World Cup Weekend Getaway: A Soccer Fan’s Itinerary for Sarasota

Find Your Home Base

After the action-packed buzz of Miami's Hard Rock Stadium, Sarasota offers a welcome shift: breezy, refined and refreshingly relaxed.

Settle into a Gulf-front resort on one of our  six island keys or in one of our stylish downtown hotels. Mornings start with coffee on the balcony, days are filled with exploration and evenings end with sunset views over the water.

Check Out the Nightlife

Ease into the weekend with a casual dinner and a cold drink in hand. Downtown Sarasota and St. Armands Circle both offer lively yet polished walkable atmospheres, where a handful of charming restaurants await. After a good meal, grab a nightcap or catch live music at a nearby bar. 

Tommy Bahama Restaurant & Bar, Cha Cha Coconuts and Daiquiri Deck are your best bets on St. Armands Circle for tropical drinks paired with live music, while Cask & Ale, Mattison's City Grille and O'Leary's Tiki Bar & Grill are fantastic spots to check out Downtown Sarasota for tunes, dancing and cocktails. 

Morning Beach Warm-Up

Trade stadium seats for shoreline serenity at Siesta Beach—consistently ranked among the best in the U.S. and the world. Crystal-quartz sand, clear-blue waters and plenty of space for sunbathing and sandy sports make it ideal for a laid-back pregame.

Bring a soccer ball to start a pickup match or simply claim a beach chair and do absolutely nothing before the day’s festivities begin.

World Cup Watch Parties at The Bay

Photo by Dylan Jon Wade Cox, courtesy of The Bay

Catch marquee matchups live at The Bay Park, in partnership with Sarasota's professional soccer team Sarasota Paradise! A series of free, family-friendly watch parties kicks off on Sunday, June 14 with a full-day festival. There will be two matches playing on the stadium-size LED screen, a 3v3 tournament with Sarasota Paradise, a fan zone, food trucks, drinks and more. Other scheduled match-day watch parties will take place on June 17 and June 22, including meet-and-greets with Paradise players. 

And in case you miss those, you can still catch live games playing continuously on the big screen in the park throughout the entire World Cup (as schedule permits). 

Bites & Brews at Local Bars

Find a spot to cool off and refuel with fellow fans, as Sarasota-area restaurants and bars lean into the global energy—think packed patios, cheering crowds and a shared love of the game. 

Beloved breweries and sports bars with a slice of Gulf Coast culture include the multiple locations of Gecko's Grill & Pub, Siesta Key's MVP – My Village Pub, Downtown Sarasota's 99 Bottles Taproom & Bottle Shop and Brewster's, or east Sarasota hot spots, like Calusa Brewing, The Parrot Patio Bar & Grill and the beer garden at Big Top Brewery. Hanging TVs are sure to be tuned to international matches and fans from all over will be gathered to cheer on their teams.

Photo courtesy of Sarasota Paradise

While the world watches the biggest stage, Sarasota is building its own soccer story. Catch a live match from Sarasota Paradise, the region’s professional club competing in USL League One. The team is in its inaugural pro season, playing a full schedule of home and away matches through October.

Home games take place at Premier Sports Campus in Lakewood Ranch, a state-of-the-art facility with a stadium atmosphere that feels intimate, energetic and deeply local.

It’s a chance to see rising talent, experience American lower-division soccer culture and connect with the grassroots side of the sport—something even the World Cup can’t replicate.

Post-Game Fuel & Live Streaming

The FIFA World Cup only comes every four years, so catch more marquee matches while experiencing more of Sarasota's culture and cuisine. After spectating at Premier Sports Campus, head to nearby Waterside Place for indoor-outdoor restaurants and shopping with a lakeside view. 

This pedestrian-friendly town center is great for strolling and finding Sunshine State souvenirs. Check out Florida Provisions, for coastal apparel, gifts and accessories, plus beer and wine from a bar inside the store.

Then settle in at Agave Bandido, serving up cold margs, tasty tacos and overhead TVs over the bar. Across the way, Good Liquid Brewing Company serves up locally made craft brews, American bar food, outdoor cornhole and sports-watching around the bar. 

Sunset Send-Off

Before heading home—or to your next World Cup match—don’t miss a Gulf Coast sunset. It’s Sarasota’s version of a closing ceremony: low-key, packed with color and quietly unforgettable.