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World Cup 2014 African Nations Championships, closed suddenly in early June, leaving Ghana fans looking for a place to watch matches with a plate of goat meat and fufu. Bukom Cafe, the West African restaurant that has been a fixture in Adams Morgan for two decades, is crowded and loud and perfect for watching soccer. Just beware of the potent cocktails.
The Best Places in D.C. To Watch Soccer Sometimes you just want to watch soccer with people who can reasonably discuss whether a player dived or was fouled. That’s when you head to one of the area’s best all-around soccer bars. Some will get more American or English fans, but they’ll show every minute of the action — with sound. FRITZ HAHN (T WP)
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England (GROUP D)
703-820-3900, babylonfc.com.
The English Premier League’s huge following in Washington means that many general soccer bars attract groups of England supporters, including Lucky Bar and Summers (details under “Best Places” at right). The Queen Vic on H Street NE, modeled after a British pub, has a strong selection of England ales and a mix of screens for watching the Three Lions. Down the street, Vendetta has a wager with the Queen Vic for Saturday’s England-Italy match: If England wins, Vendetta has to tap a keg of Newcastle Brown Ale. If Italy wins, the Queen Vic puts Peroni on draft. 1206 H St. NE;
Flanagan’s Harp and Fiddle: Bethesda’s top soccer-viewing spot has large TVs and affordable pub grub. 4844 Cordell Ave., Bethesda; 301-951-0115, flanagansharpandfiddle.com. (Bethesda)
Lucky Bar: The soccer bar caters to fans of English and Spanish league teams. During the Cup you’ll see fans in jerseys from around the globe. 1221 Connecticut Ave. NW; 202-331-3733, luckybardc.com. (Dupont Circle)
1234 H St. NE; thepugdc.com. (Union Station)
Want More Ideas? aren’t many Uruguayan restaurants in the area, but Del Campo has pledged its support to Luis Suarez and Co. for the World Cup. Try a chivito — the sandwich that’s Uruguay’s national dish — with fries and a beer for $20.14. 777 I St. NW; 202-289-7377, delcampodc .com. (Gallery Place) busandi gendis et aperrovidi vel
GROUP E
Ecuador*, France, Honduras*, Switzerland
France: Redline shows how the World Cup brings countries together: The Swiss Embassy and the Union of French Citizens Abroad are co-sponsoring an event when the teams meet June 20. Other hot spots for fans of Les Bleus include Bistro Le Bonne and Le Bar at the downtown Sofitel Hotel, which always flies the tricolor. Redline: 707 G St. NW; 202-3478683, dcredline.com. (Gallery Place) Bistro Le Bonne: 1340 U St. NW; 202-7583413, bistrolabonne.com. (U Street) Le Bar: 806 15th St. NW; 202-730-8700, iciurbanbistro.com. (McPherson Sq)
Switzerland: Switzerland fans will gather elsewhere for its other group matches. The embassy and the Swiss Club of Washington D.C. have organized a party at City Tap House for the Sunday match against Ecuador; the party
The Pug It may have a fraction of the TVs some other bars do, but this is a serious soccer dive with cheap canned beer, all-local drafts and a huge Irish whiskey selection.
202-396-2001, thequeenvicdc.com. (Union Station)
Uruguay: There
LILLIAN CHO (YELP VIA FLICKR)
Babylon Futbol Cafe: Babylon caters to Spanish-speaking soccer fans on weekend mornings. After dark, expect folks who smoke shisha pipes and listen to reggae or DJs spinning old-school hiphop. 3501 S. Jefferson St., Falls Church;
The Post’s goingoutguide.com has even more tips on where to watch games, plus updates on World Cup specials and events. Follow The Post’s Fritz Hahn on Twitter (@fritzhahn) to get a feel for the scene at D.C.-area bars during the tournament. Want more tasty international foods and less noisy futbol? Express’ Holley Simmons rounds up some ideas for worldly D.C. dining at readexpress.com. moves to Darlington House for the final group game against Honduras on June 25. City Tap House: 901 I St. NW; 202733-5333, citytaphousedc.com. Darlington House: 1620 20th St. NW; 202332-3722, darlingtonhousedc.com. busandi gendis et aperrovidi vel
GROUP F
Argentina, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Iran*, Nigeria*
Argentina: At El Patio, Lionel Messi is a deity to be discussed with a glass of malbec or a bottle of Quilmes in hand. Other restaurants supporting Argentina include Del Campo and Arlington’s Las Brasas. El Patio: 5240 Randolph Road, Rockville; 301-231-9225, elpatio international.com. Las Brasas: 4154-A Four Mile Run Drive, Arlington; 703-9983077, lasbrasaschickenandsteak.com.
