[VIEWING PARTIES] If the choice is city workers heading home or off to a local bar to watch World Cup or have them view the games in their front yard, the city of San Francisco would prefer the latter. It will be showing games on a 13-by-18-foot video screen at Civic Center Plaza.

"This is what the World Cup is all about, people gathered together to celebrate the spirit of competition and enjoy the games," Mayor Gavin Newsom told the San Francisco Chronicle. "It's going to bring the Civic Center alive with the energy and enthusiasm."

America SCORES Bay Area, which promotes soccer and education programs, is sponsoring the event along with other soccer organizations such as MLS's San Jose Earthquakes and WPS's FC Gold Pride.