Soccer Stops: Where to Watch the World Cup in Los Cabos
What is expected to be the world’s most watched sporting event ever kicks off today in São Paulo, with host nation Brazil taking on Croatia in the first match of FIFA World Cup 2014. And for the next month, June 12 through July 13, local and visiting soccer fans—or if you prefer, fútbol fanatics—will be crowding Los Cabos watering holes to cheer on their favorite national team.
Where to Watch
Finding a good place to watch the matches won’t be difficult. They’ll be featured at all the top local bars and restaurants.
Here are a few favorites:
Mango Deck: This is always a great choice, particularly if you want to do your cheering in a bikini or board shorts. The popular Médano Beach hangout offers great food, tropical cocktails like piña coladas and margaritas, and water sports rentals if the match gets a little boring. If you’re there for breakfast, try the Two, Two Two with two eggs any way you like them, two strips of bacon, two breakfast sausages, and a choice of two pancakes or two slices of French toast, plus fruit. In the afternoon or evening, go for seafood platters or beachfront barbecue.
Baja Cantina: The Baja Cantina restaurant group has two Cabo San Lucas locations—one dockside on the Cabo San Lucas Marina, the other on Médano Beach—plus traditional Mexican restaurant Maria Corona in the downtown area. The vibes and menu options vary according to where you go. Pizzas and comfort food favorites headline Marina offerings, while the Beach eatery serves of plenty of fresh local seafood. The consistent features are delicious food, quality service, and a relaxed environment. They’ll also be showing every single world cup match.
Pan di Bacco: Few things go better with sports than pizza, and this Italian-style bakery, restaurant and wine bar is offering what may be an offer you can’t refuse: free slices for the duration of World Cup matches. You may want to pair your pie with a glass of chianti or demitasse of espresso, and expect this place to be particularly lively when the Italian national team, nicknamed Gli Azzurri, is on the pitch.
Mango Cantina: The most traditional sports bar on the Cabo San Lucas Marina features no fewer than nine high-definition flat-screen televisions, as well as a menu rich in comfort food favorites like burgers, tacos, and barbecued baby back ribs. Of course, Mango Cantina can also go upscale, so if you feel like celebrating after your national team scratches out a hard fought victory, feel free to order a round of lobsters and top-shelf tequila tasters.
Café Canela: This place is a cut above you average downtown sports bar, and a great stop for those who’d like to get a bite to eat while they check out the latest World Cup action. Edgar Román Chavez, chef of the prestigious local restaurant group Mi Casa, has fashioned an eclectic if unpretentious menu that features creative Mexican dishes, as well as American favorites like Cajun shrimp with mango sauce. Visitors will appreciate the variety of great beers and cocktails, and love the arts and craftsy, old-world Mexican atmosphere.
Bar Esquina: The hippest bar and restaurant near Médano Beach is Bar Esquina, located just off the lobby of the boutique Bahia Hotel and Beach Club. Gourmet pizzas and handcrafted cocktails are a great World Cup recipe, although you’re welcome to upgrade to rack of lamb and Cabernet Sauvignon if the mood dictates. Bar Esquina has plenty of range, and their gorgeous wooden bar will be headquarters for many expat soccer aficionados.
When to Watch
Much of the attention will be focused on México, obviously, as the national team attempts to break through for its first World Cup title. The Mexican team, nicknamed El Tri, does have a proud history, having participated in 14 of the previous 19 World Cups. Their best results to date were quarter-final finishes in 1970 and 1986, the two times the country hosted the tournament.
This year’s team is led by a number of talented players, most notably Javier “Chicharito” Hernández, but hardly seems on form entering the World Cup. Not only did México have an unexpectedly hard time qualifying—a process that cost several coaches their jobs—but they have stumbled in their final two warm-up matches. Nonetheless, patriotic spirit is running high, and if El Tri can escape a tough group that includes heavy favorites Brazil and a strong Croatian side, they could be poised to make a run.
For those seeking a glimpse of the Mexican sporting spirit, here’s a schedule of the country’s group round matches, listed in local time.
México v. Cameroon – June 13, 10 a.m.
Brazil v. México – June 17, 1 p.m.
Croatia v. México – June 23, 2 p.m.
Of course, since you’re reading this English, chances are you’re on vacation or will be soon, and wondering where you can cheer on Team USA between trips to the beach. Although México will attract a lot of local attention, U.S. matches will also be shown and showcased in virtually every restaurant and bar in the tourist areas of Los Cabos.
Coach Jürgen Klinsmann’s team has showed marked improvement over the past two years—they’re currently ranked as the 13th best team in the world—but will have a tough time escaping a so-called “group of death” that also includes perennial power Germany, Portugal (led by Cristiano Ronaldo, who many consider the world’s best player), and a tough Ghana side that eliminated the U.S. from the last two World Cups.
Ghana v. United States – June 16, 4 p.m.
United States v. Portugal – June 22, 4 p.m.
United States v. Germany – June 26, 10 a.m.