Got World Cup fever? Here’s where to watch the games in Maine

PORTLAND — A sea of scarves representing soccer clubs from around the world hang from the ceiling, a not-so-gentle reminder of which sport rules this bar. When the Portland Zoo opened in 2018, it wasn’t trying to become a soccer bar. Nearly a decade later, and buoyed by the debut of the men’s professional team the Portland Hearts of Pine, the bar has become THE watch party destination for big-time soccer matches. “Unbeknownst to us, we were filling a void that we didn’t really realize,” said Zoo co-owner Mark Miller. “Music was a big pillar of what we (originally focused on), which to us was a universal language. We’re down in East Bayside. Soccer quickly became a pillar of the community. Soccer is as much a universal language, without speaking.” “A couple of our customers, in the first weekend, asked us to turn (soccer) on… At that point, we had nothing to lose,” added co-owner Chris Blake. “We lucked out.” [](https://w2pcms.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/43619793_20260607_WheretoWatchWorldCup_8.jpg) Scarves cover the ceiling at the Portland Zoo as people watch a Hearts of Pine game on Sunday. (Derek Davis/Staff Photographer) [Purchase this image](https://dev.mainetodaymedia.com/smugmug/upload.php?data=%7B%22src%22%3A%22https%3A%5C%2F%5C%2Fwww.pressherald.com%5C%2Fwp-content%5C%2Fuploads%5C%2Fsites%5C%2F4%5C%2F2026%5C%2F06%5C%2F43619793_20260607_WheretoWatchWorldCup_8.jpg%22%2C%22caption%22%3A%22Scarves%20cover%20the%20ceiling%20at%20the%20Portland%20Zoo%20as%20people%20watch%20a%20Hearts%20of%20Pine%20game%20on%20Sunday.%20%28Derek%20Davis%5C%2FStaff%20Photographer%29%22%7D) The Zoo is one of an abundance of sports bars and venues in Maine gearing up for the FIFA World Cup, which gets underway June 11. It will be among a handful of sports bars in Portland showing games and hosting World Cup watch parties. In Waterville, the Silver Street Tavern, a staple of the city’s downtown since the 1970s, also plans to broadcast World Cup matches. Advertisement [](https://w2pcms.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/03/41455528_20250304_11silver.jpg) Jared O’Roak, right, shares a tender moment with his wife, Mary, on Tuesday at Silver Street Tavern in downtown Waterville. (Rich Abrahamson/Staff Photographer) [Purchase this image](https://dev.mainetodaymedia.com/smugmug/upload.php?data=%7B%22src%22%3A%22https%3A%5C%2F%5C%2Fwww.pressherald.com%5C%2Fwp-content%5C%2Fuploads%5C%2Fsites%5C%2F4%5C%2F2026%5C%2F06%5C%2F41455528_20250304_11silver.jpg%22%2C%22caption%22%3A%22Jared%20O%5Cu2019Roak%2C%20right%2C%20shares%20a%20tender%20moment%20with%20his%20wife%2C%20Mary%2C%20on%20Tuesday%20at%20Silver%20Street%20Tavern%20in%20downtown%20Waterville.%20%28Rich%20Abrahamson%5C%2FStaff%20Photographer%29%22%7D) “We’ll definitely have the U.S. games for sure on the TVs, and we have a big screen TV that we can drop down,” said the tavern’s Shawn Michaud, a Waterville native who plans to travel to Seattle to watch some World Cup games. “It’ll end up staying open late, beyond normal hours. It usually closes at 10 (p.m.), but if a game starts at 10, we’ll tweak that.” The Hearts of Pine, in partnership with Portland Downtown, will offer a [free outdoor doubleheader](https://www.pressherald.com/2026/05/27/world-cup-soccer-watch-party-set-for-monument-square/) watch party in Monument Square on June 19, which will pit the U.S. men’s soccer team against Australia, followed by the Hearts of Pines’ road match against Westchester, South Carolina. [](https://w2pcms.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/43619793_20260607_WheretoWatchWorldCup_3.jpg) Lars Jerlach of Portland reacts to a play while watching a Hearts of Pine game at the Portland Zoo on Sunday. Jerlach says that he will be rooting for the United States in the World Cup, but also probably Sweden since Denmark didn’t qualify for the tournament. (Derek Davis/Staff Photographer) [Purchase this image](https://dev.mainetodaymedia.com/smugmug/upload.php?data=%7B%22src%22%3A%22https%3A%5C%2F%5C%2Fwww.pressherald.com%5C%2Fwp-content%5C%2Fuploads%5C%2Fsites%5C%2F4%5C%2F2026%5C%2F06%5C%2F43619793_20260607_WheretoWatchWorldCup_3.jpg%22%2C%22caption%22%3A%22Lars%20Jerlach%20of%20Portland%20reacts%20to%20a%20play%20while%20watching%20a%20Hearts%20of%20Pine%20game%20at%20the%20Portland%20Zoo%20on%20Sunday.%20Jerlach%20says%20that%20he%20will%20be%20rooting%20for%20the%20United%20States%20in%20the%20World%20Cup%2C%20but%20also%20probably%20Sweden%20since%20Denmark%20didn%27t%20qualify%20for%20the%20tournament.