BosniaHerzegovina: Bosnia is making its first World Cup appearance, and few people in the area are happier than Ivica Svalina, the Bosnian-born chef and owner of the Cosmopolitan Grill in Alexandria. The restaurant will serve Balkan wines and burgers while showing every match. 7770 Richmond Highway, Alexandria; 703-360-3660, restaurant-cosmopolitan.com. busandi gendis et aperrovidi ve
GROUP G
Germany, Ghana, Portugal, United States
Germany: Germany is always the home team at Biergarten Haus. The enormous German-style beer garden on H Street NE regularly hit capacity during the 2010 World Cup and the 2012 European championship, with fans arriving hours before the first ball was kicked, then singing and chanting in German during matches. The GoetheInstitut in Chinatown, the world’s largest German cultural organization, will show Germany’s weekday matches in its movie theater. This is great if you want to practice your German language skills, and you can bring your own refreshments. Biergarten Haus: 1355 H
This Irish pub has built a reputation as a soccer bar by hosting game-watching parties with supporter groups, including Liverpool’s and DC United’s Screaming Eagles. 2915 Wilson Blvd., Arlington;
2442 18th St. NW; 202-265-4600, bukomcafe.com. (Woodley Park)
Portugal: Think Cristiano Ronaldo and company have a chance to upset Germany? The Portugal fans at Espresso, a low-key bar and restaurant in Manassas, Va., might just agree with you. 9002
703-248-9888. www.rira.com/arlington.
Summers Restaurant This Arlington restaurant-cumsports bar was named “Best Soccer Bar” by U.S. Soccer in 2002 after it stayed open 24/7 to show live games from the World Cup in Japan and Korea. Summers attracts all sorts of fans year-round, with turnout particularly strong during U.S. matches. 1520 N. Courthouse Road,
Centreville Road, Manassas, Va.; 703-3618244, portuguesegrille.com. busandi gendis et aperrovidi ve
GROUP H
Algeria, Belgium, Russia, South Korea
Algeria: Fans of Algeria will return to Babylon Futbol Cafe in Seven Corners, where a large flag-waving crowd watched their team battle the United States in the last World Cup, according to Abdennour Azeddine, a director of the Algerian-American Association of Greater Washington. (Details in “Best Places” at left.)
Arlington; www.summers-restaurant.com. (Courthouse)
United States (GROUP G) The local chapter of the bandanawearing American Outlaws takes over the basement of the Laughing Man Tavern for every game, where they’ll sing and cheer throughout. During matches, the bar will offer $3 PBR and $4 Heinekens. Other places you can expect to hear vocal U.S. support include a DC Unitedsponsored outdoor screening of the game vs. Portugal on a big screen in Reston Town Center (June 22 at 6 p.m.), and the second Soccer in the Circle Festival on June 26, with a live screening in Dupont Circle of the noon match between the United States and Germany. The Arlington Cinema & Drafthouse will show every first-round U.S. match on its high-definition movie screen with no admission charge. Laughing Man
Belgium: Belgium will be the center of attention at Belga Cafe and its 14th Street NW offshoot, B Too. Both will have deals on waffles, frites and snacks, plus specials on the allimportant Belgian beers, including a number of red ales (the team is known as the Red Devils). Belga: 514 Eighth St. SE; 202-544-0100, belgacafe.com. (Eastern Market) B Too: 1324 14th St. NW; 202-627-2800, btoo.com. (McPherson Sq)
Russia: Where would Alex Ovechkin watch Russia? We’re guessing Mari Vanna. The downtown Russian restaurant will put the games on all of its TVs and offer a free vodka shot to each customer during matches, with half-price Russian beers from 5 to 8 p.m. on weekdays. This will be particularly handy when Russia plays South Korea at 6 p.m. on Tuesday. 1141 Connecticut
Tavern: 1306 G St. NW; 202-737-1797, laughingmantavern.com. (Metro Center) Arlington Cinema & Drafthouse: 2903 Columbia Pike, Arlington; 703-486-2345. arlingtondrafthouse.com.
Ave. NW; 202-783-7777, marivanna.ru. (Farragut North)
South Korea:
St. NE. 202-388-4085. biergartenhaus .com. Goethe Institut: 812 Seventh St. NW. 202-289-1200. goethe.de/washington. (Union Station)
Ghana: Ghana Cafe, a favorite staple of Black Stars supporters in previous World Cups and
Team USA’s Michael Bradley
JOHN RAOUX (AP)
England’s Steven Gerrard
Annandale’s restaurants and karaoke-centric bars buzz when the South Korean team takes the field. Two of the best places to go are Cafe Tu Ah and Baden Baden, which have plenty of TV screens, beer and soju. Cafe Tu Ah: 7117 Columbia Pike, Annandale, Va.; 703-9928671. Baden Baden: 7358 Little River Turnpike, Annandale; 703-256-6777.