This past weekend, Arsenal fans came in from all over North America and England to make New York City the center of Gunner fandom.

The much anticipated friendly against club legend Thierry Henry and his New York Red Bulls marked Arsenal’s first appearance in the United States since 1989. As such, this really was a weekend 25 years in the making.

Arsenal America and other local Arsenal supporters groups organized a large number of events throughout the weekend, from a Yankees game outing to fan socials to a 5 v. 5 soccer tournament, there were different types of events for different types of people to ensure that everyone could participate. According to Arsenal America board member Rick Breese, the lead up to this weekend was “hectic, with many hours and many nights just putting everything together.” It was worth it though. For fellow board member Mike Kavanagh, “just to have Arsenal come over to the States is a dream come true. After waiting for so many years, it’s a validation and recognition by the club that there are people in US that are passionate about Arsenal.”

Thursday evening was a special fan event for members of Arsenal America and other local Arsenal supporters groups at the Izod Center, which included an appearance by a couple of former Arsenal Ladies team members, first team players Carl Jenkinson, Kieran Gibbs, Aaron Ramsey, Jack Wilshere, Tomas Rosicky, and Gideon Zelalem, and the legend himself, Thierry Henry. According to Rick, about 2500 fans attended, making it the largest fan event Arsenal have put on outside of the United Kingdom. The fans were loud and energetic, and even broke into chants of “U-S-A! U-S-A!” when Zelalem was introduced.

To be honest, I was a little underwhelmed by the event.  It was not as interactive as I had hoped and it felt like fans had been brought in to provide an audience backdrop for a talk show. While a few lucky fans were randomly selected for a chance to meet the players, take pictures, shoot hoops or play keepy-uppy, the rest of us were confined to our seats to watch and cheer from afar. Even for the Player Q&A, questions were preselected from social media submissions and I don’t recall them taking questions from fans in attendance.  As this was a members-only event, I was hoping it would be a chance for more interaction between the players and fans and to give more fans an opportunity to at least meet and greet some of the players.  Whether that would have been logistically feasible is another story, and I’m sure there were reasons it was run this way.  It was still a good event, but I can’t help feeling it could been so much more.  Overall, though, it still seemed that everyone had a great time and was thrilled with the opportunity to see some of their heroes in a more intimate setting.

On Friday, PUMA held an event at Grand Central Station that brought in thousands of fans throughout the day.  A youth 3 v. 3 tournament was taking place all day, and the FA Cup was made available for the public to take pictures with it.  Arsenal dino-mascot Gunnersaurus also made an appearance and was a hit.  Later on, Arsenal players Mikel Arteta, Santi Cazorla, Aaron Ramsey, and Tomas Rosicky came by to play a game with the lucky winners of the tournament.  I had actually left for a bit and then got back to Grand Central just as the players were leaving.  Except that they couldn’t leave for a while as dozens of screaming fans had come out to surround the car carrying them, hoping for a glimpse or their heroes and snapping away pictures.  You’d have thought it was a rock star, or Derek Jeter, in the car.  Nope, the excitement was for some soccer players.

Friday night, Gooners took over a two block stretch of 14th Street for a massive Arsenal Supporters Social as three different bars were each packed with hundreds of Arsenal supporters and had different events going on.  I didn’t make it out to 14th street until 10:30 or 11 pm, and while I was too late for many of the organized festivities, there were still many fans in Arsenal shirts walking the streets and singing various songs and chants.  I went into both O’Hanlon’s and The Blind Pig, and they were both still filled to the brim with fans drinking and socializing and discussing all things Arsenal.

Saturday was the crowning moment of the weekend when Arsenal took on their legendary striker Thierry Henry and the New York Red Bulls at Red Bull Arena. The Red Bulls may have been the home team, but it felt more like a home game for the Gunners as Arsenal fans outnumbered Red Bulls fans about 10 to 1, if not more.  It was a sight to see Gunners fans streaming from the train station and marching to the stadium.  Inside, the atmosphere was electric as Arsenal fans, dressed in the team kits, were loud and singing all the Arsenal songs.  I attended two Arsenal games a couple years ago and the atmosphere inside Red Bull Arena easily trumped what I remember from inside the Emirates.

The match itself was typical of a preseason outing.  The team Arsenal brought to New York was a bit diluted due to their World Cup stars still being away on holiday, but it still included several of the first team stars.  Fans didn’t seem to be too concerned about the team on the field or the slew of youngsters who took over in the second half.  As Mike commented earlier, “just the fact that they’re here at all is exciting in itself.”  Arsenal displayed some nice play, but showed quite a bit of rustiness in the final third.  In fairness to the Red Bulls, they played a good game and always looked more likely to score. The fans roared when Henry pulled off a dazzling piece of skill to get past his man at one point. Most of the first-team regulars made way at halftime for the youngsters, and once Henry was substituted off to a rousing ovation from the entire stadium early in the second half, both the fans and the match petered out.  As the final whistle blew, the fans all got up and applauded in appreciation, despite the Gunners losing 1-0.  Sure it was disappointing for the Gunners to lose – and not even score for that matter, but everyone knew this was just preseason and the whole point was to give fans in America a chance to see their heroes play live.  The atmosphere was fantastic and to be surrounded by fellow Gooners was an incredible experience.

