Where to Watch the 2026 World Cup in Bologna

Mention of Bologna and the World Cup immediately conjures memories of Italia 90 and, to an English audience at least, David Platt’s dramatic late winner in extra-time against Belgium in the round of 16.

The capital of Emilia-Romagna will be quieter this summer, Italy fans not spilling out onto the streets from the city’s many bars after the Azzurri failed to qualify for the sport’s biggest tournament for the third consecutive time.

But Bologna remains a football city at heart, meaning there are plenty of options to follow the action for visitors who happen to be passing through during the World Cup.

And there can really be only one place to start. Where better to watch the World Cup than in a bar dripping with football memorabilia, including Italia 90’s instantly recognisable mascot, Ciao?

Bar Tito in the Cirenaica district in the Bologna’s eastern suburbs is part normal bar and part time capsule and all the better for it.

Small and cosy with limited standing room, you almost get the feeling you’re drinking in someone’s living room.

Bologna fan Francesco Gentilini told us: “This is a beautiful place to hang out. You can have breakfast in the morning, a couple of beers in the evening. It’s a bar for people who like football, who like sport in general.

For a complete change of pace, The Cluricaune and The Celtic Druid are a 10-minute walk from each other in the old town and both offer a selection of big screens and excellent beers on draught.

Located on Via Zamboni, The Cluricaune has turned into a local institution since it first opened its doors in 1995 and it’s easy to see why. This isn’t one of the faux Irish pubs that are littered across continental Europe, this actually feels and looks like the real deal.

When Destination Calcio visited on a Europa League night, the pub was able to accommodate requests to have three separate games on different screens, so you won’t miss any of the action during the World Cup.

The pub is very popular with university students and can get very busy, but that should not be a particular issue during the World Cup because of the summer break. Even so, if you’re planning to watch the football get down early to grab a table.

The Celtic Druid on Via Caduti di Cefalonia is similarly impressive, with a more American-looking U-shaped bar and screens across the walls, which broadcast sport long into the night as the pub doesn’t shut until 2:30am Monday to Thursday and at 3am on Friday and Saturday, meaning most of the late kick-offs in the World Cup are covered.

Fancy watching Germany try to reclaim the trophy they won back in 2014 while sipping on Oktoberfest-style steins? Then head to Ein Prosit, a German beer hall close to the central station specialising in Bavarian beers.

The days of Platt scoring at the Dall’Ara may be gone, but there are still plenty of options to get a bit of World Cup fever in Bologna.