Watch the 2010 World Cup at these American pubs, where the world’s sport is taken seriously.
By Zachary Faigen for MSN Local Edition / 6.9.10
The globe turns its attention (and its televisions) to the FIFA World Cup as it kicks off for the first time ever on African soil. Soccer may not attract devotees in the United States the way it does in many other countries, but all sports fans — even Americans — understand the magnitude of the event. No matter where you are, there’s a great place to watch the World Cup with friends, food and brews. We’ve picked 10 places around the country where you can raise your cup and say “Cheers! Salud! Prost! and Yung sing!” to the world.
Kezar Pub and Restaurant (San Francisco)
Named for the stadium and former 49ers home field just down the street, Kezar Pub and Restaurant has been serving up drinks for over 60 years. With 24 beers on tap and more than 50 others in bottles, it has become a destination bar for soccer fans around the city. A few things you should know before going to Kezar for a World Cup match: First, order the chicken wings even before you order a beer. Second, try to go there for a France match. Owner, Cyril Hackett, a terribly nice man who promotes a friendly atmosphere, is Irish and still a little bitter about what happened last November (France beat Ireland when the referee failed to call a clear handball against France in a World Cup playoff). Cyril’s giving free shots of Irish whiskey to everyone in the bar each time an opposing team scores on France. This means you are rooting for Mexico, Uruguay and the hosts, South Africa, in the first round.
Ye Olde King’s Head (Los Angeles)
You would never guess that a place just two blocks from the Santa Monica Pier could be so authentic. There isn’t a hint of tourism in this pub dominated by accents of the British Isles. And it’s all about the football here. While the earliest World Cup games will start at 4:30 a.m. (PT), King’s Head will open at 4 in order to allow fans to get comfortable before the match starts (California law allows them to start serving booze at 6, by the way). If you’re there for a match, that means you’re probably also there for breakfast. Go with a traditional English breakfast and choose the fried bread. If you’re not rooting for England or the U.S., don’t let that dissuade you from coming out. The pub is expecting big fan turnouts for the South American teams, Central American teams, Mexico, Italy, Germany and most of the other big European nations.
Nevada Smiths (New York)
New Yorkers know Nevada Smiths. If you don’t live in New York, it’s time for a trip. Nevada Smiths is a bastion of true football (yes, they call it football here) insanity. This two-level establishment — with 15 plasma screens and a massive projection screen in HD — has 20 beers on tap, plenty more out of the bottle, and a full bar both upstairs and down. But the reason to go to Nevada Smiths is the atmosphere. The passion of their fans is unmatched. During the year, regulars form “supporters clubs” to watch their favorite club teams from Europe. Some of the names include Arsenal New York Gooners, Aston Villa New York Villans, Sportsklubben Brann and Scotland Tartan Army NYC. It should be an interesting crowd on June 12 when the normally English-leaning patronage has to deal with the influx of American fans.
George and Dragon Pub (Seattle)
If you’re heading to George and Dragon for a big match, get there early. In 2008, for the European Championships, the line out the door stretched for blocks — and the bar can hold over 500 people! To accommodate even more fans, the pub will close its parking lot and bring TVs and beer stands outside. (Let’s hope for good weather.) Speaking of beer, British 20 oz. pints are just $5. Overall, they have 18 beers on tap, coming from England, France, Scotland, Belgium, Denmark, Czech Republic, Germany and, of course, several local Seattle microbrews. If you’re ordering food, try the shepherd’s pie or chicken curry. They’re not as popular as the fish ‘n’ chips, but should be.
Summers Restaurant (Arlington, Va.)
Summers opened in 1983, before soccer had even a niche following in America. This will be Summers’ seventh World Cup — so you better believe they have this thing down. The official bar of the U.S. National Team for Arlington, they will be showing every game live on their 60 HD TVs and will open at 6:30 a.m. for the early matches (an hour before they kick off on the East Coast). For the entire month of the World Cup, Summers will have a special on Peroni beer in honor of Italy being the reigning World Cup champs. Pints of Peroni will be $3.95, and reps from Peroni will be around handing out free T-shirts throughout the tournament.
Meehan’s Public House (Atlanta)
There’s something for everyone at Meehan’s during the World Cup. Dog lovers don’t have to leave their pooches at home but can grab a table on the pup-friendly upstairs terrace, downstairs patio or sidewalk seating. If food is your thing, their fish ‘n’ chips are made with a Guinness-based batter that adds a wonderful complexity without overpowering the fish. Fried pickles with ranch dressing are addictive, while Mayor Bob’s jumbo pretzels (named for the pub’s famed regular) are rightfully popular. For the World Cup, chef Linda Harrell is cooking specials in honor of the bigger teams: Vidalia onion French dip & crudite, traditional gazpacho, sandwich de mortadella and an English trifle. There will be specials for Sweetwater 420, Pimm’s Cups, sangria, Corona, Absolut Berri Acai & lemonade, Heineken, Amstel Light, Bud Light & Budweiser and Bacardi World Cup shots — every game, every day. The pub also has a huge projection screen (15 feet by 25 feet) for optimal viewing.
Trinity Hall (Dallas)
Dallas, if you’re looking for World Cup Central this is it. Trinity Hall is expecting so many people that they already have neighboring theaters and restaurants on call for overflow capacity. Along with U.S. and England fans, expect a robust showing from the Brazilian contingency. On the drinks front, Trinity Hall has too many beers to count — the manager kindly informed me the actual number is about 210. Have you ever had a beer from Tibet? Malaysia? Tasmania? Here for the taking. Want something to eat? Go with a traditional favorite like Irish stew. If you’re really hungry, try the Awesome Bucco, a full, braised pork shank, 16 to 18 ounces, so tender that it literally falls off the bone when you touch your fork to it.
The Globe (Chicago)
Voted Best Soccer Bar in the U.S. in both 2007 and 2008, the Globe isn’t just putting on a show for the World Cup. All of the staff are very knowledgeable about the sport and don’t mind answering questions about players, teams, matchups or whatever else is on your mind. To accommodate more people, the Globe is taking out most of their tables and chairs so most of the bar will be standing room only. Because of that, there will be a special World Cup menu of food that’s easier to eat on your feet. The Globe will be a huge hub for U.S. fans, and they’re also expecting a large showing from fans of Argentina, Brazil and the Netherlands.
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