A Players’ Guide to 2026 World Cup Host City Restaurants, Pt. 1 | OneFootball

The 2026 World Cup kicks off today. Eat like national team heroes with this guide, which highlights the favorite spots of current, former, and future stars of the United States, Mexico, and Canada national teams. 

If you were lucky enough to score tickets in FIFA’s lottery, or financially lucky enough to be able to shell out for a resale or hospitality ticket, attending this summer’s World Cup likely means that you’ll be traveling to a new and exciting North American city.

I myself will be making my first sojourn to Dallas, the city of the Cowboys, a burgeoning arts and culture scene, and Lee Harvey Oswald. But what does one eat in Dallas? I would assume Tex Mex or some kind of barbecue?

But I’m not keen on just taking the dumb voice in the back of my brain’s word for it. No sir-ee, I’ll be going straight to my soccer heroes for the inside scoop. That’s right, I’ve scoured the internet for the best restaurant preferences of the United States men’s national team, Canada men’s national team, and Mexican Seleccion players who hail from some of the World Cup host cities to discover their favorite culinary delights of the area.

Atlanta: Oz Pizza

Caleb Wiley rose through the Atlanta United academy en route to making his first team debut at the tender age of 17, scoring a goal in his very first game. Wiley bleeds Atlanta red and black (that’s a metaphor and not a medical description), given that he even served as a ballboy in Atlanta United’s MLS Cup win over the Portland Timbers in 2018.

Since then, he’s been bouncing between BlueCo clubs, having been bought by Chelsea in 2024 and subsequently loaned to the likes of Strasbourg and Watford. There’s little doubt that Wiley, a ball-secure, fleet-of-foot left back, will eventually become a USMNT mainstay, but what does this young dynamo get up to when he’s back in Hotlanta visiting his folks? Why, he chows down at Oz Pizza, of course!

Wiley’s father Chris has owned the local pizza chain since 1997, and has become an integral part of the soccer community of Atlanta. In 2019, Oz Pizza collaborated with Atlanta United to open a street soccer pitch called StationSoccer East Point, to bring opportunities for soccer players of all ages to engage with the beautiful game in the neighborhood where they live.

Of all the Italian delights on offer at Oz Pizza, one of the top rated pies is the Hercules: a gargantuan meat lover’s pizza boasting pepperoni, sausage, salami, and Canadian bacon.

Dallas: Gloria’s Latin Cuisine

Texas is the birthplace of that incredible food we call Tex-Mex, and it’s also the birthplace of Kellyn Acosta.

Acosta is no longer in the fold for the USMNT, but it would be a grave omission not to acknowledge the part he played in bridging the gap between the tumultuous 2018 qualification campaign and the 2022 World Cup.

A quite successful MLS midfielder, Acosta was born and raised in Plano, Texas to a Japanese-American father and African-American mother. Acosta struggled with fitting in as a child. He had a hard time embracing his multiethnic roots and would even ask his Asian grandmother to park around the corner when she picked him up from school so the other students wouldn’t ridicule him.

But, in a full-circle moment, Acosta became the first Asian-American to appear for the USMNT at a World Cup game. He’s embraced his heritage and serves as a role model for aspiring sports kiddos who don’t fit neatly into one ethnic box, so to speak. He featured in a pair of matches in the 2022 World Cup, and played a key role in the USMNT’s final group stage match against Iran. His defensive solidity and calmness on the ball helped the red, white, and blue lock down a nervy 1-0 victory to send them through to the knockout round

And his favorite restaurant to hit up when he’s hanging with his hometown buddies? Gloria’s Latin Cuisine in Dallas. At least, that’s what reported in an FC Dallass blog post from 2014. The restaurant, now spanning over 20 locations mainly across the DFW metro area, was founded in Dallas in 1986 by Gloria and Jose Fuentes.

Reviewers note the delicious (and complementary) black bean dip upon being seated, and go on to strongly recommend the pork pupusas. I hate to editorialize (read: I love to editorialize), but the first time I tried a pupusa was like the first time I heard the Beatles. Gloria’s has all your Tex-Mex favorites, so if you’re going to be in Dallas, or better yet, Arlington for a World Cup game, you might as well do yourself a favor and snarf some Latin comfort food.

3901 Arlington Highlands Blvd #137, Arlington, TX 76018, other locations in DFW Metro Area.

New York/New Jersey: Jamaica Breeze

I don’t know this for a fact, but my suspicion is that USMNT winger Tim Weah is the first player to represent the national team of his birth while his father was the actual PRESIDENT of a DIFFERENT country. Crazy stuff.

