England’s defeat to France in the 2022 FIFA World Cup quarter-final was watched by approximately 20 million people in the UK, according to Statista. With viewing figures expected to reach record highs in 2026, demand for the best matchday venues in the UK is set to increase.
Through research conducted by Nordic Bet to identify the top UK towns and cities with the best sports bar culture, Live Football Tickets have uncovered the best places to soak up the 2026 FIFA World Cup action. They have ranked UK cities based on affordability, pub availability, screen access, and expected crowd levels. The results reveal where fans will get the best matchday experiences.
The final index score was based on averaged percentages across all key metrics, such as the number of pubs, ratings, number of reviews, and facility counts.
Taking top spot as the best city to watch the World Cup in this summer is Belfast, scoring an impressive 8.52 out of 10.
Offering the highest number of screens per person of any UK city, analysed at 1.59 per 1,000 residents, the city stands out for its exceptional viewing access. This is almost four times higher than London’s 0.40, providing fans with significantly more choice when it comes to finding a place to watch the matches.
Belfast also excels when it comes to crowding. In relation to the population, there are only 2,147 people per pub, 84% less than Birmingham’s 13,124, highlighting how demand in the Northern Irish capital is far lower than in larger cities. This is reinforced by Belfast’s leading pub density of 0.47 pubs per 1,000 residents, the highest of any city analysed in the research. The benefit of this is that fans are far more likely to secure a spot without needing to arrive hours early.
Belfast also delivers a well-rounded matchday experience, with 39 beer gardens and 46 venues offering live football commentary.
Despite leading the way with 316 venues featuring beer gardens and offering the most outdoor viewing options for fans, London sits in second place in the overall index, scoring 8.42 out of 10.
The English capital dominates in sheer scale, boasting 2,900 match screens and 827 pubs, alongside an impressive 668 venues offering live TV coverage. This is approximately 1,350% more than Belfast’s 46, illustrating how fans will not be short of options in absolute terms.
However, once adjusted for population, London’s advantage narrows. With just 0.40 screens per 1,000 residents, the capital offers 62% fewer screens per person than Newcastle upon Tyne (1.05), who were ranked at the bottom with only Belfast below (1.59).
Crowding is London’s biggest drawback, with 9,139 people per pub, fans face over 50% more than third place Manchester (5,993). While London offers unmatched scale and atmosphere, fans may need to plan and arrive early to secure a good viewing spot.
In third place is Glasgow, achieving a score of 8.20 out of 10, with a strong balance of affordability, access, and atmosphere.
In terms of crowding, the Scottish city has 7,214 people per pub, which is 45% lower than Birmingham (13,124) and 29% lower than Nottingham (10,139). Therefore, Glasgow offers a more manageable matchday experience without sacrificing atmosphere.
This city also benefits from strong venue availability. There are 82 pubs, 61% more than the Scottish capital, Edinburgh (51), providing fans considerably more choice within a similar regional footprint.
Glasgow has an average pint price of £4.98, which is around 12% cheaper than London (£5.64), making it a more accessible option for fans planning multiple matchdays.
Fans looking to enjoy pints for the cheapest price need to head to Stafford, a small city situated between Birmingham and Manchester. Stafford offers the cheapest average pint at just £2.50, less than half the price of cities like London (£5.64).
Belfast combines accessibility with atmosphere, making it the most fan-friendly destination overall. London ranks second, despite crowding challenges, and Glasgow rounds off the top three for World Cup viewing.
Maarten Zomerdijk, Co-CEO of Live Football Tickets, commented: “With record-breaking audiences expected for the 2026 World Cup, the demand for high-quality matchday viewing experiences in pubs and sports venues is set to surge.
“What this research shows is that the best cities aren’t always the biggest, they’re the ones that balance screen availability with manageable crowd levels and strong local venue density.
“For fans, that balance will be key to enjoying the tournament atmosphere without the stress of overcrowding.”
Meeting all of the criteria described by Zomerdijk, the research concludes that Belfast is the perfect city to watch the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
With views of the Titanic museum, the River Lagan, and the impressive Belfast City Hall, the Northern Irish capital will certainly be a spectacular host for those wishing to get the best World Cup experience.