The day after the match, Arsenal America held one final event for American Gooners – a 5 v. 5 tournament at Chelsea Piers.  This was the event Rick was most looking forward to besides the match itself.  When the winner was crowned, the weekend was over and it was time for everyone to head their separate ways back home.  For the Gooners who were there in New York for the weekend, it was an unforgettable opportunity to see the Gunners live and connect with fellow fans from all over the country.  As Mike pointed out, “the thing about having just the one match in New York [as opposed to games in different cities] was that it forced everyone to meet up in one place.”  It was like one big Arsenal family coming together for a giant party.  A big thank you to Arsenal America and the other local Arsenal supporters groups for all their hard work in making the past weekend happen!

If you were in New York for the weekend, what was your experience like?

Maybe I left Brazil too soon.  I was wearing the same Brazil shirt that I had worn while watching their previous two knockout round matches.  This time, though, I was back in the US watching the Brazil-Germany game from a bar in New York City, having just arrived earlier that morning after we flew out of Brazil the previous night. That’s why they were demolished by the mighty Germans in the semis – they were missing their good luck charm!

But seriously, I know better than to take credit for their performances.  In fact, it seems almost fitting that the end of the Seleção’s World Cup run coincided with the end of my own World Cup venture in Brazil. As I sit here now a few days later reflecting on my trip and my experiences there, I’m still in awe of the opportunity I just had. I got the opportunity to see what it really means for soccer to be a religion. I got to be part of the World Cup festivities. I got to travel to Brazil and see the sites, and to experience the culture and food. And of course, I went to a World Cup stadium to take in a match live.

I experienced other facets of the World Cup experience in Brazil, too. Here are several others I want to share with you:

Fan Fest

Millions of people from around the world traveled to Brazil for the World Cup, and many flew in just for the experience of being there without match tickets.  When fans didn’t have tickets to the match, they gathered at the FIFA Fan Fests set up in the host cities.

I went to the Fan Fest in Rio de Janeiro, set up on the Copacabana beach, to watch a couple of games where it was packed with thousands of fans all watching on the big screen. Fans were adorned in the shirts and flags of their favored nations, even if they weren’t involved in the games taking place that day. It was definitely crazy and certainly provided a festive atmosphere. As most of the crowd were neutrals, though, it wasn’t necessarily the loudest atmosphere if you wanted to be among your own fans.

The Fan Fest space in Salvador was actually much smaller than in Rio as they took over the area next to the Barra Lighthouse.  I went to the post-match party after Brazil defeated Colombia and it was a madhouse – absolutely packed and we had to slog through just to make our way to the main stage. A Brazilian singer was performing and everyone was in a party mood, dancing the night away.

The Other Side of Brazil

For the past few weeks, just about all the coverage on Brazil has focused on soccer. And how could it not?  However, while soccer may be a religion down there, there is so much more to the country than just the Beautiful Game.

I had previously posted about some of the street art in the Santa Teresa area that criticized Brazil’s hosting of the World Cup at the expense of the real needs of the people.  In Salvador, I went on a walking tour of the city that focused on the non-touristy areas outside of Pelourinho – an effort to show the real Salvador and the real Brazil that most people don’t get to see. It was striking to see the sorry state of so many of the homes and shops and commercial buildings. Whole buildings had been simply abandoned and left to rot.  So many of those buildings could be restored and converted to housing to relieve the homeless issue in the city, but instead they just sit there unused and wasting space.

The people we encountered were much poorer and could’ve cared less about soccer and whether Brazil won the World Cup or not.  This was just a small sample, but I could see why many Brazilians were protesting and calling the World Cup a waste of money. If even a fraction of the money spent on the World Cup had instead been spent in restoring some of those abandoned buildings, this part of Salvador would look so much better and be so much more habitable, and the people would really benefit.

The People

I found most of the Brazilian people to be very friendly and always willing to help us out or point us in the right direction, even when we had problems communicating due to our non-existent Portuguese language skills. They supported their national team with such a passion and many wore yellow jerseys whether Brazil was playing that day or not.

