World Cup starts this Friday night. As I understand it, the World Cup is basically like the Tony Awards of soccer -- it's a big deal. (Whoa, relax, just kidding.) So the first game is South Africa vs Mexico, and that gets underway at 10pm, followed by Uruguay vs. France at 2:30am. The full schedule list is right here, at SmartShanghai's World Cup page. At that page is editor's picks for venues, along with a World Cup game in which SmSh Users predict the outcome of the matches. The top three Nostradamuses (Nostradami?) will get some fabulous prizes to enjoy at the end of it all. What prizes you ask? We're working on it. So far it's half a bottle of skunk tequila that's been sitting around the office for a while, but we'll add to that. Click here! Vote for your winners! Goaoooooaaallll! Goal! Goal! Here's a big roundup of venues showing World Cup games. If you're looking for a big party, it's here. Cheap drinks? Loads of TVs? Big screens? Beer gardens? Scroll down. Update: Newly added: Easy Chamber; Koala Bar; Barbarossa ***

Abbey Road

Abbey Road will have the game on, although they stress in their promo, "don't worry, we're not turning into a sports bar". Shudder to think. They've got two big screen TVs purchased just for the World Cup and they're showing the earlier games, but not the late night ones. Selling points: It's a nice, hassle-free bar. And beer is cheap. 25rmb Tsingtaos. That ain't bad. Camel too packed? Well, hey, Abbey Road is right down the street. Damage: 25rmb Tsingtaos is what I would go with, but the rest of their beer and drinks are slightly below standard sports bar prices.

Barbarossa

The newly-redecorated Barbarossa is showing the games on their first floor terrace on a projector screen. There's your People's Park venue for the games. Selling points: Nice sized terrace for the games. Special world cup menu (pizzas, pies, burgers, hot dogs) and discounted prices on Erdinger pints. Call ahead to reserve -- the terrace sells out. Damage: Erdinger special knocks the price on beer down, but everything else is standard. Bring a couple hundred. And a couple hundred more to party down with upstairs.

Big Bamboo

Multiple locations. Tons of TVs, large screens, English commentary. Not much of a surprise that Big Bamboo will have the game on. Selling points: Built in crowd of regulars. Good for Americans football fans looking to watch the games (they do exist). Sports is kind of their thing at Big Bamboo, so... Damage: They do on-going food and drinks specials which you might want to look out for. Then it's standard sports bar prices -- pints around 40rmb or so, and bring a crisp 100rmb note if you want to eat something.

Blarney Stone

Even though the Ireland didn't make it in this year, Blarney will be hosting the early games. Selling points: The bar itself. If you're not fanatical about the World Cup and don't need it in a big, absurd atmosphere, you could do worse than stopping into the Blarney for a few pints for the early game. Damage: No special drink deal on to match the games. Standard Blarney prices: Guinness, Kilkenny and Strongbow Cider are on tap for 65rmb; Carlsberg is 40rmb.

Blue Frog (All locations)

The Blue Frog empire has the game on at all their locations, including at the Blue Frog in the Super Brand Mall in Pudong, which has an outdoor beer garden. Here's the deal with that: special pre-sale tickets give you drink deals and entrance to the beer garden. Prices are 80rmb for 2 drinks, 180 for 5 drinks, 350rmb for 10 drinks. Each drink coupon gets you a beer or soft drink. Tickets are single-day-use only (meaning they must all be used in one day, whatever day you decide to use them). At all the venues, they're doing a Tiger special -- 180rmb for a bucket. And you also get a free Tiger if you wear your team colors on match day (with another purchase). Selling points: Good location in Pudong. Drink deals, food deals, locations all over the place. Good food. Damage: Most likely you'll be doing those Tiger deals, but the standard pints are in the 40rmb range. They also have a bunch of shots on offer. Like a hundred of them.

Boxing Cat

Games are on at The Cat, in both locations -- take note Minhang dwellers. Take special note of their Friday night opening party, which is buy-one-get-one-free beer and half price wings all night long. Selling points: The new outdoor garden and three indoor screens (at Fuxing Lu). The outdoor screen is large at Fuxing, but that patio fills up so head down early if you want to sit outside. Good micro brews. Big pints. Big pitchers. Get your Legacy done while watching the games. Damage: Cheapest action is a 35rmb beer and that meanders upwards. That World Cup opening party deal is pretty good. Don't miss out on that if you're a fan of the Cat.

