South Street’s Brauhaus Schmitz is gearing up to be Philadelphia’s unofficial World Cup headquarters this summer, transforming the bierhall and the 700 block outside into a rolling match-day carnival from June 11 through July 19. Every single tournament game will be on, with festival-style outdoor watch parties planned for the biggest fixtures. Think Bavarian beers, non-stop chants and crowds that could easily spill down the block.
According to Brauhaus Schmitz, the haus will open at least an hour before kickoff, keep late matches running into the early morning and show games across 11 indoor screens with full sound. The bar’s info also notes its 34 rotating German draft lines and a lineup of German classics that will be front and center during the tournament.
“We want Brauhaus to feel like the center of the soccer universe this summer,” the Brauhaus team told MyChesCo. That report adds the venue will screen all 104 tournament matches, dress the space with giant tournament brackets, keep a World Cup countdown clock ticking away and hand out giveaways for fans.
Block parties and marquee match days
The biggest crowd scenes are pegged to June 25, June 27, July 3–4 and July 19. On those dates, Brauhaus plans to roll a massive 20-foot LED screen into the middle of the 700 block of South Street, turning it into an open-air viewing zone. The bar’s online listings show pay-to-reserve spots for select high-profile matches, several priced at $20, while the street-level screenings themselves are free for anyone who wants to join the party.
Philly’s role as a host city
Philadelphia is also playing on the global stage as a tournament host city. Lincoln Financial Field is set to stage six matches, and the city is running an extended Fan Festival throughout the competition, according to Visit Philadelphia. That larger effort is nudging bars, restaurants and neighborhood groups all over the city to build out watch-party schedules and stretch their hours for visitors and locals.
Tips for fans
Indoor seating at Brauhaus during tournament play will be first-come, first-served, and individual indoor reservations will not be accepted, while outdoor block parties remain free to attend, MyChesCo reports. For those who want a guaranteed perch on marquee days, the limited reserved outdoor packages include a seat, a first beer or pretzel and table service, and are expected to disappear quickly.
If you are heading in from the suburbs or planning a late night in the city, taking transit and padding your travel time is probably wise. On big match days, the streets around South Street are likely to feel more like a full-on fanzone than a typical weekend. Between the wall-to-wall screens inside and the block parties outside, Brauhaus is clearly betting it will be the place to be every time the ball hits the net.