I’ll remember the crowd at the Botequim Informal who made me part of their post-match celebrations. I’ll remember the bartender behind bar at the place where we watched the Brazil vs. Colombia match, jumping up and down in excitement and yelling “Yeah Brazil!” every few minutes, and the ecstasy he displayed when Brazil won. I’ll remember the various chants that still echo through my head: “A Julio Cesar!” and “Ole! Ole, ole, ole! Ticos, Ticos!” I’ll remember the fellow soccer fans who came in from all over the globe to share in the passion for the World Cup and the game of soccer.

For many soccer fans, being at a World Cup would be a dream come true – and ultimately nothing more than a pipe dream given the costs and logistics. That’s perfectly understandable as we all have different obligations and circumstances in life. But if you get the opportunity and you have the means, I highly recommend that you go at least once. It only happens every four years and it really is a once-in-a-lifetime experience.  To be part of the world’s biggest soccer festival among thousands of fellow soccer fans who share the passion for the beautiful game is something that is hard to describe in words and just has to be felt. It really is something.

I’m sure that I’m going to faint of shock after seeing my credit card bill next month but here’s the thing, it will be worth it. To be in Brazil for the World Cup was a dream come true and an amazing experience. I may be lighter in the wallet now, but I am so glad I went as I have these stories and memories that I will cherish for a lifetime.

Editor’s note: Travels In Brazil is a series of articles written by Jameson Lam, who was in Brazil for the tournament, where he tried to capture the mood, atmosphere and spirit of the World Cup, to share it with the readers of World Soccer Talk. Read the other articles in the Travels In Brazil series.

SALVADOR, BRAZIL – The day had finally arrived.  This was the whole point of booking a plane ticket less than a month ago and deciding to come down to Brazil at the last minute (besides, of course, the experience of traveling to a new place).  This was the day I would finally be stepping foot inside the Arena Fonte Nova in Salvador to watch a World Cup quarterfinal match – Costa Rica vs. the Netherlands.

It was certainly the surprise quarterfinal matchup and not one that anyone would have predicted before the tournament started. Regardless of the matchup, I was pumped and excited.  5:00pm local time couldn’t come soon enough. I was going to be inside the stadium and watching a World Cup match live!

As a neutral, I decided to throw my support behind Costa Rica as they were the clear underdog and the Cinderella story of this World Cup.  My friends Joe and Diana did the same. Carla, on the other hand, was hoping for a Netherlands victory as they would be more likely to defeat Argentina in the semifinal – apparently, when you support Brazil, your first thought after “Go Brazil!” is “Down with Argentina!”  All that said, I still expected Costa Rica to put up a fight, but go down rather handily in the end.

We spent the morning and afternoon walking through the Old Town Pelourinho section of Salvador and passed by a whole square that had been taken over by the Dutch contingent of fans.  We also passed by a lot of other fans in orange jerseys or with Dutch flags. On the flip side, I only needed two hands to count the total number of Costa Rica supporters that I spotted while walking around town.  I figured that we would be drastically outnumbered inside the stadium with the majority cheering on the Dutch. We walked 15 minutes from Pelourinho to the stadium, and my eyes lit up when I saw the Fonte Nova and the crowd of people around it. After making it through security, through gates, and up four flights of stairs, we finally made it to our seats in section 410, pretty much at the center of the pitch.

It was a terrific atmosphere inside the stadium and soon everyone around me started singing “Ole! Ole, ole, ole! Ticos, Ticos!”  I don’t know if it was just our section, but it seemed like most of the stadium – at the least in terms of the neutrals, was rooting for Costa Rica.  All the cheers and songs for Costa Rica were LOUD.  There were a few Mexican fans seated next to us and they were of course cheering for the Ticos – or possibly against the country who knocked their team out in the previous round.

As the FIFA anthem played and the teams walked out, the crowd roared in anticipation.  The players lined up and we all stood as the national anthems of the two nations played.  Even though I didn’t know either anthem, there’s just something special about them and anticipating a competitive international match that will soon follow.  Afterward, the captains gave a message against racism. Finally, it was time for kick-off.

The match itself started pretty cagey.  As expected, the Dutch controlled the majority of possession while Costa Rica remained organized and soaked up pressure. Barely five minutes into the game, the stadium whistled and booed when the Dutch passed it back to their keeper to recycle possession.  Within 10 minutes, the section next to ours tried to get the Wave started, possibly out of boredom.  After a few attempts, they finally succeeded and the Wave made it around the whole stadium quite a few times before finally dying down.  The match went on and there were few in the way of chances at first.  Every time Arjen Robben touched the ball, I could hear the boos and whistles around the stadium.  I guess he was targeted for that treatment for his antics and his penchant for diving.

Eventually, the Dutch fashioned some chances, and Costa Rica goalkeeper Keylor Navas was on hand to repel them.  Every so often, the crowd joined in unison to sing “Ole! Ole, ole, ole! Neymar, Neymar!”  Even in a game that didn’t involve Brazil, the Brazilians – and everyone else – showed support to their fallen star.