Bulldog

Three floors, three projectors (one on each floor), plenty of World Cup swag. Bulldog is showing all the games, of course, with English-language commentary on HD TVs, and keeping it flowing with all-you-can-booze and all-you-can-food specials. Selling points: If you want to watch the games in a raucous, gritty pub, Bulldog is one of the main of British outposts in Shanghai. Bulldog keeps it indoors and soaked. Damage: 200rmb free flow beer and buffet during the games only, buy six beers get one World Cup souvenir (keychain or mug); buy 12 Stella draft, get a World Cup jersey. It's a good memento: "oh yeah I got this keychain when I was blitzed at the Bulldog for one of those World Cup games." Other than that, it's that buy one expensive beer and get the next one free deal.

The Camel

With Australia in the World Cup, The Camel should pack out with Aussies and then some crowding around their 18 screens. They're outfitting the venue with more bar space to service a larger World Cup crowd, and we're thinking that behind O'Malley's, The Camel could be the go-to spot from World Cup action this year. Here's their deal, from the horse's mouth: "During the world cup The Camel is charging 100rmb at the door from 7pm everyday and included in the price you should receive either a bucket of 3 beers or 2 drink tickets to be redeemed at the bar." Selling points: Size of the bar, big Australian contingent, number of TVs, good beer selection, good management and... the urinal TV. Damage: 40rmb and then upwards.

Chalet Suisse

"Enjoy the show Swiss style." Chalet Suisse is doing extended hours for World Cup action -- the kitchen is open late with a special menu, they've got buckets of beers starting out at 98rmb (that's cheap), and a big screen showing all the games (2m x 1.5m). Selling points: I'm thinking it's a good option for continental Europeans. Big screen, food, and buckets of beer in a venue most people might not think to head to for the World Cup. They're also doing cheaper wines as well. Damage: Buckets are starting at 98rmb, wines at 180rmb. All other prices are standard.

Champions

Beating out The Camel with most TVs is Champions bar out there in the Marriot Hotel, Hongqiao. Champions is outfitted with a whopping 35 televisions and two big screens. It's a glitzy, modern sports bar (read: it's clean, flashy, and oriented to sensory overload). It's a hotel bar and caters to more of a transitory clientele, but if you're looking to go large and cash is not an issue, there it is. They do fine American cuisine as well (burgers and the like). Selling points: The location (for people who live in Hongqiao), the heady thrill of seeing sport on 35 televisions. Not one but two big screens. Damage: It's not the cheapest option in town. Drafts are like 53rmb. Someone's gotta pay for all those TVs.

Cristal

Cristal is touting their one 120-inch big screen, which isn't much so they've got package deals on beer and food to go with it. Cristal, I gather, is a French restaurant with a nice patio. Maybe not your first pick, but surprisingly there aren't too many French home bases for the World Cup, so here it is. Selling points: It's French. It has a "nice patio". They're doing a under-100rmb set price on "four bottles of beer and food" (there's an 88rmb one and a 99rmb one). Damage: Couple hundred I guess to get a couple of those package deals.

Easy Chamber

Easy Chamber hosts the World Cup in their leafy French Concession patio space. One big screen inside, specials on Heineken, outdoor BBQ (weather permitting). Selling points: Good location -- more of a relaxed venue for World Cup. Good specials on wine by the glass. Always open when the game is on. Damage: They're running a buy-two-get-one free on Heineken and Montes Sauvignon and Merlot is 30rmb per glass.

I Love Shanghai

You mean will I have the TV on the games versus midget wrestling? That's 50-50. Actually, the only thing we have going is everyone gets a free shot each time the USA scores, which will probably be zero. Ha. * There you have it. Free shot every time the USA chalks one up. Hold him to it. Selling points: If you have a fleeting interest in the World Cup, it's there on the TV behind the bar. You can look up at it when someone scores. Also, it's probably the best place in town to proffer this argument: "If America actually cared about soccer we'd annihilate everyone. Just count yourselves lucky we don't." Damage: Standard ILS prices, which are in the 40rmb per drink range. With heavy pours, a couple red ones will do the job.

