Where to Eat, Play, and Stay in Miami During the FIFA World Cup

A few Fourths of July ago, Brazil was playing Colombia during the World Cup. But in Miami, you’d have never known it was Independence Day in the US. Flags from the two competing countries hung out apartment balconies, waved from cars, and covered the bodies of rabid fans as they packed the city’s bars and restaurants. Because in the “Capital of Latin America,” as Miami often calls itself, a World Cup match between South American powerhouses is bigger than any national holiday.

Long before Lionel Messi took his talents to South Florida, Miami was soccer mad. International friendlies draw bigger crowds than the Miami Dolphins, and impromptu parades erupt every time a Latin American team wins a major tournament. That makes the Magic City especially well-suited to host the World Cup, and if you’re visiting from out of town, you’ll find an international experience unlike any other North American venue.

Hard Rock Stadium, where the Miami World Cup matches will be played, is actually nowhere near the Miami you see on TV. Instead, it’s situated about halfway between Miami and Ft. Lauderdale in Miami Gardens. So other than a pregame tailgate, you probably won’t be spending much time near the stadium. That leaves the entirety of your trip to explore Miami and all it has to offer, from world-class bars and restaurants to colorful neighborhoods. Here’s a look at all the best things to do in Miami during the World Cup, and how to fill all your time when you’re not at the stadium.

The best sporty things to do in Miami

Miami is a perennial magnet for travelers, probably for its dazzling blend of cultures, vibrant arts, great parks and outdoor spaces, and a food scene that’s as diverse as its population. While many visitors make a beeline for iconic attractions like the pastel-hued Art Deco Historic District and the sun-soaked stretches of Miami Beach, those coming for the World Cup will find the city has much more to do beyond just its postcard-ready sights.

Admire the artsy Wynwood

Wynwood is a fascinating study in rapid urban development, as it’s transformed from industrial wasteland to artists’ enclave to buzzy mixed-use neighborhood in just over 15 years. Though Wynwood’s lost some of its grit, it’s still a colorful maze of provocative murals, where the ever-changing walls create an outdoor museum every time you visit. Start your visit at the Wynwood Walls, the neighborhood’s only set of permanent installations, then branch out and explore the neighborhood’s boutiques, bars, and eclectic restaurants.

Stroll through Calle Ocho

Once the vibrant main artery for the heart of Miami’s Cuban American community, Calle Ocho is now a mix of Latin American cultures. And during the World Cup, it’ll be teeming with fans from all over Central and South America.

Any visit to this iconic street must begin at Ball and Chain, a onetime after-hours showplace for Black jazz musicians that’s been restored to its former glory as one of Miami’s best places for live music. After enjoying a mojito or two, venture to one of Calle Ocho’s Cuban restaurants, from seafood at Sala’o to more traditional stuff at Old Havana. You’ll also find no shortage of cigar shops, though Guantanamera is a personal favorite of many locals for posting up and people watching. Next door, pop your head into the Cubaocho Museum, home to the biggest collection of pre-revolutionary Cuban art outside the island.

Explore a new beach

South Beach is Miami’s most famous strip of sand, and you’d be remiss not to block out some time to lay out then stroll among the world’s largest number of art deco buildings. But if you’re visiting Miami to relax in paradise between World Cup matches, make your way over to Key Biscayne for at least one afternoon instead. The island south of downtown has Miami’s best beaches for relaxation, from the soft white sands and shallow waters at Crandon Park to the old Floridian nature at Bill Baggs Cape Florida State Park. The latter is also home to a lighthouse dating back to 1825, and a cool beachfront bar at The Cleat that feels a world away from Miami’s high-rises.

Play at the Frost Science Museum

You’d be forgiven for thinking a science museum would be an odd stop during a World Cup trip. But the Frost Science Museum in Downtown Miami is unlike any other in the world, where you can pet stingrays with a panoramic view of the city, walk through a living coral reef, and visit a mockup of the Everglades. It’s an immersion in the subtropical ecosystems that make up South Florida, and a great way to spend an afternoon if you’re traveling here with your kids. There’s also a 67-foot-wide planetarium to cool off when the weather gets hot (as it likely will during the Miami World Cup games), and laser shows on select Friday nights.

Get in on a game

For avid footballers who enjoy playing soccer as much as watching it, pop into Brickell Soccer and Padel on SW 8th Street. It’s bustling with pickup games near every hour of every day, with a diverse group of players not just from the States and Latin America, but all over the world.