%20%28Derek%20Davis%5C%2FStaff%20Photographer%29%22%7D) FIFA (Fédération Internationale de Football Association), the sport’s global governing body, owns the rights to the World Cup and profits off games, merchandise and activities. FIFA has cracked down on watch parties and events but is offering watch party permits, albeit for an undisclosed fee. The Hearts of Pine are in the process of obtaining a permit for the June 19 event. The Portland Police Department, through a spokesperson, said it is not planning extra security in the city during the World Cup. [](https://www.pressherald.com/2026/06/08/how-to-watch-the-world-cup-for-free-in-maine/) Related [How to watch the World Cup for free at home](https://www.pressherald.com/2026/06/08/how-to-watch-the-world-cup-for-free-in-maine/) Albert Waitt, the president of operations for Smitty’s Cinema, said the World Cup will be televised in the company’s GameLab locations in Sanford and Topsham. Smitty’s, however, has yet to start its promotion for the World Cup, in an effort to avoid a FIFA crackdown. In previous years, Smitty’s played New England Patriots games on its big screens. But in 2017, Waitt said the company received a cease-and-desist letter from the National Football League. Advertisement “I don’t think the people who run these governing bodies are really in touch with the fans who want to see this stuff,” Waitt said. “I think they’re just looking at their spreadsheets. They just make it difficult for local businesses. But we’ll be showing any World Cup game that is on any accessible TV.” Here’s where to watch World Cup matches in central and southern Maine: **[Andy’s Old Port Pub](https://andysoldportpub.com/):** 94 Commercial St., Portland **[Bissell Brothers Brewing Company](https://bissellbrothers.com/):** 38 Resurgam Place, Portland **[Dock Fore](https://www.instagram.com/dockfore1/?hl=en):** 336 Fore St., Portland **[Depot Pub](https://www.facebook.com/TheDepotSportsPub/):** 14 Maine St., Gardiner **[$3 Deweys](https://threedollardeweys.com/):** 241 Commercial St., Portland Advertisement **[Gridiron Restaurant & Sports Pub](https://www.gridironrestaurant.com/):** 1567 Lisbon St., Lewiston **[Gritty McDuff’s](https://grittys.com/portland-brew-pub/):** 396 Fore St., Portland **[Hero’s Sports Grill & Entertainment Center](https://www.herossportsgrill.com/):** 41 Washington St., Bangor [](https://w2pcms.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2021/09/26672094_SJ.BIZlegendsP.100421-1.jpg) The entrance to Legends Sports Bar & Grill at 4 Mollison Way in Lewiston. (Russ Dillingham/Staff Photographer) [Purchase this image](https://dev.mainetodaymedia.com/smugmug/upload.php?data=%7B%22src%22%3A%22https%3A%5C%2F%5C%2Fwww.pressherald.com%5C%2Fwp-content%5C%2Fuploads%5C%2Fsites%5C%2F4%5C%2F2026%5C%2F06%5C%2F26672094_SJ.BIZlegendsP.100421-1.jpg%22%2C%22caption%22%3A%22The%20entrance%20to%20Legends%20Sports%20Bar%20%26%20Grill%20at%204%20Mollison%20Way%20in%20Lewiston.%20%28Russ%20Dillingham%5C%2FStaff%20Photographer%29%22%7D) **[Legends Sports Bar and Grill](https://legendsmaine.com/):** 4 Mollison Way, Lewiston **[Mainely Brews Restaurant & Brewhouse](http://mainelybrews.net/):** 1 Post Office Road, Waterville **[Pat’s Pizza](https://www.patsyarmouth.com/):** 791 U.S. Route 1, Yarmouth; 112 Pleasant St., Brunswick Advertisement **[Portland Zoo](https://portland-zoo.myshopify.com/):** 41 Fox St., Portland **[Rí Rá Irish Pub & Restaurant](https://rira.com/portland/):** 72 Commercial St., Portland [](https://w2pcms.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2020/01/ri-ra-by-gregory-rec.jpg) Cheering fans at Ri Ra in Portland. (Gregory Rec/Staff Photographer) **[Rivalries](https://rivalriesmaine.com/):** 2 Hat Trick Drive, Falmouth **[Silver Street Tavern:](https://www.silverstreettavern.com/)** 2 Silver St., Waterville **[Smitty’s Cinema and GameLabs](https://www.smittyscinema.com/gamelab):** 1327 Main St., Sanford; 65 Topsham Fair Mall Road, Topsham **[State Theatre](https://statetheatreportland.com/) (for select games):** 609 Congress St., Portland [](https://w2pcms.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/43619793_20260607_WheretoWatchWorldCup_1.jpg) Friends Eban Bradley, left, Sam Panico, Hannah Abbott, and Avani Gill, right, watch a Hearts of Pine game at the Portland Zoo on Sunday. (Derek Davis/Staff Photographer) [Purchase this image](https://dev.mainetodaymedia.com/smugmug/upload.php?data=%7B%22src%22%3A%22https%3A%5C%2F%5C%2Fwww.pressherald.com%5C%2Fwp-content%5C%2Fuploads%5C%2Fsites%5C%2F4%5C%2F2026%5C%2F06%5C%2F43619793_20260607_WheretoWatchWorldCup_1.jpg%22%2C%22caption%22%3A%22Friends%20Eban%20Bradley%2C%20left%2C%20Sam%20Panico%2C%20Hannah%20Abbott%2C%20and%20Avani%20Gill%2C%20right%2C%20watch%20a%20Hearts%20of%20Pine%20game%20at%20the%20Portland%20Zoo%20on%20Sunday.%20%28Derek%20Davis%5C%2FStaff%20Photographer%29%22%7D) Copy the Story Link Tagged: [featured](https://www.pressherald.com/tag/featured/), [soccer](https://www.pressherald.com/tag/soccer/), [Things To Do](https://www.pressherald.com/tag/things-to-do/) [](https://www.pressherald.com/author/dave-dyer) [Dave DyerStaff Writer](https://www.pressherald.com/author/dave-dyer) Dave Dyer is in his second stint with the Kennebec Journal/Morning Sentinel. Dave was previously with the company from 2012-2015 and returned in late 2016. He spent most of 2016 doing freelance sports. [More by Dave Dyer](https://www.pressherald.com/author/dave-dyer)