By Coral Gables Gazette staff

The largest ever edition of the world’s most celebrated sporting event, the 2026 FIFA World Cup, arrives in South Florida this week, bringing with it a host of ties to Coral Gables that are expected to leave their mark on the City Beautiful throughout the tournament’s 38-day run.

Even so, the centerpiece of what has been Coral Gables’ World Cup celebration for nearly a quarter century – watch parties that drew thousands to Fritz and Franz Bierhaus on the plaza of a city-owned building – will be largely absent.

Negotiations between restaurant owner Harald Neuweg and city officials collapsed late last month after prolonged discussions over a special permit needed to host the outdoor gatherings fell through. The impasse led Neuweg to cancel the watch parties and, he says, put the longtime Miracle Mile business up for sale.

City dispute ended the watch parties, says Fritz and Franz owner

Just days before the tournament kickoff, Neuweg remained adamant about his decision to withdraw the special permit applications and the reasons for it. “There is no more talk,” said Neuweg, “When the mayor resigns, I’ll resubmit the permit request.”

The Austrian-born restaurateur said that he believed Lago delayed the permit request as retribution for previous lease negotiations that the mayor was not happy with two years ago. 

“He’s getting back at me. That’s all it is. He’s using the city to get back at me,” the owner said. 

Neuweg said that it was unfortunate that residents and visitors to the City Beautiful would be made to suffer over the dispute. “He wanted to make my life a living hell and he did. So we are just going to do regular business. (But) really it is not us who are losing, it is the people who watched the World Cup for 24 years here, residents and visitors who will miss out.”

Neuweg said that his Gables watch parties had become famous the world over during the last six World Cups, a claim that was bolstered by recent mention of Fritz and Franz and two important newspapers. The restaurant and its World Cup watch parties were featured in both the New York Times’ “World Cup 2026: A City-by-City Guide” last Saturday, and in the Austrian newspaper, Kronen Zeitung, in an article published Sunday, whose headline roughly translated to “Then there will be a celebration, and free beer all day long!”

City officials say little publicly after cancellation

Although the permit became the subject of lengthy debate at two City Commission meetings in May, not a word was said at last week’s meeting about Fritz and Franz’s decision or the controversy that followed. The issue has drawn widespread attention from South Florida television stations and newspapers and prompted criticism from business advocates both inside and outside Coral Gables.

Lago, who voted twice to defer the permit request, did acknowledge during the June 2 meeting that he had been receiving numerous inquiries about “what’s going to be happening during the World Cup,” though he did not specifically mention Fritz and Franz. In numerous published reports on the dispute, the mayor maintained that he was simply reacting to resident concerns over noise and public safety when insisting on more assurances from the restaurant.

City points to broader World Cup benefits

Instead of focusing on the dispute at their last meeting, Lago and Vice Mayor Rhonda Anderson highlighted a series of FIFA-related events and activities planned throughout the city for the World Cup. Anderson asked city officials to compile a list of restaurants that would be showing World Cup matches so residents and visitors could easily find places to gather. The requested press release highlighting 34 restaurants and venues with World Cup related activities was sent out June 8.

“Few events bring people together the way the FIFA World Cup does, and Coral Gables is proud to be part of that experience,” stated Lago, in the press release. “As home to FIFA’s North American headquarters, our city is uniquely positioned to welcome fans from around the globe and showcase the businesses, hospitality and cultural experiences that make Coral Gables a world-class destination.”

The watch-party controversy has cast a shadow over what has otherwise been a remarkable run of soccer-related success for Coral Gables. In recent years, both FIFA and the FIFA World Cup 2026 Miami Host Committee established offices in Coral Gables, helping solidify the city’s reputation as a hub for international soccer activity. 

The city also hosted soccer industry conferences at the Coral Gables Country Club, welcomed FIFA officials and executives for meetings and events, and served as a backdrop for numerous World Cup-related gatherings leading up to the tournament.

City officials and business leaders say those connections are helping Coral Gables benefit from the global event even as some other host cities have reported softer-than-expected tourism numbers.

Speaking at a recent Economic Development Board meeting, members noted that Miami has generally fared better than other World Cup host markets in terms of hotel occupancy and visitor demand. Officials attributed part of that success to FIFA’s presence in Coral Gables, with referees, officials and tournament personnel using the area as a base of operations before traveling to matches throughout North America.

World Cup activations, events and viewing in Gables

As for what is happening in Coral Gables during the World Cup, visitors and residents will find a variety of soccer-inspired cultural, artistic and community events throughout the city.”

A giant Trionda match ball installation is now on display on Giralda Plaza near Galiano Street and will remain through July 19. Inspired by the iconic “la ola” stadium wave, the oversized ball symbolizes the unity and excitement of the tournament’s three host nations — the United States, Mexico and Canada. Gifted by FIFA and adidas to the Miami Host Committee, the installation serves as both a photo opportunity and a public gathering place.

The city has also partnered with the Consulate of Uruguay in Miami to present “FANS,” an exhibition by acclaimed Uruguayan artist Daniel Supervielle. On display at Fink Studio through July, the exhibition explores the passion, identity and collective spirit of soccer supporters around the world through vibrant paintings depicting stadium crowds and fan culture. The exhibition also includes works honoring supporters from the United States, Mexico and Canada, the three World Cup host nations.

A related children’s art workshop at the Coral Gables Museum introduced young participants to drawing and painting memorable soccer moments under Supervielle’s guidance.

The Coral Gables Museum is also hosting another major attraction. From June 12 through July 19, the museum will present an exhibition examining football’s role in connecting cultures and nations. The centerpiece will be the world’s oldest known football, on display in the United States for the first time from June 22 through June 26. The exhibit explores stories from Scotland, Brazil, Haiti, Nigeria and Miami, highlighting how the sport has transcended national boundaries and become a global language of connection.

For a complete list of World Cup activations and events, click here.