Weah was born in Brooklyn in 2000, the son of Clar, a nurse and Jamaican immigrant, and George, Ballon d’Or winner, AC Milan legend, and President of Libera from 2018-24. Timo has leaned into his multicultural roots, spending his free time at the buffet-style restaurant co-owned by his mom and his uncle, Jamaica Breeze.

Located in East Elmhurst, Queens, the local favorite leans into Queens’ reputation as New York’s epicenter of international cuisine. From Jackson Heights to Flushing to Corona, you’ll never go hungry in this borough, and hearing English spoken on the sidewalk comes as a surprise to your ears.

Reviewers wax lyrical about the oxtail, which “falls off the bone,” as well as the jerk chicken. If you’re in NYC for a World Cup match, be sure to take the 7 train out to Roosevelt Avenue so you can spend some time eating some delicious Jamaican food with the Weah family.

103-02 Astoria Blvd, East Elmhurst, NY 11369

Houston: Pitch 25 & The Ranch Presents: Pitch Live

There is no one more synonymous with the Houston Dynamo than Brian Ching. The Hawaiian native made the move to H-Town along with the rest of the original San Jose Earthquakes franchise in 2006. Ching is a six-time MLS All-Star, was named to the 2006 World Cup roster for the USMNT but unfortunately did not take the field, and his jaw-dropping bicycle kick against DC United took home the 2006 MLS Goal of the Year award.

Ching is partly of Chinese descent and was contacted by the Chinese FA in a desperate bid to convince him to accept a call-up, but he opted for the USMNT instead, becoming the first player of native Hawaiian heritage to represent the U.S. at senior level. He took home the 2007 Gold Cup with the stars and stripes, and scored four goals in qualifying for the 2010 World Cup.

In the years since his retirement, Ching has become a veritable “Mr. Houston.” His charitable giving seemingly knows no bounds, and he’s even partnered with Habitat for Humanity to fund construction projects for affordable housing in the greater-Houston area. Ching has hosted charitable foot-golf tournaments, has participated in silent auctions to raise money for local causes, and has even appeared as a charity bartender at The Dogwood restaurant on Bagly Street.

Ching is no stranger to the restaurant business, as he is the co-owner of a soccer-themed bar and restaurant, Pitch 25, in Houston. It’s described as “a massive beer garden with indoor soccer, delicious food, and great vibes.” The menu boasts classic American bar food with a touch of Tex-Mex flavor.

But Ching is reportedly so hyped for this year’s World Cup, that he’ll be collaborating on yet another soccer-themed pop-up restaurant to celebrate it. That’s right: The Ranch Presents: Pitch Live will operate out of the former “Warehouse Live” space at 813 St. Emmanuel Street in the heart of Downtown Houston. A spin-off of Houston fine-dining restaurant The Ranch, this 35,000 square foot building will serve as the ultimate soccer-viewing destination for each and every World Cup match. The menu boasts Texas classics such as pulled pork sandwiches, fried shrimp, loaded fries, and elote. But you’d better act fast, as this restaurant experience will go the way of the dodo as soon as the World Cup winds all the way down.

Pitch 25: 2120 Walker St, Houston, TX 77003

The Ranch Presents – Pitch Live: 813 St Emanuel St, Houston, TX 77003

Philadelphia: Riviera Pizza & Sonny’s Famous Steaks

  View this post on Instagram   A post shared by Riviera Pizza (@riviera.pizza)

The Philadelphia Union Academy is responsible for more than its fair share of breakout USMNT players over the past decade. Austin Trusty and Mark McKenzie are both Philly academy products, and Brenden “Medford Messi” Aaronson himself is experiencing a veritable renaissance at Leeds United Football Club. Once one of the club’s “most jeered players,” Aaronson’s relentless drive and ceaseless pressure have resulted in some immense goals and assists, notably against the other United at Old Trafford. His never-say-die attitude has earned him flowers from even the most cynical Leeds supporters.

Aaronson grew up in the Philadelphia suburb of Medford, New Jersey, just across the Delaware River from the City of Brotherly Love. When he’s back stateside, he prefers to chow down on a slice of Philly cheesesteak pizza from Riviera Pizza in his hometown. I’m not sure if he actually loves Philly cheesesteaks all that much, or if he is simply contractually obligated to say that because he’s a Philadelphia-area professional athlete. This particular pizza pie, however, sounds like an absolute abomination, given that it is, according to the menu, a white pizza with steak and Cheez Whiz. If you’re not American, or if you grew up in a household that made enough money to take nice vacations, allow me to explain: Cheez Whiz is a gloopy yellowish liquid that comes in a jar (or sometimes a fun metal canister) that is salty and has vague, cheese-like qualities.

