How to Host a Soccer Watch Party

Kickoff Your Planning Early

Score a memorable party experience by starting your game plan a few weeks in advance.

• Create a guest list so you know how many fans to expect.
• Determine your food and beverage budget.
• Decide if your theme is classic soccer, team colours or more of an international celebration.
• Consider getting your place ready with a bigger sofa, extra seating or soccer wall art for the perfect décor.

Deck Out Your Space Like a Stadium

You can’t go wrong with classic black, white and green or your favourite team’s colours. Use these colours for balloons, streamers and tablecloths.

• Pick up an artificial turf runner or rug for your main viewing area.
• For a fun way to start the party, have guests enter through a "Player Tunnel" made of a PVC pipe, streamers in different team colours and international flags.
• Set up a large chalkboard or whiteboard as a live tournament bracket where everyone can track scores.

World-Class Viewing

Make every seat the best seat in the house. Use a screen projector to turn a blank wall into a screen everyone can see. Connect your screen to a soundbar or surround sound system to capture the roar of the crowd. Arrange sofas, chairs and cozy beanbags to maximize both seating and visibility. For outdoor parties, get a pop-up canopy and fill it with team-coloured cushions and fun décor.

Team Spirit Stations

Keep guests entertained with hands-on activities that let everyone show off their team spirit.

Soccer Pennant: Get pre-cut felt triangles, markers and stickers so fans can decorate a pennant for their favourite team to wave during the game.

Face Paint Bar: Provide a set of non-toxic, skin-safe face paint sticks, a mirror and wet wipes. Encourage everyone to put team flags on their cheeks or create bold team-coloured stripes.

Noise Shakers: Fill empty plastic bottles with dried beans or rice. Decorate them with coloured paper and stickers and cheer big.

Snacks and Sips

Focus on a menu that is easy to eat and celebrates the global nature of the tournament. For a show-stopping centrepiece, build a snack stadium. Arrange containers of chips, pretzels and cut veggies as "grandstands" around a "field" of guacamole and other dips. Set up a drink station with sodas, water and international beverages. Use foil trays, serving platters or disposable containers to make setup and cleanup simple.

Big Game, Small Space

Hosting just a few friends in your apartment? Maximize your space by pushing the couch and chairs against the walls. Bring in folding chairs, floor cushions, ottomans or poufs for extra seating. Add colourful string lights in team colours to set the mood. Use a large cutting board for a bite-size spread of international foods. Fill a few buckets with ice and beverages and place them near your seating. Scatter several team scarves or mini flags on the walls. Keep things lively with a quick trivia contest before, during and after the game.

Kids’ Zone

Set up a mini soccer pitch in the yard with a small, portable goal for a friendly penalty kick contest during halftime. Or do a tournament-inspired scavenger hunt. Hide soccer-related items like a team scarf, whistle or jerseys around. Give kids a list of clues to find them. Don’t forget prizes for the winners.

Backyard BBQ Halftime Show

Fire up the grill with classics like burgers, hot dogs and include grilled vegetable skewers for more variety. Arrange picnic tables and folding chairs to create comfortable seating zones and provide shade with umbrellas or canopies. For evening games, hang LED string lights to light up the festivities. Set up a projector and a large screen for an epic outdoor viewing experience.