On June 14th the world will be watching as the 2018 FIFA WORLD CUP kicks off. All of us at Poland In Your Pocket will be watching too as our respective national teams muscle their way to the second round… oh wait! What?! I’ve just been informed that the US is not coming to play this time. Really?! Trinidad and Tobago!? Well, at least Panama and Honduras will have a shot at it. So we’ll be cheering for Mexico, Japan and Poland. Ranked 10th in the world, Poland has one of the strongest teams they’ve ever had, so expect every seat of every bar or cafe with a screen to be filled with fans, families and grannies chanting and cheering for the biało czerwoni. These are the initial group stage fixtures for Poland, during which city life will basically stop.
-
June 19, 17:00: vs. Senegal
-
June 24, 20:00: vs. Colombia
-
June 28, 16:00: vs. Japan
Here is a list of places where you can enjoy the World Cup with your friends. If Poland is playing, make sue to reserve a place or just arrive earlier to get good seats.
THE OFFICIAL KRAKÓW FAN ZONE
After much speculation, the city has in fact gone all-out with its official Fan Zone, which occupies the large open space next to the new Cracovia Centennial Hall, near Kraków’s Błonia meadow. Entry is free, and matches will be screened on an enormous 9 x 5m screen. In addition to plenty of beer (but only up to 3.5% alcohol), there’s a big emphasis on gastronomy, with benches and tables for dining on traditional Polish dishes, as well as traditional dishes from around the world prepared specifically to coincide with whichever nations are playing each other. There will also be food trucks nearby, photo booths, face painting and…a ‘mini zoo’ where animals nations will predict match winners (cringe).
All the while, an entire schedule of events will be taking place inside the Centennial Hall sports arena, including a youth football tournament, wrestling tournament, a canoe kayak simulator, tennis demonstrations, creative animations and workshops, tug-of-war, dance and ballet shows and more. The entire Fan Zone is adapted to the needs of people with disabilities, and there is an entire programme of sports competitions specifically for those with disabilities.
STARA ZAJEZDNIA
This huge former tram depot in Kazimierz has been turned into a microbrewery, and not only offers their own beer, but also has a full menu of eats and one of the largest ranges of whiskies in town. Matches will be shown on enormous screens both inside and outside, and this place is so big that it’s a sure bet for anyone who needs a last minute place to catch the match.
DWOREK STREET FOOD PARK
Enjoy the open air, cheap international eats and game time excitement at this food truck park near the train station, which will have a giant screen showing all matches. Certainly one of the hipper places in town to watch the World Cup, and unlike other food trucks parks in town, this one has bathrooms.
ZET PE TE
Essentially a maze of beer gardens on the grounds of a former tobacco factory, Tytano has basically evolved into its own self-contained nightlife district, and ZetPeTe is the complex’s largest venue, featuring two beer gardens with outside bars on either side of their spacious indoor music club/concert space. World Cup matches will be projected on a giant screen in the far garden at the very back of the Tytano complex, or inside if it’s raining. We’ve absolutely no doubt this will be one of the best places to watch in town.
