Four years ago a reasonably strong argument could have been made that Memphis was not a soccer town.

Memphis was almost exclusively a basketball town: the Grizzlies were going to the NBA playoffs every year and the Tigers were going to the NCAA Tournament every year. But that was four years ago. Both the Grizzlies and the Tigers have bottomed out while professional soccer has gained a foothold and substantial following in the Bluff City.

In 2016, Memphis City FC began play in the NPSL. In late 2017 it was announced that Memphis would be home to a USL team beginning in 2019 leading to tons of hype and many new soccer fans. Support for the national teams has always been good in Memphis as well, with the American Outlaws packing the bars during the 2014 World Cup, the 2015 Women’s World Cup and the 2016 Copa America Centenario (and usually traveling well to USMNT and USWNT games up the road in Nashville).

It should also be noted that according to Steven Goff of the Washington Post, Memphis was the 10th best market for Premier League games that aired exclusively on NBC this year.

Throw in the fact that Memphis is also home to some of the largest youth tournaments in the region at Mike Rose Soccer Complex where several tournaments in the last few months have had over 200 teams and needed over 100 referees. The only conclusion to draw is that Memphis is now a burgeoning soccer town.

So, without further ado here’s the best places to watch the World Cup in the Memphis area this summer.

The Brass Door
152 Madison Ave
Downtown
The Brass Door is the premier soccer bar in Memphis and there’s no two ways about it. It’s home to the local chapter of the American Outlaws as well as the home of the Memphis Gooners (the local Arsenal supporters group). As mentioned above the place was packed to the brim (and overflowed into the alley) during the big tournaments over the last few years. The TV setup is good, the drink selection is solid, the food is good and the people are great. The sound will most definitely be on for most games as well.

Celtic Crossing
903 Cooper St
Midtown
Celtic Crossing has long been a solid soccer bar for Memphians. Being in Midtown it’s pretty easy to get to from almost anywhere in the Memphis area. It is sometimes used as a backup bar for the American Outlaws. It also has hearty Irish fare.

George Paul’s Last Call at Blues City Café
138 Beale St
Downtown
Some clarification might be needed here. The establishment is called Blues City Café but George Paul’s Last Call is the back bar and it’s the place to be during a big sporting event. To get back there, go in through the door off 2nd St under the pavilion (you’ll feel like Henry Hill walking into the Copacabana in Goodfellas) instead of the front door. The TV setup is fantastic, the food is out of this world and the people that work there are awesome. Should you wind up there on a Saturday or Sunday you may just find this writer camped out enjoying the beautiful game (which was the case during Euro 2016). It’s also another place that should have the sound on for the games.

Dan McGuinness – Southaven
3964 Goodman Rd
Southaven, MS
Not to be confused with the Dan McGuinness on Spottswood. This one is for the north Mississippi folks. The home bar for this writer, Dan McGuinness did actually host US watch parties during the last World Cup and was usually jumping for them. The food is good, the choice of beverage is vast, the service is good, there’s Buzztime Trivia available and the TV setup is solid. Getting the sound for the games might be a tad tricky though.

Max’s Sports Bar
115 GE Patterson Ave
Downtown
Max’s has perhaps the best TV setup of any bar in Memphis. They’re quite literally everywhere and you should have no trouble having them put sound on for it. Max’s serves mainly the residents of the South Main neighborhood as a place to get together and hang out. Don’t miss out on the BBQ nachos.

Sammy Hagar’s Red Rocker Bar & Grill
1550 Ingram Blvd
West Memphis, AR
This one is a bit different as it’s a bar inside of another establishment. Sammy Hagar’s can be found at Southland Park, the local greyhound race track which is across the Mississippi River in West Memphis. But the TV setup is great as is the sound quality. And if you wanted to bet some races while you were in town, this is the place to do it. And with the Supreme Court recently legalizing sports betting, you may even be able to bet the World Cup.

Brookhaven Pub
695 W Brookhaven Cir
East Memphis
This place is probably best for those who work in any of the number of office buildings in the area. Maybe you want to take an extended lunch break for the afternoon game? This is the place to be. Good drink selection and quality TV setup too.

Obviously the US missing out on this World Cup hurts. It hurts the fans, it hurts the players (some of them anyway), it hurts the networks and it hurts the bars. But it’s still the World Cup after all and there’s no reason not to go out and watch and enjoy because it only comes along once every four years. So if you live in Memphis or are just passing through during the summer go out to some of these places and have a good time.