As the match wore on, the gap in quality showed as the Dutch controlled the play.  For the most part, though, the Costa Rica defense held firm, and when they were breached, Navas continued to bail the Ticos out with a string of fine saves.  He certainly deserved his Man of the Match award that night.  The woodwork played its part as well.  As the game progressed later and later and still tied at 0-0, the roar for Costa Rica intensified as the crowd recognized the effort and fight they put in to stay in the game against the much more fancied Dutch side.

As the end of 90 minutes neared, the action picked up – mostly with the Dutch getting a few great chances to win the game at the death, including van Persie’s shot that was cleared off the line by a defender.  The whistle blew for full-time, and we got treated to at least an extra 30 minutes of soccer.

During extra time, the situation was intense, with the anticipation that any goal scored would surely hold up as the winner.  Both teams had chances, although it was clear the Ticos had tired legs.  There were loud groans throughout the stadium when Costa Rica’s moves broke down due to errant passes.  When Costa Rica had a chance near the end, the whole stadium rose as one with the possibility of witnessing history, but alas, the goal never came.  The whistle blew.  The match ended 0-0.  Penalties awaited and we all watched in anticipation, wondering if the Dutch would hold their nerve, or if Costa Rica would pull off a famous victory via the lottery of the shootout.

When Tim Krul stopped the final Costa Rica penalty and the Dutch team triumphantly ran across the field to celebrate, the stadium roared not just for the Dutch victory, but equally as much for the fight that Costa Rica put up, both in this game and the whole tournament.  Even if the Ticos fell short, they can leave this World Cup with their heads held high.  One nice gesture took place when a boisterous Costa Rica fan leading the Tico cheers swapped his jersey with another fan in a Brazilian jersey a couple of rows up.  It was a moment to show what soccer is all about – respect, passion, and love for the game no matter the result on the field.

I’m still in awe that I am down here in Brazil, and I was inside the stadium to watch an actual match – a quarterfinal no less, in which history was close to being made had Costa Rica pulled through.  While it would’ve been nice to see some goals, it was still a pretty exciting and enthralling 0-0 draw and penalty shootout. Quite simply, it’s a dream come true – to see a World Cup match live in Brazil.  It may only have been one match, but it was totally worth the trip down here, no matter the cost.  Along with proving to be a good luck charm for the host nation, this was the highlight of my trip and a memory that I will treasure for the rest of my life.

Editor’s note: Travels In Brazil is a series of articles written by Jameson Lam, who is in Brazil for the tournament, where he tries to capture the mood, atmosphere and spirit of the World Cup, to share it with the readers of World Soccer Talk. Read the other articles in the Travels In Brazil series.

RIO DE JANEIRO — Budweiser has taken over the five-star Pestana Rio Atlantica Hotel on the Copacabana beach and transformed it into the Budweiser Hotel by Pestana.  Throughout the World Cup, the Budweiser Hotel has partnered with numerous brands to host exclusive parties and events.  Select partner events have included UFC, Playboy, EA Sports, and FIFA Interactive World Cup.  Numerous World Cup legends and celebrities have made special appearances at the hotel thus far.

I had an opportunity to visit the Budweiser Hotel for an event put on by EA Sports and FIFA Interactive World Cup.  I got there early, but there was already a sizable crowd and everyone was glued to the finale of the USA vs. Belgium match, which was being shown on a giant screen on the rooftop of the hotel. Naturally, there was plenty of Budweiser on hand with servers moving around the crowd ready to replenish anyone’s finished bottle with a new one.  After the match ended and everyone had a chance to catch their breath, it was time for the party to start.

The main event for the evening was the FIFA Interactive World Cup 2014 Grand Final Tournament draw, hosted by Kay Murray and former Trinidad & Tobago striker Dwight Yorke.  They were joined by special guest and 1994 World Cup winner Dunga to conduct the official draw and group the 20 finalists into four groups of five.  There was a humorous moment when Dunga had trouble opening the balls at first and Yorke quipped that they should’ve rehearsed that part beforehand.  As each competitor was drawn out, Murray provided a little bit of background information.

This year’s tournament had almost 2 million entrants from around the world and took place with players playing FIFA 14 on the Playstation 3.  The field was whittled down to the top 20 players, who were invited to Rio de Janeiro to compete in the FIWC finals.  The group stage and quarterfinals took place next day.  The FIFA Interactive World Cup final took place the day after that on the iconic Sugarloaf Mountain, with August Rosenmeier of Denmark being crowned as the new FIWC Champion for 2014.  For more information on the FIFA Interactive World Cup, go to http://www.fifa.com/interactiveworldcup/index.html.

