A Once-in-a-Generation Summer for Soccer in the U.S.
The FIFA World Cup 2026 is being hosted across North America this summer, with the United States serving as a primary host country — the kind of scheduling that turns casual soccer fans into committed ones and gives serious fans an excuse to gather every few days for a match. For Rancho Cordova and the greater Sacramento area, that means a real, recurring demand for somewhere to watch that isn’t a living room with one TV and a spotty stream. Restaurants with multiple screens, group-friendly seating, and food that doesn’t require anyone to step away from the action become the default answer — and Rancho Steve’s Pizza checks all three boxes without having to try too hard.
Eight Big Screens, Built for Exactly This
Rancho Steve’s dining room at 3191 Zinfandel Dr is set up with eight big-screen TVs — originally built for the restaurant’s existing “game day” crowd, but a near-perfect fit for a summer where match days are happening multiple times a week. With eight screens spread through the dining room, groups can split across tables and still all see the action, and overlapping match times (a real possibility during group stage play) aren’t a problem the way they would be at a single-screen sports bar. The space is described by the restaurant itself as “perfect for family dinners, catching up with friends, or celebrating youth sports victories” — and a World Cup match slots into that description just as naturally as a Friday night dinner.
The Patio Option for Evening Matches
Not every match falls during the heat of a Sacramento summer afternoon. For evening kickoffs, Rancho Steve’s outdoor patio gives groups the option to watch on a phone, tablet, or portable screen while enjoying cooler evening air — a nice alternative for larger groups who’d rather spread out outside than pack into the dining room, or for families with younger kids who get restless indoors.
What to Order for a Match-Day Table
Soccer matches run roughly two hours including halftime — long enough that a single small pizza isn’t going to cut it for a group, and short enough that you don’t want food that takes forever to arrive or eat. Rancho Steve’s menu is built for exactly this kind of grazing: hot chicken wings with a choice of sauces, cheese breadsticks, mozzarella sticks, and jalapeño poppers all work as shareable, hands-free options that don’t require silverware or a sit-down moment away from the screen. For the main event, a Steve Combo or a couple of medium specialty pizzas — split across flavors like BBQ Chicken, Garlic Ranch Chicken, or the customer-favorite Mediterranean — covers a mixed-preference group without anyone settling for plain cheese.
Groups ordering for a full watch party should take advantage of the Mega Deal (20% off medium, large, XL, and party pizzas) — a meaningful discount when you’re ordering multiple pizzas to cover a table of six or eight people — or the automatic 20% discount on orders over $200 for bigger gatherings.
Planning Ahead for Group Reservations
Because match schedules are set well in advance, a World Cup watch party is one of the easier group events to plan around. Calling ahead to (916) 851-0749 to confirm table availability for a specific match time — especially for U.S. national team games or weekend matches likely to draw bigger crowds — is the simplest way to make sure your group has a spot when kickoff arrives. For groups who’d rather watch from home or the office, ordering ahead online for pickup or delivery means food arrives hot before the opening whistle instead of during the second half.
Why a Pizza Shop Makes Sense for Soccer
Soccer and pizza have an obvious, long-running cultural overlap — youth soccer teams have been celebrating wins (and consoling losses) over pizza for decades, and Rancho Steve’s specifically calls out “celebrating youth sports victories” as part of its dining room’s everyday use. For Rancho Cordova’s many youth soccer families, a World Cup summer is a natural extension of something the restaurant already does well: give a team, a family, or a friend group a place to gather around a screen and a table at the same time.
Make Rancho Steve’s Your World Cup Home Base
Whether you’re catching every match of the tournament or just want somewhere to watch the bigger games with friends, Rancho Steve’s offers the combination most living rooms can’t: multiple screens, a patio for overflow, and a menu built for sharing. Reserve a table, place a pickup order, or schedule a delivery for kickoff — either way, the goal is the same: good food, a good screen, and no dishes to do after the final whistle.
Q&A Pairs:
Q: Do you show World Cup matches on your TVs?
A: Yes, our dining room has eight big-screen TVs, making it easy for groups to watch matches together while they eat. We also have outdoor patio seating for evening games.
Q: Can I reserve a table for a specific match?
A: Call us at (916) 851-0749 to ask about table availability for a specific match time, especially for bigger games likely to draw a crowd.
Q: What’s the best food to order for a group watching a match together?
A: Hot wings, cheese breadsticks, and mozzarella sticks are great shareable options, paired with a Steve Combo or a couple of specialty pizzas split across flavors.
