Hiya Kimberly - welcome to
planDisney!
While most Guests are focused on Mickey and friends during their visits to
Walt Disney World Resort, when our vacations coincide with such important sporting events, we've still gotta watch! Luckily, there are tons of great options where you should be able to catch the action. As with any live broadcast sporting event, there are sometimes challenges with availability, licenses, and time zones. Due to that, I suggest you start chatting with Cast Members as soon as you arrive - they'll be able to help you find not just any ol' place to watch, but will know the
best spots!
If you're staying at a
Disney Resorts Collection hotel, the various lounges available will be an easy place where you should be able to catch the matches close to home. For example, at
Disney's Wilderness Lodge Resort,
Geyser Point Bar & Grill usually has a few TVs with sporting events on, so I think it is a safe assumption that something as important as the World Cup would make the cut. Plus, you've got beautiful scenery on the shores of Bay Lake to enjoy!
Other Resort lounges with TVs will also likely have the game on, and your in-room TV may also have the matches available depending on what network broadcasts them. Several Resorts also have the option to connect to Guests' own personal streaming services - if you're in a Resort with these upgraded TVs, you might be able to use subscriptions you have in order to access the matches if they aren't already available on the channels you have.
Disney Springs would be my other suggestion, and I think
City Works Eatery & Pour House and
Splitsville Luxury Lanes should have the matches playing on some of their many screens. Both of these large locations have great options for food and drink, and will likely be hosting like-minded soccer fans. If you're thinking about trying out one of the options at Disney Springs, I would make a reservation if you can. While not required, if either of these spots ends up being THE place for watching the matches, it will be nice for you to know that you'll already have a spot!
I do want to highlight a location that
would have been a great option, but is permanently closed - ESPN Club at Disney's BoardWalk. If you ask others who aren't aware of its closure, they may recommend this as a great option. It was, but was recently closed as part of the exciting reimagining of Disney's BoardWalk!
I hope this helps get your planning gEARS turning -
let us know when other questions pop up, Kimberly!
Ryan J.