Where to watch the World Cup in Shanghai

Did you hear that the World Cup starts this week? So did Richard Evans, the GM over at O’Malley’s. “The World Cup is the biggest event of the year,” he says.

The question is, where are you going to watch the big games? Pretty much every bar has a special going on, you can even catch a match at the South Africa and Brazil Pavilions at the Expo, but a special few deserve recognition for going above and beyond the call of World Cup duty.

If you want Shanghai World Cup VIP treatment without the frills...

Try: Windows Scoreboard
The newly reopened sports bar cuts the grime of other branches, (no offense Underground) with a massive bar area, nine televisions (expect more soon), and a pretty view of Fuxing Park. Anticipating crowds to fill the restaurant, Scoreboard is sectioning off a VIP area with free-flow drinks. Prices aren’t set yet, but expect something around RMB 250-300. 

Also, they’re doing a guess the winner and score competition. Winners are entered into a raffle for a bottle. At the end, there is a grand prize raffle for a beach trip for two. Think Thailand.
11/F, 527 Huaihai Zhong Lu, near Chengdu Lu 淮海中路527号11楼. 近成都路, +86 21 5382 7757

If watching the World Cup makes you hungry for South African food…

Try: Zapata’s and Sasha’s
Zapata’s and Sasha’s are teaming up to bring a refreshing, outdoor barbecue experience to Shanghai World Cup crowds. In the legendary garden, there will be two big screens broadcasting the match. RMB 120 gets you two drinks (Carlsberg draft or wine) and a chance to wine a trip to Sanya. RMB 150 for an all-you-can-eat barbecue. Get the combo deal for RMB 250. Also, there’s talk of giving away a plane ticket to Frankfurt, courtesy of Lufthansa.
5 Hengshan Lu, near Dongping Lu 衡山路5号, 近东平路, +86 21 6474 6628

If you can’t miss a minute of World Cup action…

Try: The Camel
For selected matches they’ll have an entry fee of RMB 100, but that comes with three drinks. There are also deals on buckets of beer. With 16 televisions and two large-screen projectors, there is no way you can’t see every play of your favorite World Cup match. There is even one in the toilet. Anticipating huge crowds, the Camel has added two extra bars -- giving you a total of four places to get a drink.
1 Yueyang Lu, near Dongping Lu 岳阳路1号, 近东平路, +86 21 6437 9446

If you’re more of an architecture fan…

Try: Summer on the Bund
This is the best compromise in town for Shanghai World Cup fans who are friends with those who are, shall we say, less enthusiastic about the games.

The new Bund spot is complementing their swank views with live coverage of every game. There will be special deals on buckets of beers (prices TBD). Take the indifferent girlfriend, or the friend sensitive to smoke, to this rooftop lounge momentarily turned sports bar.
3/F 333 Renmin Lu, near Fuyou Lu (Inside of the Old Town Park) 人民路333号3楼, 近福佑路, +86 150 2175 2221

If it’s not a sporting event without the DUI experience...

Try: Stampede Karting
This is a gem of a special. RMB 220 gets you three go-kart tickets (about a total of 24 minutes of swerving) and four beers. Beers are on special for RMB 100 for five. Also, each RMB 50 spent gets a raffle ticket for free beer. And if you were serious about watching the game, it's being shown on their 300 inch screen TV and on eight of their 42 inch LCD screens. Still, keep your eyes on the road.
Section C, Basement, 1288 Zhenguang Lu, near Meichuan Lu, 真光路1288号C区地下室, 近梅川路, +86 21 6139 5095

If you want everything World Cup…

Try: O’Malley’s
Although O'Malley's a pretty much a given viewing spot for any major sports tournament, we'd be remiss if we kicked it from our list simply for that reason. The World Cup setup is huge here, the Mecca of Irish Pubs. We’re talking stadium seating huge.

