never seen a more tight-knit community that I have here, outside of New York or London, can’t even compare to the tight-knit community.”
He met other supporters like Jason “J Rob” Robinson, a fan since the 1990s.
“It’s like we kind of have, like a little brotherhood here, you know, in the Blue family, we’re a tight-knit group,” Robinson said.
He recalled the 2021 UEFA Champions League final, when the bar was filled with nearly 100 Chelsea supporters.
“We always come together,” Robinson said. “So it kind of goes beyond just having a drink and having a cheer and saying the name, you know, it’s kind of like a family type environment that we have.”
Sean Methot, another Chelsea fan, often brings his dog, Xena, dressed in a jersey and bandana.
“It’s always a familiar, homey feeling,” Methot said. “Sometimes there’s raffles and stuff for the big games, but you don’t show up for the raffles, you show up for the f------ team. ...Yeah, I’m die hard on Chelsea here at the Old Tavern.”
Henry’s Lounge
Henry’s Lounge, located at 2019 O St. in midtown, is known to have soccer games playing on various TV screens at the bar.
The bar is decorated with Arsenal FC sports memorabilia, as it welcomes all the Gooner fans in Sacramento.
Simultaneously, the bar is a support haven for USA soccer.
The USA national soccer team are participants in the Concacaf Gold Cup. They face off against Costa Rica in a quarter finals match June 29 in the tournament’s knockout stage.
Zocalo
Many soccer fans who support Mexico’s national team often gather at Zocalo, a Mexican restaurant and bar located at 1801 Capitol Ave. in midtown.
Although not particularly a sports bar, Zocalo gives the atmosphere of a sports bar whenever Mexico’s games are being shown on their various TVs in the bar section.
Mexico’s national team has a quarterfinal match against Saudi Arabia on June 28.
Zebra Club
Many Sacramentans are familiar with Zebra Club, a dive bar and pub that is a mainstay for airing soccer games – particularly Tottenham Hotspur and Manchester United of the Premier League.
The bar, located at 1900 P St. in midtown, is home to support fan clubs of both teams. When the Premier League is not going, the bar will still find other soccer matches for patrons and fans to enjoy.
If it’s not on, just remind a bartender and ask, an employee said. They are quick to turn sports on their screens.
Field House American Sports Pub and Grill
Field House, 1833 Fulton Ave., is a Kansas City Chiefs bar during football season, but come soccer season the place turns into a Liverpool FC-inspired dojo.
BonnLair
BonnLair is a traditional British pub and sports bar located at 3651 J St. in East Sacramento.
The spot is known to soccer fans of the Premier League and welcomes those who are looking forward to watching the FIFA World Cup or FIFA Club World Cup.
Midtown Streets Pub and Grub
Midtown Streets Pub and Grub, known to its regulars simply as “Streets”, can turn into a sports watch spot.
The bar at 1804 J St. is known to show sports on TVs, but particularly those interested in watching the FIFA Club World Cup would just need to inquire with a bartender about putting the games on.
Other notable bars to tune into soccer matches
Here is a list of other sports bars in Sacramento to visit and check out the different soccer matches:
Pitch and Fiddle: an Irish pub located at 8704 La Riviera Dr. in La Rivier.
Fox and Goose: an alehouse with classic English dishes, 1001 R St. in midtown
Churchill Arms Pub: a British-inspired eatery, 649 E. Bidwell St. in Folsom
The Fat Rabbit Public House: a European-style tavern, located at 825 Sutter St. in Folsom
Public House Downtown: an American chain restaurant located at 1132 16th St. in midtown
Clubhouse 56: a sports bar and eatery located at 723 56th St. in East Sacramento
