The FIFA World Cup only comes around every four years, which makes it essentially the Olympics, but with more crying and dramatically better hair. And this year, for the first time ever, the tournament is co-hosted by the United States, Canada, and Mexico, which means if you’ve spent your entire life waiting for the rest of the world to finally acknowledge that North America exists, your moment has arrived.
Now, the nearest World Cup match to Tampa is happening down in Miami, and unless you’ve already secured a rental car, a hotel room, and what amounts to a second mortgage just to cover getting into the building, you’re probably watching from somewhere closer to home. Lucky for you, Armature Works, the Tampa Heights food hall and event space at 1910 N. Ola Ave., has stepped up.
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The venue is hosting a Big Screen Watch Party series for six of the tournament’s most compelling group stage matchups, all shown on a big screen on the South Lawn.
The schedule kicked off yesterday with the tournament opener, Mexico vs. South Africa. Tonight, Friday, June 12, it’s USA vs. Paraguay at 9 p.m., which is the one that most Tampans are circling on their calendars with a thick red marker and a very earnest prayer. Saturday, June 13 brings Brazil vs. Morocco at 6 p.m., because no self-respecting watch party series skips one of the world’s most beloved footballing nations.
Things pick back up with Canada vs. Qatar on Thursday, June 18 at 6 p.m., followed by Uruguay vs. Spain on Friday, June 26 at 8 p.m. The series wraps up Saturday, June 27 with Colombia vs. Portugal at 7:30 p.m., which should be exactly as chaotic and electric as it sounds. Keep an eye out for more watch parties once the knockout stage begins.
Here’s the thing about watching soccer at Armature Works: you’re also steps away from more than 15 food vendors inside the Heights Public Market, all housed in a restored historic warehouse with views of the Hillsborough River. Grab empanadas, order a craft cocktail, and lose your absolute mind when the USA scores, all within the same 30 square feet. It’s a proper setting for what will almost certainly be, depending on how the USA performs, either a glorious celebration or a very public spiral.