After the draw was conducted, two of the finalists staged an exhibition match on the Playstation console of Brazil vs. France. Everyone then had a chance to chill, mingle, hit the dance floor, or play a game of FIFA World Cup 2014 on one of the multiple Playstation consoles set up along the back.  There was an open bar in the middle of the rooftop, providing plenty of Budweiser to keep everyone lubricated.  Servers also came around with plenty of hors d’oeuvres to keep guests from going hungry.

The view from the rooftop was absolutely gorgeous, with stunning views of Avenida Atlantica and Copacabana Beach at night.  I definitely spent a good amount of time just standing at the edge and taking in the view.

Overall, I had a good time at the Budweiser Hotel, and it is quite a remarkable space.  Even if I was at one of the more lower-key events, I’m sure that anyone lucky enough to attend a party or event at the Budweiser Hotel will have a good time and appreciate the space they have put together.

More information about the Budweiser Hotel can be found on their Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/BudHotel.

Editor’s note: Travels In Brazil is a series of articles written by Jameson Lam, who is in Brazil for the tournament, where he tries to capture the mood, atmosphere and spirit of the World Cup, to share it with the readers of World Soccer Talk. Read the other articles in the Travels In Brazil series.

RIO DE JANEIRO — For those viewers watching World Cup coverage on television in the United States on ESPN and Univision, there has been hardly any coverage, if any at all, since the opening day regarding the protests against FIFA and the World Cup, and what the residents think. Many Brazilians are not happy to be hosting the tournament as they see it as a waste of money – money that should instead be going to public services, such as education and healthcare, and infrastructure. This has led to many protests, both direct as well as in other forms, including art.

A few days ago, I visited Santa Teresa and walked around. Santa Teresa is a neighborhood in the hills of Rio and known as an artistic hotspot.  The walls of many buildings are covered with artistic paintings and messages that often provide a bit of social commentary.  Naturally, there were some paintings dedicated to the World Cup.

First, here’s one that is hoping for Brazil to be crowned World Cup champions:

And now, some art that has more of an anti-FIFA World Cup message:

What do you think about these paintings?

Editor’s note: Travels In Brazil is a series of articles written by Jameson Lam, who is in Brazil for the tournament, where he tries to capture the mood, atmosphere and spirit of the World Cup, to share it with the readers of World Soccer Talk. Read the other articles in the Travels In Brazil series.

RIO DE JANEIRO — Brazilians have a reputation of loving soccer with a crazy passion that is unrivaled.  Based on my own experience here (at least after one day), that reputation is fully justified.

We had just arrived into Rio de Janeiro from the US and Diana and I decided to watch the Brazil vs. Chile match amidst a crowd of Brazilians to capture the full atmosphere. We walked over to a bar named Botequim Informal soon after the game had started.  There were Brazilian flags everywhere hanging from above, and painted on the streets.  Speaking of the streets, they were absolutely empty and eerily quiet.  Everyone was watching the game either in their homes or at bars and restaurants.  When people say that everything shuts down in Brazil for their soccer matches, it’s not far from the truth.  We hadn’t even walked one block when we heard screaming from one home.  Then another.  And then everyone on the block was screaming, all from indoors.  Horns started going off.  Fireworks started going off.  That’s how I knew Brazil had just scored.

We finally arrived at Botoquim Informal and it was packed!  A group of Brazilians finally let us have part of their table after we waded through the crowd of customers, all watching the game.  Just about everyone was wearing a Brazil shirt, or at least wearing Brazil colors.  With at least 10 TVs in the joint, any seat had a good view of the game.  A few men were shouting obscenities at every Brazilian mistake and missed chance.  The Brazilians there were absolutely into it, and I figured it’d be fun just watching a game in that atmosphere.  I ended up getting much more than I bargained for.

As I was sitting at my table, watching the game intently, a Brazilian man suddenly appeared next to me and asked to take a picture with him.  I was confused as to why, but figured it was harmless fun so why not?  Soon after, other fans watching wanted to get pictures with me; a woman even brought her dog with her to get a picture with me.  Now I was thoroughly confused.  Some of them started talking to me on Portuguese, and of course I had no idea what they were saying since I understand maybe a total of three words.  But they were very friendly, and gave me high fives and thumbs up and shouts of “go Brazil!”  I thought I might be the butt of some joke as a foreigner, but decided to take it all in stride and have fun with it.

The shootout was tense, but everyone was optimistic, chanting Julio Cesar’s name before each Chilean shot, and the names of each Brazilian shooter before their respective attempts.  Whenever Julio Cesar saved a Chilean penalty, many of them pointed at me, gave me a thumbs up, and cheered.

