As excitement builds for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, football fans are already debating one of the tournament’s most controversial additions – hydration breaks. While some supporters believe the pauses interrupt the flow of the game, ice specialists The Ice Co have found a refreshing way to make the most of the downtime.
Partnering with renowned bartender Tom Hudson, The Ice Co has launched a collection of World Cup-inspired cocktails celebrating the tournament’s three host nations: the United States, Mexico and Canada.
Designed with simplicity in mind, each cocktail requires just three ingredients, plenty of ice and around three minutes to prepare – making them ideal for matchday viewing parties.
Brits Divided on Matchday Cocktails
The launch follows new research commissioned by The Ice Co, which surveyed 2,000 UK adults about their World Cup hosting habits.
The findings reveal that 38% of Brits believe cocktails are too much effort when entertaining guests during major football tournaments. However, for those willing to mix things up, simplicity remains key, with 29% saying three ingredients is the perfect number for a cocktail recipe.
The study also highlights the importance of keeping drinks cold during summer sporting events. More than half of respondents (51%) said ice-cold beverages are the most important element of hosting a successful World Cup gathering.
Cold beer topped the list of essential drinks for a summer football party (49%), followed by soft drinks served with ice (41%), cocktails (26%) and chilled cider (25%).
Find out more about The Ice Co at https://www.theicec.com/.
Mexico-Inspired Cocktail: The Three-Minute Michelada
Inspired by one of Mexico’s most iconic beer-based drinks, the Three-Minute Michelada combines spice, refreshment and simplicity.
Ingredients
- 200ml Mexican lager
- 100ml tomato juice
- Three dashes of hot sauce
- The Ice Co Party Ice
Method
- Fill a large pint glass completely with ice.
- Add the tomato juice and hot sauce.
- Top with the lager and gently stir.
- Serve immediately.
The bright red appearance makes it a standout option for social media-worthy matchday celebrations.
USA-Inspired Cocktail: The Iceberg Lemonade
Taking inspiration from classic American summer sporting events, The Iceberg Lemonade delivers a refreshing mix of bourbon, lemonade and blueberries.
Ingredients
- 50ml bourbon
- 150ml cloudy lemonade
- Handful of fresh blueberries
- The Ice Co Polar Cube ice
Method
- Fill a highball glass or Mason jar with ice.
- Add the bourbon.
- Pour over the lemonade.
- Add the blueberries and serve.
The floating berries create a striking red, white and blue effect that pays tribute to the Stars and Stripes.
Canada-Inspired Cocktail: Frozen Maple Rush
Celebrating Canada’s most famous export, maple syrup, the Frozen Maple Rush offers a smooth whisky-based serve perfect for warm-weather football viewing.
Ingredients
- 25ml maple syrup
- 50ml Canadian whisky
- 100ml cloudy apple juice
- The Ice Co Crushed Ice
Method
- Fill a rocks glass with crushed ice.
- Pour over the maple syrup and whisky.
- Top with apple juice.
- Stir briefly and serve.
As the maple syrup filters through the crushed ice, it creates a layered golden appearance that is both refreshing and highly photogenic.
A Cool Way to Celebrate World Cup 2026
With the 2026 FIFA World Cup set to be hosted across Canada, Mexico and the United States, The Ice Co’s trio of themed cocktails offers football fans a simple way to embrace the tournament’s international spirit from home.
Whether you’re watching the action with friends or hosting a full-scale viewing party, these easy-to-make drinks prove that hydration breaks can become the perfect opportunity to prepare something refreshing.