Koala Bar

A mainstay for Aussies in Shanghai, Koala bar is hosting every single game, and running good deals on beer along side the matches. Selling Points: There's a reason why Koala Bar has been around forever... also good for Aussie games and their specials on drinks. Damage: They're dropping the price on Buddington Beer from 65rmb to 40rmb. They're running a buy-two-get-one free on Budvar beer and buy-one-get-one free on shots of Vodka and tequila. Good for Mexico games too then...

Kuluska

It took some effort to figure out where all the Spaniards would be heading for World Cup but we figured it out: Kuluska. They're doing a projector big screen in that private room at the back of the Kangding Lu bar strip. It's a simple concrete room, space for about 30 to 40 or so. Hosting all games. Head past the Kuluska restaurant space in that Kangding Lu alley thing and you'll find it. Selling points: Spaniards, booze, tasty tapas, projector, reasonable prices. Good World Cup party. Damage: Beers for 20rmb. Choose four kinds of tapas for 50rmb, or sub out some tapas and load up on the house wine.

Longitude

One of the French outposts in Shanghai, Longitude will be showing the games on one big screen. There's a lot of French expats in Shanghai, but they tend to get split up amongst all the different bars, so we're thinking Longitude would be a good venue to serve as HQ for the French Resistance. Selling points: Nice terrace, nice atmosphere, they're working on drink deals to go along with the matches. Nice central area in Shanghai. Damage: 35rmb for draft beer. They usually have a lot of other specials on cocktails and stuff.

Martini Bar

Martini is a little Bund, fashion, fashion, cocktail bar, but they're showing all the games. For the matches they're allowing "horns, fireworks, insults, and cheerleaders". It's a small venue though -- reserve in advance. Selling points: It's on the Bund, if you're down there. Good for watching Italian games with a group of Italians who know how to throw an outfit together. Damage: Bund prices. "Proper drinks."

Maya's "Hustler's Lounge"

For World Cup Maya is hosting the games in The Hustler's Lounge, showing all the World Cup matches live on a high res screen. Capacity for the space is only 40 people or so, and they're not doing reservations, so basically how it works is turn up early. Snack and drink specials throughout the night. Selling points: Taco bar until midnight, specials on Sol, sangria, margaritas -- great for Mexico games, great food, great little pimp space. If you've got the RMB, it looks like you could turn out a nice little private party there as well -- you can book the whole space out, call here to do so: 6289 6889. See here for pictures. Damage: Couple red ones. Lot of red ones if you're booking it for a private party.

Malone's

If it's sports, it's on at Malone's. Both Tongren and Thumb Plaza are showing the games, with a particular emphasis on the upcoming USA vs. England showdown -- "the revenge of King George". Selling points: One of the few American outposts of the World Cup, Malone's would be a great place to discuss whatever happened to Alexi Lalas and Cobi Jones. (The former currently works as an analyst with ESPN and ABC Sports and the later went on to be an assistant coach under Ruud Gullet of the LA Galaxy. Thanks, Wikipedia.) Buckets of beer specials everyday after 8pm plus a late night kitchen open to 5am. Damage: Beers in the 40rmb range. I would expect specials attached to specific games.

O'Malley's

Last World Cup, O'Malley's went gigantic with big screens in their beer garden and all kinds of stuff going on. This year they're doing it all again, hosting what is shaping up to be the biggest World Cup screening in town, with two outdoor projectors and premium grand stand seating outside, and five other viewing areas on the premises. Selling points: If you're looking for the biggest World Cup party in town, O'Malley's is it. Drink specials throughout. All the games are on of course, with extras along with specific match ups. Food, booze, and the biggest World Cup audience in Shanghai -- attendance could hit 4 digits on the bigger nights. Damage: The premium seating is more (200rmb), not premium is less (100rmb). Bring several hundred, if you're going to tie one on. If I recall correctly, the cheap stuff if Carlsberg but they have all those other nice tasting beers as well.

Oscar's

A mainstay in British drinking, Oscar's has the World Cup on over two floors and seven TVs. A great crowd of regulars and reasonable prices make Oscar's a safe bet for England games. Selling points: Um. A great crowd of regulars and reasonable prices make Oscar's a safe bet for England games. Come on, England! Damage: Cheapest beer is a 30rmb Tiger -- it's standard.

