Monday, August 10, 2026

World Cup viewing spreads across Coral Gables

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Crowded sports bar with fans, flags and television screens showing a soccer match during a World Cup viewing party.
Fans packed Fritz and Franz Bierhaus on June 25 to watch Germany fall to Ecuador, 2-1, one of several World Cup viewing scenes unfolding across Coral Gables.

By Coral Gables Gazette staff

Since the 2026 FIFA World Cup schedule was released more than eight months ago, soccer aficionados across the globe have pointed to Saturday’s Colombia-Portugal showdown as one of the most compelling matches of the tournament’s group stage.

Cristiano Ronaldo will lead Portugal against Colombia, one of the tournament’s surprise favorites, in a matchup that could determine the winner of Group K and provide a more favorable path through the knockout rounds.

From Fritz and Franz to Ponce Circle Park

For most of this year, there was little doubt about where the premier viewing location in Coral Gables would be. Fritz and Franz Bierhaus has been the city’s best-known soccer destination for nearly a quarter century, drawing thousands of fans to World Cup watch parties in the adjoining city-owned plaza.

But after a highly publicized dispute between the restaurant and city officials over a special events permit, owner Harald Neuweg withdrew his application to host the traditional outdoor gatherings, ending one of Coral Gables’ signature World Cup traditions.

Fritz and Franz continues to televise World Cup matches inside the restaurant and beneath its covered promenade. Now, however, the City of Coral Gables is stepping in to offer fans a large-scale alternative.

What the city is hosting

The city announced it will host a free, family-friendly community watch party Saturday evening (June 27) at Ponce Circle Park for the Colombia-Portugal match. The event begins at 6 p.m., with kickoff scheduled for 7:30 p.m., and will feature the game on a large outdoor screen at the park at the intersection of Ponce de Leon Boulevard and Salamanca Avenue.

City officials are encouraging attendees to bring lawn chairs and picnic blankets while restaurants at The Plaza Coral Gables remain open throughout the evening, allowing fans to purchase food and beverages before and during the match.

The watch party is free and open to the public and is intended to create a welcoming atmosphere for soccer fans of all ages. The city also plans to host community watch parties for the tournament’s Third-Place Match on July 18 and the World Cup Final on July 19.

“One of the great things about international soccer is its ability to bring people together across cultures and generations,” Mayor Vince Lago said in announcing the event. “These watch parties provide an opportunity for residents and visitors alike to gather as a community and share in the excitement of one of the world’s premier sporting events.”

Lago had pushed hardest among commissioners to make sure noise and safety concerns were addressed, leading Neuweg to rescind his special permit request – he said he would only move forward with the mayor’s resignation.

Getting there — and staying cool

City officials said ample parking will be available in nearby garages, surrounding streets and at The Plaza Coral Gables parking garage. The city’s trolley and Freebee service will also provide transportation options for attendees.

The city is hoping the watch party can replicate the success of another large public gathering held at Ponce Circle Park earlier this year, when hundreds of residents turned out to watch the College Football National Championship game featuring the University of Miami.

Unlike that winter evening, however, spectators on Saturday are expected to contend with South Florida’s summer heat, with temperatures likely to remain in the 80s despite the evening kickoff.

Colombian fans expected to turn out

The matchup is expected to draw especially strong support from South Florida’s Colombian community. Colombia’s consulate is located just a few blocks from the park on Aragon Avenue, and an estimated quarter-million Colombians live throughout South Florida.

Outdoor patio at Bar 13 Brewery and Kitchen filled with soccer fans seated under umbrellas and shade canopies during a World Cup viewing event.
Fans also gathered at Bar 13 Brewery and Kitchen on Alhambra Circle during World Cup play, part of a broader viewing scene spreading across Coral Gables.

Restaurants part of the World Cup scene

Although the controversy surrounding Fritz and Franz dominated discussion before the tournament began, attention has since shifted back to the games themselves. On Thursday afternoon, Neuweg could be found working in his restaurant’s kitchen while hundreds of fans packed the bierhaus to watch Germany lose to Ecuador, 2-1.

While the turnout was noticeably smaller than the thousands who traditionally filled the adjacent plaza during previous World Cups, the atmosphere remained lively. Similar scenes have unfolded across Coral Gables, with fans gathering at Graziano’s on the opposite side of the Merrick Parking Garage, restaurants along Giralda Plaza and at Bar 13 Brewery and Kitchen on Alhambra Circle, reflecting how the excitement of the world’s biggest sporting event continues to spread throughout the City Beautiful even as one of its most iconic traditions has changed.

This Post Has 64 Comments

  1. Rose Healy June 26, 2026 Reply

    I miss the Fritz and Franz Bierhaus event.

    1. Debbie Courtney June 27, 2026 Reply

      Me, too! I live across the street from F&F and thoroughly enjoy the event, from roars from the soccer fans when a team scores to the sighs when they miss. People are still watching the matches there, but it’s not the same. It’s a shame that there exists such animosity between City Hall and Mr. Neuweg.

