Where To Watch 2026 World Cup In Plainfield

PLAINFIELD, IL — Fans in Plainfield can't see the action in person but can still find plenty of places to watch the 2026 FIFA World Cup, the world's biggest soccer tournament.

Fans from around the globe will come to North America for matches that are being played across the United States, Canada and Mexico.

The 2026 World Cup runs 39 days, starting Thursday, June 11, and ending July 19. For the first time, the tournament will feature 48 teams, making it the largest World Cup ever.

Eleven U.S. cities — Atlanta, Boston, Dallas, Houston, Kansas City, Los Angeles, Miami, Philadelphia, San Francisco, Seattle and Rutherford, New Jersey — are hosting matches.

Given the massive popularity of the World Cup, sports bars across the country are expected to draw large and energetic crowds. Some to consider in and near Plainfield include:

• Champions Sports Bar, 2049 S. Route 59 in Plainfield
• Backroads Burger & Bar, 13717 Route 30 in Plainfield
• Buffalo Wild Wings, 11820 S. Route 59 in Plainfield
• Double 'J' Sports Bar, 1001 Essington Road in Joliet
• Corrigan's Pub, 700 W. Jefferson St. in Shorewood
• Fox Valley Winery, 59 Main St. in Oswego

Know of other local spots that will show the World Cup games? Email emily.rosca@patch.com for inclusion.

The World Cup will feature an unprecedented trio of star-studded opening ceremonies in the host nations, the United States, Canada and Mexico, created by the Italian producer behind the opening ceremony for this year's Milan Cortina Winter Olympics.

The ceremonies' unifying theme will be “the celebration of sports, the passion for soccer, symbolized by the cup itself,” Marco Balich, creative director of Milan-based Balich Wonder Studio, told The Associated Press. “The idea is to narrate with three points of view and languages” using design aesthetics representative of each culture.

In Canada, a mosaic will represent its multicultural identity. Mexico's motif will be the traditional paper cutouts called papel picado, while the United States will have “a super shiny, glowing cup,” said Balich, who also produced the opening ceremony for the 2022 World Cup in Qatar.

Each ceremony will feature top artistic performances that tap into the national identity, but Balich said spectators shouldn’t expect a Super Bowl-style halftime extravaganza. Instead, the ceremonies will combine welcoming speeches, a parade of flags, the presentation of the match ball and about 30 minutes of musical entertainment.

The U.S. opening ceremony takes place Friday at SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles. Beginning at 3:30 p.m. CST, 90 minutes before the USA vs. Paraguay opening match. Katy Perry, Future, Anitta, LISA, Rema and Tyla will headline an all-star lineup.

The Associated Press contributed reporting.