Watch the 2010 World Cup in Louisville

Unless you’ve just come from living in a cave, you’re probably well aware that the 2010 World Cup kicks off (literally) this weekend.  And while soccer is still a growing sport in the USA compared to the rest of the planet, it is a HUGE deal that the American team is playing in it.  Are you familiar with international soccer?  If not, I’ll give you a crash course on how the World Cup operates.

Every four years, 32 teams from across the globe compete for the title at venues within the host nation (South Africa this year) over a period of about a month.  This phase is called the World Cup Finals.  A qualification phase for the World Cup Finals takes place over the preceding three years.

In the finals there are two stages: first “the group stage” is played, followed by “the knockout stage.”  In the group stage, teams compete within eight groups of four teams in a round-robin tournament.  Every team plays three games in this stage.  The top two teams from each group move on to the knockout stage, a seeded, single-elimination tournament in which teams play each other in one-off matches, similar to the NCAA basketball tournament.  Got it?  Good!

Team USA’s first match is tomorrow against the favored Team England.  The two key players, I believe, to watch on Team USA are Landon Donovan and Jozy Altidore.  Both factor heavy into the team’s offense.  As for playing England, of course there is a nice little rivalry between the two countries that extends far beyond the soccer field (remember the little Revolutionary War thing a few years back?)  It’s the Old World vs the ambitious new kids and a Team USA victory will mark a huge step forward for USA Soccer.  The other teams in our group (“Group C” as it’s referred) are Algeria and Slovenia and we’re distinctly better than both of them.  I think we will have a good shot at advancing to the knockout stage.

If you can, watch the game live on ABC tomorrow (Saturday, June 12) at 2 pm and cheer them on.  Or if you’d really like to get into the World Cup spirit, check out Molly Malone’s Irish Pub (933 Baxter Ave.) to watch the game.  They will be doing it big for the World Cup all month long!  Or if you’re looking to watch with the family, head over to the  Mockingbird Valley Sports Arena (3000 Mellwood Ave., 40207)  at 1:30 pm and catch the game with Louisville’s own pro soccer team, the Louisville Lightning.  They will be hosting a family-friendly viewing party for $5 that is open to all soccer fans!  Burgers, hot dogs and soft drinks will be available.  Need directions from Waterford Place?  Here you go…

• Head southwest on Waterford Cir toward Tower Dr  (0.1 mi)
• Turn right at Browns Ln  (0.9 mi)
• Turn left at Shelbyville Rd  (0.5 mi)
• Continue onto Frankfort Ave  (1.5 mi)
• Turn right at Hillcrest Ave  (0.6 mi)
• Slight left at Zorn Ave  (0.9 mi)
• Turn right at Mellwood Ave and Mockingbird Valley Sports Arena will be on the right