Where to watch live football in a Costa Blanca pub

To watch live football on the Costa Blanca, head for the region's British and Irish sports bars: there is no official municipal fan zone, but the coast has one of the densest networks of screen pubs in Spain, from Alicante and Benidorm to Xàbia. These are the venues that show the Premier League, the Champions League, the Six Nations, boxing and Formula 1 all year round, and they are exactly where expats packed in together for the 2026 World Cup in July. Below is a shortlist that stays reliable whatever is on the calendar.

Is there an official fan zone on the Costa Blanca?

No. Unlike a home tournament, the region does not set up a municipal big screen for football, so the real action happens in the pubs. That is no loss: the Costa Blanca's strength is its very high density of British and Irish screen bars, most of them showing Sky Sports and TNT Sports, with the day's fixtures chalked up by the door. Turn up, order a pint, and you will find the match already on.

Which British and Irish pubs show live sport on the Costa Blanca?

Here is a shortlist of reliable screen pubs from Alicante down to Benidorm, with a map button for each so you can find the door.

Beyond this shortlist, the choice is huge. Alicante's Barrio and the Explanada area alone hold dozens more Irish pubs and screen cafes (the Dubliners, The Little Duke and others), easy to spot by the shirts on display. Down south, from Torrevieja to Orihuela Costa, almost every commercial and shopping area has its own sports bar, with the fixture list chalked up at the entrance.

How do I get the best seat for a big match?

• Arrive early. For the big matches, the best screens and seats go fast before kick-off, so get there well ahead of the whistle.
• Call ahead. Some pubs take table bookings for the marquee fixtures, so ring the venue if you want a guaranteed spot.
• Bring cash. A bit of cash makes those quick half-time rounds much faster at a busy bar.
• Save the almuerzo for the morning after. A hearty terrace almuerzo (the mid-morning Spanish spread) is the local cure after a late match and extra time.

Frequently asked questions

Is there an official fan zone for big tournaments on the Costa Blanca?

No, the region does not set up a municipal big screen. The pubs listed above are the real gathering points, and they show major tournaments, the Premier League, the Champions League and more on their own screens.

Do I need to book a table to watch a match?

Not usually for an ordinary league game: turn up and grab a seat. For the biggest fixtures, some venues take table bookings and fill up early, so it is worth calling ahead and arriving before kick-off.

Is there a wider sports-bar scene beyond this list?

Yes, by a long way. Alicante's Barrio and Explanada are full of Irish pubs and screen cafes, and further south, from Torrevieja to Orihuela Costa, nearly every commercial area has its own sports bar with the fixtures chalked up by the door.

Sources

• Red Corner Sports Bar: Alicante's sports bar (screens and schedule)
• My Guide Alicante: the best sports bars in Alicante
• Jávea Online 24: Xàbia's sports bars
• Sharpey's Sports Bar: screens and schedule
• Cheers Bar Jávea: screens and broadcasts

Information verified in August 2026. The Daily Costa Blanca is an AI-assisted publication with human editorial review and responsibility. Opening hours and screening schedules change with the season and the sporting calendar: check directly with each venue.