With the 2026 FIFA World Cup knockout rounds right around the corner, fans across the Island are packing local restaurants and bars to cheer on Team USA and other favorite teams. In what too often feels like a deeply divided time, World Cup fever seems to be uniting us all, especially on Martha’s Vineyard.
On an Island that celebrates its diversity, with immigrants from Brazil, Cape Verde, Croatia, Haiti, and other qualifying countries, there are World Cup watch parties on screens in crowded bars and family-packed basements from Oak Bluffs to Aquinnah.
Among the most boisterous of fans are the Scottish, who’ve been stopping by to take in the Island’s beauty before making their way to a match at Foxborough, and the Brazilians, who are part of a thriving community here on the Island that sees a devotion to the national team that is perhaps more akin to a religion than just a sporting event.
But it seems there is no team that has won more hearts than the dramatic underdog Cape Verde, or “Cabo Verde,” to use the local pronunciation. On Friday, the small, relatively poor country of Cape Verde will face the oil-rich kingdom of Saudi Arabia. It is a much-anticipated match here on Martha’s Vineyard, which has a deep historical connection to Cape Verde that dates back to whaling ship days.
Scottish supporters were spotted earlier this month in kilts before Scotland’s June 13 matchup against Haiti at Foxborough, while El Barco in Vineyard Haven drew a spirited crowd of England fans waving flags during their team’s 4-2 victory over Croatia. A small crowd of Croatian supporters added to the rivalry with their own cheers.
The Island is home to various communities rooting for countries beyond the U.S. The Vineyard is home to a large population of Brazilian immigrants. A smaller community on the Island, Cabo Verdeans, are watching an underdog story take place as the national team are becoming defensive stars against some of the top-ranked teams.
Brazil fans have made places like Vineyard Grill and the Barn, Bowl and Bistro their homes for the international tournament.
The manager at Vineyard Grill, Marcus Nascimento, said the restaurant is actively inviting the Brazilian community to their restaurant to watch games, but all are welcome.
“It’s been very rewarding seeing a full house of people watching games,” said Nascimento. “We promote mostly Brazilian games, but we have other games on the TV for people to watch, and people do call when France is playing or when Argentina is playing. They want to see it on the big screen.”
The Vineyard Grill has an 85-inch television for games, and is in the process of constructing an outdoor viewing setup on the front patio for upcoming games.
Another prevalent group of fans on the island is the Serbian community. While Serbia did not qualify for the World Cup, the neighboring country of Bosnia and Herzegovina has found itself in a must-win situation to advance to the elimination rounds starting next week. Croatia, another neighbor to Bosnia and Serbia, also has a strong chance of advancing to elimination rounds; currently ranked third in Group L, it needs to defeat Ghana on Saturday, June 27, at 5 pm in Philadelphia.
“Almost all Serbians are rooting for Bosnia,” said local Serbian bartender Milica Arizankowska in an interview.
Bosnia needs to defeat Qatar at 3 pm Wednesday in order to advance to the elimination rounds. The match takes place after our print deadline.
While Brazil and Bosnia are drawing strong local support, a recent study done revealed that there’s another nation with an impressive presence in Massachusetts: Cabo Verde. Covers.com analyzed foreign-born population data for 2026 World Cup nations and created a “World Cup Diaspora Support Index.” Cabo Verde topped the Massachusetts list, with 33,278 foreign-born residents.
Cabo Verde is the “Cinderella story” of the 2026 World Cup. It had a major upset against Spain on June 15 in Atlanta, Georgia, holding the tournament favorite to a 0-0 draw despite Spain recording 27 shots on Cape Verde’s goalkeeper, Josimar José Évora Dias, known to fans as “Vozinha.” They then beat Uruguay, a two-time world champion team, on June 21 in Miami. Their next match is against Saudi Arabia on June 27 in Houston, Texas. The match will likely determine whether Cabo Verde makes it into the single-elimination round of 32.
Cabo Verdeans, hailing from the archipelago of volcanic islands off the coast of West Africa, first came to Martha’s Vineyard in the 19th and early 20th centuries during the whaling and fishing boom. Last year, the 50th anniversary of Cape Verdean independence was held at the M.V. Museum in September.
As the knockout round approaches, Islanders and visitors alike will be gathering to watch the U.S. in the knockout stages. The team secured its first game in the knockout stage of the tournament beginning July 1, after beating Australia 2-0 on Friday, June 19, in Seattle. Although they don’t have an opponent yet, the U.S. team’s first knockout round will be played at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, Calif.
England and Brazil have not clinched their round-of-32 spots yet, but England sits atop Group L with four points, and Brazil needs to draw or win against Scotland on Wednesday, June 24, in order to secure its position in the next round.
After our deadline, a watch party for the Brazil – Scotland game is being hosted at the Martha’s Vineyard Regional High Schools (MVRHS) Performing Arts Center (PAC).
Other popular places local and nonlocal fans can go to watch the games include Towne and the Wharf in Edgartown, as well as the Ritz Cafe, the VFW, and Red Cat Kitchen in Oak Bluffs.