This story is based on an interview with Jonathan Stone, 44, of New Canaan, Connecticut, who works in event marketing. It has been edited for length and clarity.
My kids and I have been looking forward to the 2026 World Cup for months.
Parker, 6, and her 3.5-year-old brother, Jameson, inherited my love of soccer and, like me, are rooting for England this summer.
I’m American, but got hooked on European football at college, where two of my best friends were from the UK.
One supported Newcastle United, and it became my English Premier League side. The kids started wearing the kit as soon as they were born because everyone sent us themed onesies.
The pub was family-friendly
I couldn’t wait to buy them those little England shirts and shorts for this year’s competition.
They proudly wore them for the last two England matches, particularly when I took them to a pub in Norwalk, Connecticut, to cheer the team.
It was a family-friendly place that had World Cup soccer players’ coloring sheets to keep the kids happy if their attention wandered. We also brought some Lego bricks for them to build with.
I ordered their favorite Shirley Temples and chicken tenders with fries, and they got really into the game.
Courtesy of Jonathan Stone
They recognized a lot of the players because I’m always pointing them out. And they joined in some of the chants and songs unique to soccer fans and appropriate for their age.
I was also impressed by how much they know about the rules. Parker has always been keen to learn about things like offside, fouls, tackles, and yellow and red cards.
I knew some people disapprove of taking children to a bar, particularly Americans, because it’s not so much a part of our culture as in the rest of the world.
It was still in the back of my head that someone would judge me and give me a piece of their mind. Not that I cared.
It’s becoming more socially acceptable to bring kids to bars
Kids aren’t harmed by being in a pub environment where alcohol is served. You go to the movie theater these days, and there’s a full bar. It’s not going to corrupt anyone.
Luckily, it’s becoming more socially acceptable in the US to bring kids to pubs, and the attitude is shifting toward a more European one.
The shared experience of watching the World Cup has bonded the kids and me. They get excited when they see me, and other supporters in the bar go crazy about a goal.
We’re really hoping England goes through to the next round so we can repeat the fun.
