Alex Orenczuk
•7/7/2026
NAPLES, Fla. (WINK) — The United States’ World Cup run ended Monday night with a 4-1 loss to Belgium in the Round of 16, but at Legends B&G Sports Bar in Naples, the tournament has already delivered a win for business.
Fans packed the restaurant as the U.S. took on Belgium, filling the bar with chants, cheers and red, white and blue.
“Go USA. It’s all about the U.S. This is our year at home,” one fan said before the match.
Owner Herman Marin said World Cup watch parties have turned a normally slower summer stretch into one of the restaurant’s strongest months in years.
“Oh, it’s been crazy,” Marin said. “This one is the best month we ever had, you know, for years. Soccer is all around. We have a lot of groups coming in to watch these games here. It’s been the greatest month. I think it’s better than the season.”
Marin said fans have come out for teams including the United States, Colombia, Brazil, Argentina and Mexico. Some match days have brought hundreds of customers through the doors, and he said the restaurant has even sold out of food, drinks and beer during some of its busiest watch parties.
That demand has also put pressure on the kitchen.
Rafael Rottiers, the restaurant’s general manager and executive chef, said each match feels more like a large catering event than a normal day at the bar.
“This is something completely different than what I used to do, but, you know, super emotional, and besides that, a big challenge,” Rottiers said. “Big challenge, because you know, to serve 400 people, 480 people in two hours’ time is crazy.”
Rottiers said the restaurant serves Latin American cuisine, including Colombian, Peruvian and Mexican dishes, and has adjusted its menu to keep up with World Cup crowds.
Even with the U.S. now out of the tournament, Marin hopes the momentum does not slow down, turning every match day into another big night for his restaurant.
