The World Cup is one of those events that gives everyone a perfect excuse to get together over the summer and spend some time with family and friends.

Even though some of us in our family are bigger football fans than others, getting together when a match is on works really well for us. Plus I always love having family round, especially over the summer when the weather is nice. And since we moved into our new house, we live very close to lots of our family, so it’s really easy for them to walk round and spend an afternoon at ours.

The FIFA World Cup 2026 starts on the 11th of June, so this summer we’ll be having people round for a simple World Cup watch party at home.

We can enjoy some lovely food and drink, spend some time in the garden, and then chill out in front of the TV and watch the match together (well, I’ll be vaguely watching whilst mostly chatting, unless it’s one of the England games!).

5 Things You Need for a Great World Cup Watch Party This Summer

Here are 5 things that make the biggest difference for a great World Cup watch party this summer.

1. A great viewing setup for match day

One of the things I’m most looking forward to over the summer is making the most of our indoor-outdoor living space, with the doors wide open to the garden. I love being able to spend loads of time in the garden as a family over the summer months, with our dog wandering in and out as she pleases, too.

When we have people round and the doors open to the garden, everyone can move freely between the house and the garden while still keeping an eye on the match. The kids can run in and out, and it all creates a much more relaxed atmosphere than having everyone squeezed into one room, especially for those of us who aren’t that bothered about the football.

A good-sized smart TV makes a real difference when you’re watching with a group. We’ve just got a new 50″ TV, and it’s a great size for our long lounge. I’m currently looking for the perfect mid-century unit to house it on, as we’re about to decorate our lounge and I want some new furniture that fits with the style of the house.

The larger screen makes it easier for everyone to follow all the action, whether they’re sitting on the sofa, chatting around the dining table, or wandering inside from the garden to check the score.

2. Good food that’s easy to share

I get stressed enough cleaning and tidying before people come round, so the last thing I want is to spend ages in the kitchen whilst everyone else is having fun. If the weather’s nice, we’ll often have a barbecue, but for an afternoon gathering, I usually get some nice snacky bits that we can just grab and pick at all afternoon.

For a World Cup watch party, this is exactly what I’d do, so that everyone can help themselves throughout the afternoon and the evening if it’s a later match. It means guests can grab a plate whenever they’re hungry without interrupting the football! It also keeps things flexible for you so that you spend less time worrying about serving food and more time enjoying people’s company.

I like putting together a mix of easy favourites on the outside table, such as sausage rolls (my husband makes amazing ones that always go down really well!), cocktail sausages, olives, prawns, crisps, breadsticks and humous, salads, dips and bite-sized snacks that can be picked at while chatting and watching the match.

You could even take inspiration from some of the countries taking part and include a few international favourites on the table.

Having everything laid out in one place also encourages people to mingle and helps create that casual, welcoming atmosphere that makes summer entertaining so enjoyable.

There’s always plenty of wine, Prosecco and beer available when we have people round, and we also love the MOTH cocktails (Margarita or Paloma for me, please!), so I’ll usually have a few of those in.

3. Plenty of comfortable seating

One of the easiest things to overlook when hosting is seating, but it can make a huge difference to how relaxed everyone feels; if people are comfortable, they’re far more likely to settle in and stay longer.

For summer gatherings, I like to make use of both the house and garden, with a few different spots where people can sit and chat. Some of us will want to be right in front of the TV following every moment of the match, while others will prefer chatting and catching up outside.

Last year we got a big outdoor garden table and chairs for the patio, so that’s perfect for entertaining, and gets used so much in the summer months. It’s in the perfect place outside the doors, so whether people are inside or out, we’re still nearby and can chat and have fun.

There’s no need to have matching furniture or a perfectly styled setup, either, which is good because my house is never going to be that way!

Garden chairs, dining chairs borrowed from inside, outdoor cushions and blankets can all help create a welcoming space without much effort.

I always find that having a mix of seating encourages a more sociable atmosphere – people naturally move around throughout the afternoon to grab food from the buffet, sit on the grass in the sunshine, or gather around the TV.

When everyone feels comfortable, the whole event feels more relaxed, and that’s exactly the atmosphere I want to create when having friends and family round.

4. Music before kick-off

We’ve just got the JBL Flip 7 speaker and it is so good! In fact, my husband is notoriously fussy about the sound quality of speakers, and he’d stolen it and was blasting music through the house before I’d even had the chance to get it out!

I love having some music playing when people are round – the kids can choose some songs and have a dance about, and it just adds to the relaxed atmosphere. Portable speakers are so great for this, as they’re easy to move around wherever you need them. If everyone’s sitting outside while food is being served, the music can go outside too. And once the final whistle’s blown, it’s nice to have the music on to carry on the evening, whether you’re celebrating a win, crying over a loss, or just enjoying a summer evening with good company.

The sound quality on the JBL Flip 7 is brilliant and doesn’t sound like a small, portable speaker at all. It’s sturdy and small enough to carry about easily, and it’s waterproof (which is great as we did have to move quickly indoors during these photos, thanks to more rain!), dustproof, and drop-proof – perfect for when kids are round and want to be in charge of the music! It’s honestly brilliant; it’s been used so much since we got it and will be used loads over the summer.

5. Good company

One of the things I love about major sporting events like the World Cup is the way they bring people together. For me, the World Cup is really just an excuse to spend time with people I love. Some of our family and friends love football, some don’t care at all, but we can all enjoy good food, sunshine, conversation and wine.

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Hosting a World Cup watch party doesn’t have to be complicated – I wouldn’t do it if it were! I think the best gatherings are usually the simplest ones – good food that people can help themselves to, comfortable places to sit, a great viewing setup, and a relaxed atmosphere where everyone feels welcome.

Whether you’re inviting a crowd or just a few close friends and family members, a little bit of planning can go a long way. Creating spaces where people can move easily between indoors and outdoors, making sure everyone can see the match and adding a few thoughtful touches can turn an ordinary afternoon into something fun and memorable.

The World Cup is the perfect reason to bring people together and make the most of the summer. The football may be the reason for gathering, but it’s the conversations, laughter and time together that people will remember long after the final whistle has blown.

This is a collaborative post with Very, but all words and opinions are my own. See my full disclosure policy here.