Where To Watch The European Soccer Championship In NYC And On TV

NEW YORK, NY — The UEFA European Championship kicked off on Friday, and soccer lovers throughout the city and world are buzzing in anticipation for the 51 matches that will take place over the next month.

The competition usually takes place every four years with the 24 best soccer countries in Europe. This time around, though, the tournament was pushed back a year from its 2020 date due to the coronavirus pandemic.

For that reason, the tournament is still being called Euro 2020.

The United States might not be playing the competition, but the city has plenty of European football fans.

Italy will take on Turkey in the first game of the tournament at 3 p.m. Friday, with the rest of the competition starting on Saturday.

Here is where you can watch the games online and on TV, and also a look at some of the best soccer bars around the city to watch with friends.

TV and Online

The tournament's matches will be exclusively shown on ABC, ESPN, ESPN2, and Univision. You can tune into the first three online at Watch ESPN.

Here is the online version of Univision, which is in Spanish.

Bars Around New York City

Smithfield Hall NYC, 138 West 25th Street: When you're talking soccer bars, it is hard to not start with Smithfield. The soccer haven in Chelsea will be showing every single Euro 2020 game over the next month. The bar calls itself the "home of football in New York City," and it is worth checking out for this tournament.

Football Factory at Legends, 6 West 33rd Street: The Lower Manhattan prides itself on creating a genuine match day experience with a fantastic setting and 20 big screens that show more than 100 soccer matches every week. The bar will be doing it big for Euro 2020.

Banter Williamsburg Public House, 132 Havemeyer Street: The Brooklyn bar specializes in European soccer matches, and it will be a full house for the massive international tournament. Outdoor seating and viewing are also available at the soccer watching mecca.

O'Hanlons, 349 East 14th Street: The Irish sports bar in the East Village puts soccer above all else when it comes to viewership. With over 16 beers and ale on tap, a fun environment, and employees that know their soccer — O'Hanlons is a great spot to watch the Euro 2020.

The Astoria Tavern, 33-16 23rd Avenue: For those in Queens, there aren't many better places to watch a soccer match than the Irish pub Astoria Tavern. The local joint boasts the best happy hour in America and has enough big-screen TVs to make any sports fan happy.

11th Street Bar, 510 East 11th Street: The official home of the New York Liverpool Supporters Club, this East Village bar gets absolutely rocking for soccer matches. With plenty of drinks and a focus on soccer from the whole establishment, this is another great spot to catch a Euro 2020 match.

Clinton Hall Bronx, 601 East 189th Street: For any soccer lovers in the Bronx, Clinton Hall is a fun place to do just about anything, including catching a Euro 2020 match. The bar has extensive food and drink options, with some of the best-rated burgers around.