The Bay End outdoor screen shifts to elimination soccer this week: Round of 16 on Tuesday, Quarterfinals Thursday and Friday — all free, no ticket required, drinks allowed outside.

The stakes at Pier 39's free outdoor World Cup screen just went up. The Bay End screen — which has been running since mid-June — shifts to knockout rounds this week, meaning every match from here on is do-or-die soccer.

The schedule, per the Bay Area Host Committee's official event listing at sfbayareafwc26.com and confirmed by Funcheap:

  • Tuesday, July 7: Two Round of 16 matches — 9 a.m. and 1 p.m.
  • Thursday, July 9: Quarterfinal, 1 p.m.
  • Friday, July 10: Quarterfinal, 12 p.m.

No screenings are currently scheduled for Wednesday, July 8. (Saturday, July 11 adds two more Quarterfinals at 2 p.m. and 6 p.m. if your week runs long.)

Admission is free; no ticket or RSVP required. Pier 39's Entertainment Zone activates on all match days — meaning you can buy a drink from any pier bar or restaurant and carry it into the designated outdoor viewing area, something not permitted on regular days.

Getting there: Pier 39 is at The Embarcadero and Beach Street. Muni F-Market streetcar to Embarcadero/Beach, or BART to Embarcadero Station and walk roughly 15 minutes north. Parking at the Pier 39 garage runs around $9/hour and fills fast on big match days — transit is the cleaner call.

The move: Thursday's 1 p.m. Quarterfinal. Afternoon sun on the bay, a charged knockout crowd, drink in hand. Arrive 20 minutes early to get a slab of concrete with a real sightline.

Schedule subject to change; confirm at pier39.com/soccer before heading out.