But if you’re visiting Philadelphia for the World Cup and want a real, authentic, Philly cheesesteak experience, locals recommend none other than Sonny’s Famous Steaks, located on Market Street near Penn’s Landing. The sandwich itself is a work of art, consisting of fresh-baked hoagie bread, thinly sliced, deliciously seasoned steak, and perfectly melted provolone cheese that is mixed with sharp cheddar and, you guessed it, Cheez Whiz! You can order with onion or without, but take it from me, the former is definitely the way to go. Think of your stinky onion breath as an apt Philly souvenir that you get to carry around for the rest of the day!

Riviera Pizza: 212 Tuckerton Rd, Medford, NJ 08055

Sonny’s Famous Steaks: 228 Market St, Philadelphia, PA 19106

Mexico City: Tortas Don Polo

Guillermo “Memo” Ochoa is like one of those cicadas that only pop out of the ground every four years, in his case to play for Mexico in the World Cup. 2026 seemed likely to mark the first tournament since 2002 without Ochoa in the Mexican squad, but a devastating achilles injury to Luis Ángel Malagón means that ol’ Memo will be strapping on the Mickey Mouse gloves once more.

In 2022, Ochoa appeared in a promotional campaign for Expedia called “Viaja como Memo” (“Travel like Memo”), in which the superstar goalie highlighted some of his favorite culinary treasures of the cosmopolitan beehive that is Mexico City.

Top of the list is Tortas Don Polo, a restaurant owned by Ochoa’s father. Located in the heart of Colonia del Valle, a trendy, bohemian neighborhood on the southern edge of Mexico City, Tortas Don Polo is the romantic ideal of what a Mexican cafe should be.

The countertop is replete with Memo memorabilia (Memo-rabilia?), including a framed photo of him lifting the CONCACAF Gold Cup in celebration. Baristas keep a 65-year old coffee machine cranking away at full capacity day after day. Waiters sling churros and tortas around the cozy, no-frills eatery.

If you’re an Uzbek, Colombian, Czech, or South African fan on your way to CDMX to support your national team, or simply a neutral visiting for some good old footballing fun, why not head down to the Del Valle neighborhood to have some cafe con leche or a world-famous Cuban Sandwich with Memo Ochoa’s brood?

Félix Cuevas 86, Tlacoquemecatl del Valle, Benito Juárez, 03100 Ciudad de México, CDMX, Mexico

Miami: Chimba

USMNT hopeful Benjamin Cremaschi was born and raised in Miami to Argentine parents. Eligible to represent both the USMNT and Argentina, he’s recently made three appearances for the USMNT after his former Inter Miami coach not-so-subtly communicated to him that he had a snowball’s chance in South Beach of getting called up by Argentina boss Lionel Scaloni. Cremaschi recently moved to Serie A side Parma on loan, but a lateral meniscus tear in mid-March eliminated him from World Cup consideration.

But where does Cremaschi spend time with his childhood besties when he’s back stateside? Well, the options are limitless, given that South Florida is a veritable hotbed of modern and classic Latin cuisine. Benja reportedly prefers Chimba, a laid-back Latin fusion spot located in Midtown Miami specializing in Argentinean, Peruvian, and Mexican dishes. Sources say that the Birria Arepa is the undisputed must-try on their menu.

2830 NE 2nd Ave, Miami, FL 33137

San Francisco: Las Hijas del Gallo

Sebastian Lletget cuts a complicated figure. Born in the Bay Area to Argentine parents, he unsuccessfully tried his hand (foot?) at English soccer with West Ham United. He never made an appearance for them at senior level, so he returned stateside and developed into a solid MLS player for the likes of LA Galaxy and FC Dallas. Lletget has made 33 senior appearances for the USMNT, but they happened to span the dismal, non-World Cup qualifying doldrums of 2017 through 2021.

Lletget’s greatest claim to fame, however, stems from the fact that he is an exceptionally handsome man. He’s been in a relationship with Mexican-American pop superstar Becky G for the better part of a decade, and in November of 2022 the couple paid a surprise visit to the renowned South San Francisco Mexican bakery Las Hijas del Gallo, reportedly a favorite spot of Lletget’s dating back to his youth.

Lletget and, uh, G, sampled some classic Mexican bakery fare, including conchas, orejas, and pan de puerquito. The pair left autographs for the owners, sisters who took over the bakery from their father, an immigrant from the Mexican state of Guanajuato, who opened it decades ago.

According to reviewers, the staff is exceptionally friendly, the coffee is sublime, and the flan and tres leches are must-tries. So if you’re in the Bay Area to see some classic fixtures such as Qatar versus Switzerland or Algeria versus Jordan, be sure to swing down south of San Bruno State Park to give Las Hijas del Gallo a try.

615 Linden Ave, South San Francisco, CA 94080