HANOI — FIFA World Cup 2026 fever is not only being felt in the host nations and participating countries. It has also spread to the heart of Hanoi’s Old Quarter in Vietnam, where a cafe drew hundreds of fans for a live screening of the round of 16 match between Argentina and Egypt.
At around 11 p.m. local time on July 7, a pub on Hang Buom Street was packed with customers who came to eat and watch the game on a giant screen. Most were foreigners and overseas visitors, creating a lively World Cup atmosphere in the middle of Hanoi’s historic center.
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A representative of the SportivO pub said the venue serves more than 1,000 customers a day during the World Cup, even though many matches are played late at night or after midnight. Most visitors are expatriates living in Hanoi and international tourists, often arriving in groups to support their favorite teams.
To improve the viewing experience, the cafe invested in a high-resolution LED screen and secured broadcast rights to the sports channel covering the tournament. Throughout the match, fans cheered nonstop and chanted for their teams, keeping the energy high from kickoff to the final whistle.
One spectator, Sabrina, 33, an Argentine living in Dubai, said she had intentionally arrived in Hanoi a day earlier to spend her vacation there and enjoy the World Cup atmosphere. After Argentina’s win, she could hardly contain her excitement.
Football Brings People Together
“I was very nervous, but I always believed in Argentina. Even though we were behind, I knew we would win. And in the end, that happened,” Sabrina said before cheering and dancing the tango to celebrate her team’s victory.
Similar enthusiasm was on display among fans from other countries. Ethan Regan, 21, who carried an English flag, came to a bar on Ta Hien Street to watch the match. The presence of supporters from different nations underscored how football can bring people from varied backgrounds together in one shared atmosphere.
The spirited watch-party scene in Hanoi shows how the World Cup’s pull reaches far beyond national borders. Wherever the tournament is watched, the same excitement, tension and joy remain, making football a universal language understood by all.
World Cup Lifts Local Business
The excitement around watch parties in Hanoi also highlights that the World Cup is more than a sporting event; it is an economic driver.
Cafes, bars and restaurants see a sharp rise in customers during the tournament, while tourism also gets a boost from visitors who come to soak up the football atmosphere.
The trend has been seen in many major cities around the world, including in Southeast Asia, where football has a huge fan base. For businesses, the World Cup is a golden opportunity to lift revenue.
For fans, watching match after match together creates memories that go beyond the final score on the field.
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