OZNZ

Both Australia and New Zealand are in the World Cup, an exiting prospect for "budget" bar OZNZ. They're doing two big screens and three LCDs. Selling points: Nice, young crowd of regulars -- Aussies and Kiwis and non -- and big screen World Cup action for cheap. Expect a younger, more spirited crowd. It's a fun bar. Damage: 30rmb for Australian beer. 20rmb for the cheap stuff.

Park Tavern

Park Tavern flies under a lot of people's radar but it's a great bar. They also have a really nice patio that we always seem to forget about in our patio round-up, but we called ahead of the World Cup to get their vitals: two big screens in the garden, lots of TVs inside on every floor, and a Tiger draft special: 100rmb for three pints. Selling points: A great patio, outside big screens, a good beer special, and perhaps a slightly less raucous atmosphere. If you're not looking to get extreme, Park Tavern is a safe bet. Good outdoor venue that most people won’t think of. Damage: Good beer selection, with the aforementioned Tiger being the cheapest. Then it goes to around 40rmb for pints.

Sasha / Zapatas

Boasting one of the biggest and nicest patios in Shanghai, Sasha's offers up World Cup action on a big screen in a spacious outdoor environment -- with Zapata's right across the yard to keep it going. They’re only showing selected games, so I’d call ahead to make sure they’re showing what you want. Within walking distance is about nine other World Cup venues, however, so you should be alright if they don’t have the game on. Selling points: Pitchers, big screens, big tables, big groups, good pizzas, great patio. Good value. Damage: Beers around 40rmb. Food hovers in the 100rmb range.

The Spot

A staple of the Jing'an district, The Spot has you covered to be your neighbourhood World Cup bar, running drink and food specials along side the games. Expect the regular crowd and then some at The Spot. Selling points: Good neighbourhood bar of regulars. Should be big without being excessive. Damage: Standard -- bring a couple hundred or so.

Stampede Karting

It's a 5,000-meter go karting track, it's a bar, it's Stampede Karting. Stampede is going all out for World Cup -- a 20-foot projector screen, showing nothing but World Cup with a Bose surround sound system. We're pretty sure that's the largest screen on this list. 20 feet... Selling points:: The 20-foot screen. Twelve more TVs. Intense Bose sound system. With those stats, you could just ignore the go karting completely. You might not hit Stampede for every single game, but if you're looking to get one of the big games on a big screen, it's cheap, there's beer specials, and it's huge. Damage: Couple hundred. I'm sensing a trend here. Bring extra to do some go karting between early and late games.

Summer on the Bund

Rooftop patio Summer on the Bund is showing all the games, weather permitting on an outdoor big screen. Selling points: Summer on the Bund is run by two Dutch guys, so Holland supporters, I'd say this one is for you. Nice Bund outdoor, rooftop patio, big screen, all the games are on, and bucket specials on Heineken. It's also there on the Bund, and reasonably priced, which makes it something of an anomaly. Damage: 160rmb for a bucked of six Heineken, and then Tsingtsaos are 25rmb.

Windows Scoreboard

WinSco with the (basically) cheapest drinks in town provide a great World Cup atmosphere if you like it loud and drinks flowing. As of this writing they're still working out whether they're doing a special VIP section for the World Cup, which would allow for reserved seating and a free-flow open bar special to people who pony up a flat price -- and that allows for a better vantage point to watch the games. Selling points: Big, boisterous, international crowd. Cheap Windows drinks. And if this VIP special goes through, that's a great selling point -- who wouldn't want to be a Windows VIP? Damage: Prices are around 25rmb or so per drink, and we're still waiting to hear more about this WinSco VIP section.

Yuyintang

Everyone is getting in on the World Cup. Shanghai's beloved live music venue Yuyintang is showing every World Cup game that doesn't conflict with a live music show on their big projector (that one on the stage). That means that a bunch of the early games will be shown and all the late games are on. Selling points: It's Yuyintang. Great little outdoor patio (although when you’re sitting on it you can't see the games), great crowd of regulars, cheaper drink prices (ish), nice community of people. Might as well go give them your money. Damage: For World Cup, they’re doing the following drink deal: buy 100rmb worth of drinks, get two drinks free. Yeah. It's a little weird. Yuyintang likes to forge their own path with these things.