  2. Robert Burr June 26, 2026 Reply

    Harald was well ahead of his time in attracting an international crowd to Coral Gables for the games. He deserves credit, respect and praise for that insight and investment. Now that Americans and international residents have learned to appreciate worldwide sporting events in the city, perhaps leadership, embracing Coral Gables’ geopolitical position in the international arena, should consider a long term plan for how best to present such televised public events to allow for pleasant and proper large public gatherings. Planning well in advance is key, not causing consternation and calamity by holding off on decision making until the last minute. This is an embarrassment and a failure in leadership that cannot stand.

    1. Gerry Lopez June 26, 2026 Reply

      What Harald built Vince Lago is destroying. I was in the restaurant business the last 20yrs of my career. no different than other businesses, Customer Experience matters above all. What Lago has done is take the seamless, well established, contained experience Harald built at F&F to a public setting he controls that will disrupt traffic on Ponce the whole day, creates an inconvenience for people by forcing them to go set a viewing spot, then get up go get food two blocks away, then come back hoping no one took your viewing spot (unless you left a child behind to “save it”) What a mess. I didn’t see Lago inviting people to bing their own food & coolers with drinks, but expect many will , which will of course leave a mess behind. Expect Ponce to be closed most of the day for prep & clean up, so serious disruption to residents. all because Lago had to get in the way of a long established tradition that worked great. this guy Lago is a disaster. Harald probably refused to pay a bribe (sorry, “campaign contribution”). Lesson learned, I suppose. Come to the County, Harald. re-open outside CG limits, we’ll follow you.

    2. Gerry Lopez June 26, 2026 Reply

      What Harald built Vince Lago is destroying. I was in the restaurant business the last 20yrs of my career. no different than other businesses, Customer Experience matters above all. What Lago has done is take the seamless, well established, contained experience Harald built at F&F to a public setting he controls that will disrupt traffic on Ponce the whole day, creates an inconvenience for people by forcing them to go set a viewing spot, then get up go get food two blocks away, then come back hoping no one took your viewing spot (unless you left a child behind to “save it”) What a mess. I didn’t see Lago inviting people to bing their own food & coolers with drinks, but expect many will , which will of course leave a mess behind. Expect Ponce to be closed most of the day for prep & clean up, so serious disruption to residents. all because Lago had to get in the way of a long established tradition that worked great. this guy Lago is a disaster. Harald probably refused to pay a bribe (sorry, “campaign contribution”). Lesson learned, I suppose. Come to the County, Harald. re-open outside CG limits, we’ll follow you.

  3. Lynn Guarch-Pardo June 26, 2026 Reply

    Others may try to replicate the spirit and enthusiasm that is still found at Fritz and Franz, but it’s not the same. Though it’s a scaled down version from other years, no other viewing experience can measure up. Thank you, Harald. You are appreciated by real fans in spite of the treatment you received by the commission.

  4. Selective Application June 26, 2026 Reply

    I thought the mayor was extremely concerned about public safety and not having sufficient police available. I guess that only applies to F&F, rather than a FREE event. And, btw, how much is this event costing residents?

  5. Robin Burr June 26, 2026 Reply

    Why didn’t the city just support Fritz and Franz by helping to subsidize the cost of the police, fire and rescue departments to be present to make sure the Plaza was safe? How much is the City spending on their three nights of renting a big screen for Ponce Circle Park? And what is the cost of the police, fire and rescue to be present at Ponce Circle Park for these 3 events? Are they going to allow alcohol in a Public Park? Wouldn’t it have been cheaper to sponsor something already planned to take place? Harald went through all the necessary permitting process well in advance, only to be turned down at the very last minute. Little by little the City has ruined all the wonderful events that Harald has created over the years. There was the Blues Festival. Oktoberfest. Now the World Cup. Fritz and Franz was downtown LONG before the residences that built up around them. This is a very special occasion. It takes place infrequently. It’s really too bad that another wonderful event created by a visionary and successful restaurateur, Harald Neuweg, has been ruined by the City of Coral Gables. Not many people can keep a restaurant in business as long as Harald has. I don’t blame him for wanting to move out of Coral Gables at this point. Shame on the City Commission for stifling yet another tradition.

  6. Arrogant Dictator June 26, 2026 Reply

    Little by little King Lago and his court of 2 jesters have ruined many aspects of our city. An arrogant dictator who is not for the people of CG. It was unacceptable what he did regarding F&F. And now he continues his march against us with a dog park and the Garden. He needs to get out of our City.

  7. Arrogant Dictator June 26, 2026 Reply

    Little by little King Lago and his court of 2 jesters have ruined many aspects of our city. An arrogant dictator who is not for the people of CG. It was unacceptable what he did regarding F&F. And now he continues his march against us with a dog park and the Garden. He needs to get out of our City.

  8. Lynn Guarch-Pardo June 27, 2026 Reply

    Lago was concerned about the noise of cheering fans disturbing the residents near Fritz & Franz, and the amount of police resources that would be required. I just drove by Ponce Circle and couldn’t believe the decibel level of the music blaring from the Colombian-Portugal watch party put on by the city! That was most definitely disturbing nearby (and not so nearby) residents.
    Lost count of the police officers and police vehicles, the command station at the north end, blocking the street, and while police were manning the crosswalks to make sure pedestrians were safe, other pedestrians were jumping out and crossing at random places, in the dark, putting themselves and drivers at risk.
    Lots and lots of taxpayer money being put to blaring use.

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