Cleveland is all football, all the time — in more ways than one. Sure, our Browns bonafides are the stuff of legend, but did you know that a particularly vibrant community of soccer fans has also taken root right here in The Land?
From the week-in/week-out rollercoaster of the English Premier League to the rollicking watch parties held by the American Outlaws for U.S. national team matches, there’s something here for everyone. Don’t let the Outlaws name scare you off. Cleveland’s soccer scene prides itself on growing the game and sharing its love for the sport with others. Newcomers and neophytes are most welcome.
And, believe us, there’s no better time to dive in than with a new Premier League season right around the corner and the USWNT on the hunt for a Women’s World Cup three-peat this summer. So, grab a scarf, belly up to the bar and get your footie on at these soccer fan favorites. Just promise you’ll leave the vuvuzela at home.
No matter the hour, Ohio City’s Old Angle Tavern has its television screens locked on soccer action from across the globe. It's certainly an excellent option for USMNT and USWNT matches, you'll find the patriotic masses out in force, but Old Angle really shines when it comes to the English Premier League. The tavern hosts supporters clubs for Manchester United, Tottenham Hotspur, West Ham United and recent treble-winning Manchester City. Plus, NBC Sports named it one of the top places to watch Premier League soccer in the United States. No arguments here.
Home to our local chapter of the American Outlaws — the never-say-die U.S. soccer supporters group — Iggy’s is rocking during every men’s and women’s national team match. And, of course, it’s the place to be for the Women’s World Cup this summer. The Outlaws fill the bar with the sights and sounds of soccer: flags, scarves and songs. Lots and lots of songs. All of it combines to create a truly stadium-like atmosphere, the perfect environment to cheer on the Stars & Stripes. Iggy’s also pulls double duty as the proud home of Cleveland’s Official Liverpool FC Supporters Club.
Premier League mornings come pretty early on this side of the Atlantic. Such is the life of an American soccer fan. But, thankfully, Mulligan’s in Strongsville offers up an outstanding breakfast menu during the early hours — a tasty perk for the Chelsea FC in CLE supporters group that gathers there for every match. You can’t go wrong with the classic Three Eggs plate, which overflows with eggs, bacon, home fries, and pancakes. Soccer is just better when you’re watching with a full stomach.
Each weekend, this friendly bar in Lakewood turns red with Arsenal fans. The impressive Cleveland Gooners supporters group piles into Merry Arts to cheer on Mikel Arteta’s boys over a pint or two of Guinness. With Arsenal back on the up after a few years adrift in the wilderness, this is the perfect time to drop in for a match.
A dive bar in Eastlake that describes itself as “unapologetically unglamorous,” making it the laidback hangout of choice for East Side soccer-heads. Crowley’s walls are decked out with soccer accoutrements like the U.S. Soccer crest and a Liverpool FC street sign, among others. Celebrating both Irish and Croatian heritages, Crowley’s embodies the melting pot of diverse cultures brought together by the common language of soccer.
This is the Westlake home to another local Arsenal supporters group, the Cleveland Cannons FC. And, even though Arsenal is always the main event, other Premier League matches are simulcast on the bar’s fifteen HDTVs. You’ll know you’re in the right place when you spot the multitude of international flags adorning the Rusty Barrel’s exterior. Kind of like its own Bat Signal for soccer fans.
The Premier League doesn’t have a monopoly on exciting club soccer — or on passionate fans watching a game together. Supporters of Scottish powerhouse Celtic FC gather at this Kamm’s Corner landmark in West Park to root on their Bhoys to another SPL title. The Celtic fans certainly look the part — with the club’s famous four-leaf clover badge fitting right in with PJ McIntyre’s quintessentially Irish digs.
Old World suds and grub with soccer on the TV. What more could a footie fan ask for? With craft beer brewed on site and German delicacies like schnitzel, sausage, and Bavarian pretzels on the menu, Schnitz is a must-visit on game day. The Parma brewery also just happens to be a hangout of the Cleveland SC crew — our city’s very own semi-professional team that plays in the NPSL every spring and summer.