When the final Chilean penalty came back off the post, everyone erupted in celebration.  I was grabbed up and every started high-fiving and hugging me.  Everyone wanted to hug me!  Before I knew it, I was lifted up in the air and given the “bumps”!  As I was being carried, everyone wanted a picture with me – I think three separate groups switched in for pictures and selfies!  Even though I didn’t really understand what was going on or why I was being made out as such a celebrity, I could tell they were ecstatic.  Brazil made it through a tense penalty shootout against Chile, and they were going to celebrate and go wild.  To be in the middle of all that was amazing!

As we were about to leave, another Brazilian man who spoke English explained that everyone thought I was Japanese (for the record, I’m a Chinese American from California).  Given the close relationship between Brazil and Japan, they decided to adopt me, this “Japanese” kid in a Brazil Tshirt, as their good luck charm that would deliver victory for their nation.  Say what?!  All I could do was chuckle in disbelief and marvel at the craziness of it all.  I had only been in Rio for five hours, but already this is for sure going to be one of the highlights of my trip here.  I was in the middle of the passion and craziness of the Brazilian fans, and – at least in the eyes of a few dozen of them – proved to be Brazil’s good luck charm.

Editor’s note: Travels In Brazil is a series of articles written by Jameson Lam, who is in Brazil for the tournament, where he tries to capture the mood, atmosphere and spirit of the World Cup, to share it with the readers of World Soccer Talk. Read the other articles in the Travels In Brazil series.

Thirty seconds. The USA was a mere 30 seconds away from a momentous victory and qualification into the knockout stage. Instead, all of that was snatched away right at the death in heartbreaking fashion and they had to settle for a 2-2 draw, along with just 4 points instead of 6.

Soccer can be a cruel game and is often a roller coaster of emotions.  If John Brooks’ late winner against Ghana was a high, this was surely an absolute low. They put in so much effort and fought through the torrid conditions of the Amazon jungle. They went a goal down early and were on the back foot for the first 10 minutes, but came back to take the lead so late in the 81^st minute. Surely they had done enough. The US had a famous victory over Cristiano Ronaldo and Portugal in the palm of its hand. They were going to advance to the knockout stage even before playing against mighty Germany. But thanks to a moment of sloppy play and shoddy defending, it was all gone in an instant. It must have been absolutely deflating for the Americans. Furthermore, instead of being able to relax and rest players against Germany with qualification secured, the US now has to put in another hard shift to secure a result.   Can they recover from such a disappointment in time?

While they are saying all the right things about it still being a good result and looking ahead to Germany, questions remain about their mental state as that equalizer was gut-wrenching and it won’t be easy to move past it. The good news is that this USA team has shown an ability to bounce back and fight. They allowed Ghana to score a late equalizer after bravely hanging on to the lead for 80 minutes. Rather than let their heads drop after conceding so late, they struck back four minutes later through John Brooks’ 86^th minute header to secure a priceless win. They fell behind early against Portugal after Geoff Cameron’s error, but fought back to take a 2-1 lead before that Portuguese dagger at the death. In this World Cup, the US has proven to be resilient and able to recover from setbacks. This time, however, could be at a whole other level. They will need to dig deep and summon that spirit to quickly recover from to get in the right frame of mind to secure a result against Germany. The Portugal game was certainly a missed opportunity. The question is, will the US find the strength to move past it?

San Francisco, and the Bay Area as a whole, is a very cosmopolitan city with a large soccer fan base from all over the world.  If you’re looking to watch the World Cup in a fun atmosphere and among fellow soccer fans, here are some suggestions covering both San Francisco and the East Bay.

1. McTeague’s Saloon (1237 Polk St, San Francisco)

One of the core soccer pubs that opens at all hours to show games, hardcore fans have been coming here for years to watch matches.  McTeague’s is the home of the American Outlaws San Francisco Chapter, so this is certainly the place for a crazy atmosphere during USA games.

Visit https://www.facebook.com/McTeagues

2. Maggie McGarry’s (1353 Grant Ave, San Francisco)

Home of the Bay Area Gooners Arsenal supporters group, this Irish bar in North Beach is frequented by hardcore soccer fans and will open early to show all the World Cup matches.  It’s sure to be a crazy atmosphere in this joint.

More information can be found on their website at http://www.maggiemcgarrys.com/

3. Danny Coyle’s (668 Haight St, San Francisco)

Described as an out-an-out soccer bar, this Irish bar is frequented by hardcore fans and will open for all the World Cup games.  They will have a special menu of savory pies and drink specials.

Visit their website at http://www.dannycoyles.com/

4. The Mad Dog in the Fog (530 Haight St, San Francisco)

One of the first pubs in the area to open at all hours for European and international games, this is a serious football pub (don’t call it soccer here) and will open early to show all the World Cup matches.  The bar will open at 8 am daily and there will be World Cup beer specials all month long.  No doubt this is the place to watch with serious fans.  There will be DJ sets between games, and they will even show tape delay games in the evenings.

