World Cup 2010 mania is right around the corner, and international football (soccer) fans in the Pittsburgh region already have started gearing up for the world's most popular sporting tournament. Yes, it's bigger than the Super Bowl, the World Series and maybe even the Stanley Cup combined, globally speaking.

The games begin Friday, June 11 in South Africa and end Sunday, July 11 with the championship game in Johannesburg. Most games will be televised live in the Pittsburgh region. Due to the time difference, most games will air during the daytime in the Eastern United States.

GlobalPittsburgh will be keeping up with all of the schedules and games during the course of the tournament, and we will be posting scores and updates on our social media network (the GlobalPittsburghNEWS blog, Facebook fan page and Twitter account - all the links can be found at our website at www.globalpittsburgh.org).

Thirty-two teams will play in the 2010 World Cup (see chart). Click on these links for a SCHEDULE and a full-color TOURNAMENT BRACKET.

Opening day (June 11) festivities will take place around town (see listings below). Anyone with free time during the day can watch live games at several locations, and more than one party (including Mullaney's Harp & Fiddle in the Strip District along with Global Beats) will evolve into a world music extravaganza after the final whistle of the day.

The parties will resume at 10 a.m. on Saturday, June 12 when the schedule will include the much-anticipated match between the U.S. and England. Take your pick from any of the locations below airing World Cup games during their normal hours of business. (We recommend calling ahead if you have any questions about schedules.) Drop us an EMAIL if you know of any other good places to watch the games. We'll add them to the list.

A.J.'s Peruvian Rotisserie Chicken
3608 Fifth Ave. in Oakland

Bahama Breeze
The Mall at Robinson
Robinson Township

Chicken Latino Restaurant
155 21st St. in the Strip
www.chickenlatino.com

El Campesino
4771 McKnight Rd in North Hills
www.elcampesino.net

La Prima Espresso
205 21st in the Strip
www.laprima.com

Mullaney's Harp & Fiddle
2339 Penn Ave in the Strip
www.harpandfiddle.com

Piper's Pub
1828 East Carson Street on the South Side
(412) 381-2797
www.piperspub.com


Royal Palace (African Community Celebration Friday 6/11 8 p.m.)
2660 Library Rd. Pittsburgh, PA 15234

Buy World Cup jerseys in your favorite country's colors at:

Mexico Lindo Mercado y Galeria de Artesanas
2027 Murray Ave. in Squirrel Hill
412-422-9984
www.mexicolindo.biz

Passion Sports World (Sebastian Martinez)
Weekend street vendor at the corner of Penn & 21st in the Strip District
412-605-4796


More World Cup Links:

Official World Cup 2010 Website
www.fifa.com

World Cup Wallpapers for your Computer
http://www.worldcupswallpapers.com/

The GlobalPost Insider's View of the World Cup
http://www.globalpost.com/soccer-world-cup-2010

Viewing World Cup Games on Your Smartphone
http://nyti.ms/cpETtq