Where to Watch the World Cup in New York

Dark, dank and crowded, this is unequivocally the hub for New York City soccer fans. Typically an East Village stronghold for those who rally under the Union Jack, it nevertheless packs in swarms of spectators with painted faces from around the globe during the Cup. Show up early if you dream of getting in.

Cobble Hill can get a bit self-congratulatory about its tenuous French connection, as anyone who has spent Bastille Day on Smith Street can attest. But this bistro is worthy of praise: solid steak frites, sun-splashed curbside seating, and a few TVs inside to watch Les Bleus in action.

No one combines soccer and partying with the exuberance of the Brazilians. This East Village resto-bar doesn't disappoint: During the World Cup, free shots of cachaca will be passed around whenever the Samba Kings put one in the net.

Grilled meat, malbec, and futbol are among the things Argentines love passionately, and they're all found in plenitude at this bustling Soho eatery. If the ex-pat Portenos get ramped up for matches between Boca and River, imagine how they'll respond when star forward Lionel Messi takes the field during the Cup.

Aren't we all sick of Teutonic cliches involving lederhosen, bratwurst and giant mugs of delicious beer? Never! All those components added to World Cup mayhem make this East Village beer hall a prime example of perfect German engineering.

The Aussies are more renowned for revelry than their accomplishments on the pitch, and this new Upper West Side restaurant/bar (the original Sunburnt Cow is still in the East Village) does nothing to refute such a reputation. What do you call $2 Buds and World Cup games on the flat-screen--that's a good day, mate.

We can't say Prospect Heights was crying out for a soccer bar, but now that it's here, we couldn't live without its extensive array of bottled beer (ranging from $3 Red Stripe to $12 Rochefort 10), tasty nibbles and dedication to footie.

A haven for fans of English Premier League soccer (and UFC devotees, but they're best avoided), this two-level Irish pub takes it back to bar basics for those hooligans: cheap beer on tap, respectable cheeseburgers, thick-cut fries and plenty of TVs.

Forget all the haute Iberian cuisine ? this old-school basement restaurant might as well be a neighborhood joint in Madrid's Plaza Mayor. Dig into pimenton-lashed octopus and seafood paella while cheering on star midfielder Xavi and his companeros.

Wedged between the boutiques on one of the Lower East Side's quieter blocks, this split-level South African restaurant has projection screens, and, perhaps, home field advantage. The food may be as interesting as the games--try ostrich sausage or the restaurant's namesake, a loaf of bread stuffed with curry, chutney and lamb.

This year is the first that this Lower East Side dive will be showing the World Cup, with multiple games screened daily, including a few 7:30am starts. Food and drink specials are an added bonus, but when it comes to early-morning boozing, who really needs additional incentives?