For more information, visit http://www.themaddoginthefog.com/

5. San Francisco Civic Center Plaza (Polk and Grove, San Francisco)

Join thousands of fellow fans for free live outdoor screenings of games.  SF Park and America SCORES Bay Area are partnering to broadcast select World Cup games on big screens in front of City Hall.  In addition, there will be food trucks, youth skills clinics, face painting, photo booths, and other family-friendly activities.

For the schedule and other information, visit http://www.worldcupsf.com/

6. SoMa StreEat Food Park (428 11th St, San Francisco)

A huge outdoor beer garden, an assortment of 10+ food trucks, and 12 big screen TVs, what more could you want?  Heck, there’s even free WiFi so you can “work.”  The vendors change every day so there’s always something new.  They will be hosting a series of World Cup game watch parties, usually showing games that start at 12 pm or later, though they will open early for the USA-Germany game on July 26.

For more information and to RSVP, go to http://somastreatfoodpark.com/event/2014-world-cup-viewing-parties/

7. Brennan’s (700 University Ave, Berkeley)

This old fashioned hofbrau and sports bar will show every single game and open at 9 am on game days.  Brennan’s features 8 large-screen HDTVs, a full bar, and a menu of hearty fare including hand-carved sandwiches and old-fashioned hot plates.  Despite its good size, this place generally fills up during the big games.

For more information, go to http://www.brennansberkeley.com/

8. Speisekammer (2424 Lincoln Ave, Alameda)

This German restaurant and bar will set up a large projection screen and have other large TVs set up for the games.  The food is excellent (I will personally vouch for this) and with beer flowing from the early morning, the atmosphere is sure to be crazy.

More information can be found at http://speisekammer.com/index.html

9. New Parkway Theater (474 24th St, Oakland)

For a more unique World Cup viewing experience, this new theater in Uptown Oakland will show every game on one of its big movie screens.  The usual food, beer, and wine options will be available.  There is a $5 cover charge ($10 for USA games).

For more information, visit http://thenewparkway.com/wp/?page_id=487

10. Jack’s Bar & Lounge (167 E Taylor St, San Jose)

If you’re in the South Bay, this bar is the place to watch USA games as it is the home of the San Jose chapter of the American Outlaws.  With 5 HD flat screens, there isn’t a bad seat in this pub located in Japantown.

For more information, visit https://www.facebook.com/JacksBarSanJose

This list is by no means all-inclusive, so if you have a go-to place to watch the games among fellow fans, let us know in the comments below.

The Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup is an annual competition open to all amateur and professional soccer teams affiliated with U.S. Soccer.  It is the oldest ongoing soccer competition in the United States. This year marks the 101st edition of the tournament and features a record 80 teams – 42 amateur teams and 38 professional clubs.

One of those amateur participants is Cal FC, an amateur soccer team based out of Thousand Oaks, CA that competes in the La Gran Liga de Oxnard of the U.S. Adult Soccer Association Region IV.  The players have full time jobs elsewhere, and don’t train regularly. Cal FC made their mark in the U.S. Open Cup two years ago when they became the Cinderella story of the tournament.

Coached by former US soccer star Eric Wynalda and Nick Webster, the team went on an amazing run.  In the first round, they upset the Kitsap Pumas (USL-PDL) 3-1 and then upset the Wilmington Hammerheads (USL-Pro) 4-0 in the second round to set up a clash with the Portland Timbers in Round 3.

The team flew up to Portland the day before the match with only one practice under their belt.  The Timbers fielded their best possible lineup and battered the amateur side – Portland would finish with 37 shots, 15 on goal. Despite their dominance, they could not find the net – even missing a penalty by Kris Boyd in the 80th minute, as goalkeeper Derby Carrillo and the Cal FC defense held firm.  The Timbers were left to rue their profligacy when in the 95th minute Cal FC’s Artur Aghasyan collected a through-pass in the middle, broke away, and neatly finished past the keeper for 1-0. It was the first goal ever scored by a USASA team against an MLS opponent.

Portland pushed forward, but could not find an equalizer as the tired amateur side hung on for dear life. By the end of the 120 minutes, Cal FC had secured one of the most shocking upsets in U.S. Open Cup history and became the first USASA team to defeat an MLS team in open play without the need for a penalty shootout.  The Timbers Army supporters group serenaded the visitors when it was over with chants of “You deserve it!” and “Beat Seattle!”

Webster recalls the moment:

“We were so tired after that the usual victory [party] that would rage until the early hours ended at 3 am instead of 6 am!”

Though Cal FC finally succumbed to the Seattle Sounders in the 4th round a week later, their place in history was set.