O’Malley’s has a capacity of 1,700-2,000, and they expect to use it. Amazingly, it’s arranged so as not to be overwhelming. There is a 150-seat stadium (tickets are RMB 200 and includes two liters of Carlsberg), a garden with a 5.5 meter screen, and the bar. Not to mention a VIP terrace where RMB 350 gets you three hours of free-flow beer wine, and house pours. Sounds good?
42 Taojiang Lu, near Wulumuqi Lu 桃江路42号, 近乌鲁木齐路, +86 21 6474 4533

Shanghai World Cup watching runners up:

Abbey Road: A place to watch the World Cup for those who don't want to spend their night camped out in a "real" sports bar. Abbey Road bought two big screens for the World Cup and will be showing earlier games, but you'll be out of luck for anything late at night. 45 Yueyang Lu, near Dongping Lu 岳阳路45号，近东平路, +86 21 6431 6787

Big Bamboo: Multiple locations make this chain of sports bars an easy go-to for any sports, and the World Cup is no exception. You'll find more Americans here them most Shanghai World Cup viewing locales, and good food and drink specials to boot.

Blue Frog: Break out of the bar concept all together with the Blue Frog locations, all of which will be showing the games. The Blue Frog in Super Brand Mall is also kicking things up a notch with a beer garden as well. Food and drink specials in all locations, and you get a free Tiger if you wear your team colors on game day (with another purchase). Multiple locations, Blue Frog at the Super Brand Mall, 1/F, Super Brand Mall, 168 Lujiazui Xi Lu, near Lujiazui Huan Lu 陆家嘴西路168号, 正大广场1楼, 近陆家嘴环路, + 86 21 5047 3488

Boxing Cat Brewery: Both BCB locations are celebrating the World Cup. On Fuxing Lu they offer three indoor screens and an outdoor garden projection screen. Although the beers might not be the cheapest around, the BCB crowd and microbrews are well worth it.

Kaluska: If you want to watch the World Cup in Shanghai with any of the city's Spanish population, you'll find them here. Kaluska is bringing a big screen projector into the back room to screen all the games. Tapas and World Cup -- not a bad combination. 528 Kangding Lu, near Xikang Lu 康定路528号, 近西康路, +86 21 6288 3085

D&G Martini Bar: Even the Bund is getting into the World Cup spirit as D&G Martini Bar screens all the football action. Not exactly good for large crowds, this intimate bar brings classic Bund cocktails (and their prices) to local football fans. 1/F, Bund 6, 6 Zhongshan Dong Yi Lu, near Guangdong Lu 中山东一路6号, 外滩六号1楼, 近广东路, +86 21 6339 1200 

Maya: Hosting the "Hustler's Lounge" this month, Maya ensures you'll watch the World Cup on a high res screen with tacos and sangria or margaritas in hand. The space is small and they dont take reservations so get there early. 2/F, Grand Plaza Club House, 568 Julu Lu, near Shanxi Nan Lu 巨鹿路568号, 四方新城俱乐部2楼, 近陕西南路, +86 21 6289 6889

The Spot: Chances are you're at The Spot regularly anyway if you live or work in Jing'an so why not stick around for the World Cup festivities? Expect the usual food and drink specials. 331 Tongren Lu, near Beijing Lu 铜仁路331号, 近北京西路, +86 21 6247 3579

Other ways to Watch the World Cup in Shanghai:

Watch the World Cup online: Tudou (土豆网), one of China’s largest online video platforms, has cut a deal with CCTV to stream the 2010 FIFA World Cup. Tudou will be able to stream all World Cup games, opening and closing ceremonies, as well as all official programming around FIFA produced by CCTV. If you don't want to leave home to watch the World Cup and don't have satellite TV, this is your you solution.

Watch at the Expo: Both the South Africa and Brazil Pavilions are planning on showing World Cup games. Rumor has it South Africa will show it in 3D. Catch is you'll have to fight your way into the Expo grounds with the rest of the crowds, and more importantly, the Expo will still only be open to midnight with the last admissions at 9pm.