As the biggest sporting event in the world kicks off this month, soccer fans in Central Ohio will be able to immerse themselves in the first-ever Pride & Glory | A Global Soccer Celebration presented by Nationwide.
Throughout the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar, The Pub at Lower.com Field will serve as the “Home of Soccer in Central Ohio,” as fans will be able to watch matches with friends, family or find a new “work from home” spot for a few weeks.
The Pub at Lower.com Field will be the go-to place to watch 2022 FIFA World Cup matches, where there will be discounted beverages and globally themed, culinary dishes across morning and afternoon kickoffs.
What's The Schedule?
Pride & Glory begins Nov. 20 and runs through Dec. 18. During that span, there will be three massive events, in addition to 54 matches shown at The Pub and 22 days of watch parties.
Other than Thanksgiving matches and all 5 a.m. kickoffs, every match will be available to watch at The Pub for free. Click here to see The Pub’s Pride & Glory viewing party schedule.
One thing to note is when the doors open. While the early 5 a.m. matches won’t be available, doors will open at 8 a.m. for the next set of games.
Pride & Glory Main Events
Three events will headline the Pride & Glory month-long celebration.
The first is the Community Kickoff on Nov. 20. Pride & Glory begins at 10:30 a.m. when the Crew hosts a family resource fair on the Community Plaza and concourse, joining with the Cub’s corporate partners to provide health and wellness resources for the future generation. While the inaugural MLS NEXT Pro Cup champions Crew 2 will be there with the trophy for photo opportunities, kids from the Crew’s community partners will play soccer on the Lower.com Field pitch. Once the 2022 FIFA World Cup kicks off between Qatar and Ecuador, the match will be shown on the Plaza and in The Pub.
Gold Friday is Nov. 25 and will be headlined by the U.S. Men’s National Team taking on England at 2 p.m. Fans who attend Gold Friday will hear live music on The Plaza, while food and drinks will be available inside The Pub or at various food trucks, such as breakfast-centric Broke Johnny Food Truck. Doors open at 8 a.m. before the Qatar-Senegal match. The Netherlands-Ecuador match will also be available on the Plaza at 11 a.m. (The Plaza opens at 10 a.m.) Following the USMNT match, fans will be treated to a special screening of episode one of Good Rivals, a three-part docuseries on Prime Video about the heated U.S. and Mexico soccer rivalry. It’s only fitting the long-time home of the rivalry on American soil gets highlighted for its importance in the rivalry’s history. More info about Good Rivals can be found here.
Pride & Glory culminates on Dec. 18, when The Pub and Plaza will broadcast the 2022 FIFA World Cup Final. The Pub and the Plaza open at 9 a.m. – an hour before the final kicks off. Fans will be able to watch while enjoying live music on the Plaza while trying food from the Pub and several food trucks.
Watching the USMNT at Pride & Glory
All USMNT matches will be available in The Pub or on the Plaza, including Gold Friday against England on Nov. 25.
While we all certainly want the Stars and Stripes to have a memorable tourney run, at minimum, the country’s three group stage matches will be available before knockout stage action.
Here’s the USMNT group stage schedule:
Other Important Pride & Glory Notes
This goes without saying, but all fans are welcome to support countries from around the globe at Pride & Glory. While a strong American following is expected for USMNT matches, the “Home of Soccer in Central Ohio” means everyone is encouraged to support every team in the tournament – and even those who failed to qualify. Crew jerseys will certainly be welcomed, too!
At the heart of “Pride & Glory” is supporting the Columbus community in our love for the global game. During the World Cup, the Crew will hold the month-long donation drive with the goal of collecting 500 soccer balls for the Columbus Recreation and Parks Department, to be distributed to the local rec centers.
Donation bins will be located in Lower.com Field’s Pub and Crew Shop, with fans having the additional option to add a soccer ball to their purchases at the Crew Shop. Additionally, a rolling 50/50 Raffle will be held during the entirety of the World Cup, with proceeds benefitting On Our Sleeves.