Wynalda has since left the team and Webster is on his own coaching this time around.

Cal FC’s first game of this year’s tournament is May 14 in the second round against LA Galaxy II of the USL (Division III).  Webster is realistic about his team’s chances against organized and fit professional players, but is hoping that they “can be compact and disciplined, hang around, make them nervous and then see what happens.”  While they don’t possess the same caliber players as that magical run of 2012, Webster believes the group is solid and gives Cal FC a puncher’s chance.  After all, anything is possible in a one-off match – they proved that just two years ago.

The match is scheduled May 14 at 7:30pm PT in the StubHub Center Track & Field Stadium in Carson, CA.

Real Madrid and Inter Milan will face off in the International Champions Cup at Kabam Field at California Memorial Stadium on the University of California, Berkeley campus on Saturday, July 26.  The match, set to be broadcast in more than 150 countries internationally and on Fox Sports 2 in the US, will kick off at 3 pm PT.

Home to one of the premier public universities in the nation, Berkeley is located in the San Francisco Bay Area, about 10 miles from the city of San Francisco.  This will mark the first-ever soccer game at the California Memorial Stadium, which was renovated just two years ago and has a capacity of 65,000.  The match between Spanish and Italian giants was originally scheduled for University of Phoenix Stadium, in Phoenix, Arizona, but was moved “due to unforeseen circumstances.”

Exclusive presale tickets for the Real Madrid v. Inter Milan match will be available Monday, May 12, at 9 am PDT for pre-qualified fans, while the general public will have access to tickets beginning Friday, May 16, at 9 am PDT through the Cal Athletic Ticket Office by clicking here. Tickets for this game will start at $45. Additionally, fans will have the opportunity to purchase an Ultimate Fan Pack, which includes one supporter’s section ticket, team gear and priority access to select team training. Also available are VIP Team Travel Packs that allow fans to experience the games alongside their favorite teams, including Real Madrid and Inter Milan, providing VIP tickets, charter travel and world-class accommodations to all of their teams’ Guinness International Champions Cup games. All tickets and packages are available at www.internationalchampionscup.com.

“It’s a unique opportunity to bring two of the world’s biggest soccer clubs to the world’s leading public university,” said Berkeley Vice Chancellor for Administration and Finance John Wilton. “As part of the agreement, 25 percent of the soccer match guarantee will be dedicated to academic scholarship support. The match will also give us a chance to share a beautiful part of our campus with soccer fans across Northern California and will have a positive economic impact on the city of Berkeley.”

“The Bay Area has long been a soccer hotbed and we are thrilled to bring the first professional soccer game to Kabam Field at California Memorial Stadium at University of California, Berkeley,” said Relevent Sports Chief Executive Officer Charlie Stillitano. “Real Madrid and Inter Milan are two of the most famous clubs in the world and always draw huge crowds; we are confident this will be no different when they kick off their 2014 Guinness International Champions Cup on Kabam Field.”

The Guinness International Champions Cup is a unique tournament featuring eight of the world’s best and most recognizable soccer clubs: Real Madrid CF, Manchester United, Manchester City, Liverpool FC, AS Roma, Inter Milan, AC Milan and Olympiacos.  Twelve round-robin contests will be hosted across North America with matches in New York, Chicago, Philadelphia, Washington, D.C., Charlotte, Denver, Berkeley, Pittsburgh, Minneapolis, Dallas and Ann Arbor from July 24-August 2. The tournament will crown an overall champion on Monday, August 4 at Miami’s Sun Life Stadium. For more information on the full Guinness International Champions Cup, including the tournament bracket and team information, visit www.internationalchampionscup.com.

Both Real Madrid and Inter Milan return to the International Champions Cup, having competed in the inaugural tournament last year. Real won the tournament last year, beating Chelsea 3-1 in the final behind two goals from reigning Ballon d’Or winner Cristiano Ronaldo.

Will you be coming out to the Bay Area to watch these giants in action? Let us know in the comments section below!

The name, colors, and identity are etched in the tradition of a soccer club. Recently, however, a couple of Premier League owners have tried to re-brand their clubs in an effort to appeal to a more international audience. Cardiff City owner Vincent Tan changed the club’s traditional colors from blue to red and reportedly has discussed renaming the club to the Cardiff Dragons. Hull City’s owners are trying to change the club’s name to the Hull Tigers.  

While none of the six American owners in England’s top flight have tried to re-brand their clubs (yet), what if our favorite clubs across Europe were to be re-branded in a more ‘American’ way? Can you imagine what the teams and logos would look like? For fun, the folks at twentysix did just that and came up with these logos.

Explore more infographics like this one on the web’s largest information design community – Visually.

Share your opinions on this re-imagining of soccer club identities. What names and logos would you come up with?