Catch the Miami Marlins in action

Baseball? During a soccer trip? Well, if you’re from outside the US. and want to check out America’s national pastime, LoanDepot Park is one of the best kept secrets in Major League Baseball. Because crowds tend to be small, tickets are affordable for nearly every game. And during the summer, the roof is typically closed, so every game is dry and pleasantly air-conditioned, even on the hottest of South Florida days. The ballpark also has frequent pre-game events on Saturday nights like beer festivals and tequila tastings, and there’s a full-service sports bar in left field that parties from before the game begins until after the last pitch.

Where to Eat and Drink for World Cup in Miami

Miami’s soccer culture spills into its bars and watch parties that reflect the city’s Latin American and Caribbean influences. From Cuban cafeterías to Colombian arepa joints and upscale seafood spots, the city’s food scene is a major part of its global identity. These are a few of the best places to eat and drink when you’re in town for the Miami World Cup matches, or, you could map out a day-by-day plan for visiting each of the best soccer bars in the 305.

Fritz and Franz Bierhaus

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When it comes to watching the World Cup in Miami, this German-style beer hall in Coral Gables is a Miami icon. Fritz and Franz is as close to a European-style game watch experience as you’ll find in South Florida, typically extending the party out its patio and the surrounding streets. The food is your typical mix of schnitzels and pretzels, with some traditional German beers mixed in. Even when Germany isn’t playing, you’ll find the place packed with fans from whichever country is.

Fritz and Franz Bierhaus: 60 Merrick Way, Coral Gables, FL 33134

Boteco

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Boteco is the epicenter of Brazilian football fever in Miami, especially during the World Cup. The lively Miami Beach restaurant is best known for its Brazilian steaks, bacalaos, and expertly mixed caipirinhas. On match days, Miami’s Brazilian community packs the house to cheer, dance, and samba their way through high-energy games. It’s not the place for a quiet meal, but when Brazil is playing, nowhere else in the city matches the energy.

Boteco: 916 NE 79th St., Miami, FL 33138

Mickey Burke’s

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Stroll by this modern South Beach Irish bar on most Sunday mornings, and you’ll find Premier League fans packed inside watching games from across the pond. Mickey Burke’s is the home-away-from-home for soccer fans from abroad even when it’s not World Cup time. During the Cup, it’s the Beach’s best spot to watch games – and enjoy a short rib poutine or bonchon cauliflower with your early morning pint.

Mickey Burke’s: 1265 Washington Ave, Miami Beach, FL 33139

LC’s Roti Shop

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The area around Hard Rock Stadium isn’t a particularly great one for restaurants, but if you want a true taste of the Caribbean, hit up this little roti shop in a nondescript Miami Gardens strip mall. The Trinidadian owners make the place feel authentic to the islands, where cash is the only way to pay and cricket and football are the only things on TV. Service isn’t fast, but the food is fantastic, and it’ll put you in an appropriately international mindset before heading to the match.

LC’s Roti Shop: 19505 NW 2nd Ave, Miami Gardens, FL 33169

Where to stay for the World Cup in Miami

Since Hard Rock Stadium is about 30 minutes north of downtown, where you stay in Miami depends more on what kind of trip you want. Stay near the stadium if soccer is your sole focus, sure – but if you want to experience the city during your trip, picking something closer to Miami will be a lot more fun. Booking early is essential, especially around match days.

Click here to read Matador Network‘s full guide to the best hotels near Hard Rock Stadium.

We hope you love the spaces and stays we recommend! Just so you know, Matador may collect a small commission from the links on this page if you decide to book a stay. Listed prices are accurate as of the time of publication.

JW Marriott Turnberry

If you’ve got the budget, the JW Marriott Turnberry is hands-down the best place to stay for the Miami World Cup matches. Not only is it relatively close to Hard Rock Stadium, as opposed to South Beach or Downtown, but it also has a multi-story spa and an onsite water park at Tidal Cove. Summer rates start around $315 per night in the summer.

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Pelican Hotel

If you’re looking to stay by the beach, check out this cool Ocean Drive boutique hotel from Diesel Jeans founder Renzo Rosso. Its themed rooms are exquisitely and tastefully designed, from the Mad Men-inspired Executive Sixties to the “Up, Up In The Sky Suite”, which repurposes airplane parts as decor. The Italian restaurant downstairs is also among Miami Beach’s best. Rates in the summer start around $200 per night but can vary quite a bit.

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Sonesta Miami Airport

For those just popping in for the Miami World Cup who prefer to stay closer to MIA, the newly-redone Sonesta is a great choice. The onsite restaurant and bar makes a churrasco steak bowl that could rival any South American steakhouse in Miami, and the flatscreens behind the bar seem to always have a soccer match on. Rates start around $120 per night in the summer.

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