Where to Watch the World Cup in London With Kids (and a Few Grown-Up Options Too)
- Tracy Tristram
- 2 days ago
- 4 min read
Updated: 12 minutes ago
The countdown is on! The FIFA World Cup 2026 kicks off on Thursday 11 June, and while some of the biggest matches will start well after younger football fans should be tucked up in bed, there are still plenty of ways for London families to get involved.
Whether you've got a football-mad child desperate to cheer on England, a teenager who wants the full match-day atmosphere, or you're planning a rare kid-free evening to catch the action with friends, we've rounded up some of the best places to watch the World Cup in London.
Key Home Nations Fixtures
England Group Games
Pop these in the family diary:
England v Croatia – Wednesday 17 June
England v Ghana – Tuesday 23 June
Panama v England – Saturday 27 June
Scotland Group Games
Scotland fans have a tough but exciting group:
Scotland v Haiti
Scotland v Morocco
Scotland v Brazil
Best Places to Watch the World Cup With Kids
Classic Football Shirts, Spitalfields – Best for Football-Mad Families
If your child can identify a 1998 Nigeria shirt from twenty paces, this is the place for them.
Classic Football Shirts has become something of a pilgrimage site for football fans. The East London store is packed with thousands of vintage and modern shirts from clubs and countries around the world, making it a fantastic pre-match stop for football-loving families. It's not a traditional screening venue, but we'd highly recommend combining a visit with one of the nearby match screenings. If your child loves football history, this could easily be the highlight of their World Cup experience.
BOXPARK Shoreditch & Wembley – Best for Older Kids and Teens
For older children and teenagers who want a proper tournament atmosphere, BOXPARK is hard to beat. Huge screens, food vendors, football fans from all over London and a real sense of occasion make this feel much closer to a fan zone than a pub. England matches are likely to be especially popular, so book ahead if you can.
Canary Wharf Summer Screens – Best Free Family Viewing
Looking for somewhere that's genuinely family-friendly? Head to Canary Wharf's Summer Screens in Canada Square Park. Giant outdoor screens show major sporting events throughout the summer and families can simply grab a picnic blanket and settle on the grass. With restaurants, cafés and bars all around the square, it's easy to turn it into a full afternoon or evening out. If the weather behaves, this is probably the closest thing London has to an outdoor World Cup fan park.
Market Halls – Best for Families Who Need Food Options
Let's be honest, not everyone in the family is equally excited about football.
Market Halls offers giant screens alongside enough food options to keep everybody happy. With locations in Victoria, Oxford Street, Paddington and Canary Wharf, it's one of the easiest family-friendly places to watch a match while still enjoying a meal together.
TOCA Social at The O2 – Best Interactive Football Experience
Why just watch football when you can play it too? TOCA Social combines interactive football games, challenges, food and drinks in one venue. It's a particularly good option if you've got children who won't happily sit through 90 minutes of football but still want to get involved in the World Cup excitement.
Flat Iron Square – Best for Outdoor Viewing
If London delivers some sunshine during the tournament, Flat Iron Square is a great option.
The large outdoor screens, street food stalls and relaxed atmosphere make it feel more like a summer festival than a traditional sports venue.
Outernet – Best for a Big-Screen Experience
For sheer spectacle, Outernet near Tottenham Court Road is hard to beat.
Its giant digital screens create one of the most immersive viewing experiences in London and are perfect for older children and teens who want to experience the drama of a major tournament alongside hundreds of other fans.
The Honest Parent's Guide to World Cup Match Times
Here's the reality: many of the biggest matches are likely to kick off late in the evening due to the tournament being hosted across North America. For younger children, the best World Cup memories may actually come from:
Watching highlights the next morning
Creating a football-themed evening at home
Decorating the house with team colours
Running a family sweepstake
Making snacks inspired by different countries
Playing football bingo during matches
Sometimes the excitement of the occasion is more memorable than staying up until full-time.
Looking for a Grown-Up Night Out?
If you've secured a babysitter, called in a favour from the grandparents or simply want to enjoy the football without worrying about bedtime routines, these venues are worth considering.
Greenwood, Victoria
One of London's best sports bars, Greenwood combines giant screens, excellent food and a brilliant atmosphere for major tournaments.
Bat & Ball, Covent Garden
With table tennis, pool tables and giant screens, Bat & Ball is ideal for groups of friends looking to make a night of it.
Belushi's London Bridge
A long-time favourite among sports fans, Belushi's is always lively during major football tournaments and is likely to be packed for England matches.
BOX Piccadilly
If you're after a proper World Cup atmosphere throughout the tournament, BOX Piccadilly will be showing matches on huge screens and hosting football-themed events throughout the competition.
London for Kidz Verdict
For younger children, we'd keep things simple and focus on the daytime fixtures, football-themed fun at home and perhaps one special outing to somewhere like Market Halls or TOCA Social.
For tweens and teens, BOXPARK, Outernet and Classic Football Shirts offer a much more memorable World Cup experience than simply watching on the sofa.
And for the parents? Given some of the late kick-off times, this may be the perfect excuse to finally cash in that babysitting favour and enjoy a World Cup night out of your own.
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