England's first game in the World Cup will be against the USA on June 12!

We are from the US and will be spending most of the time during the games in England for the purpose of watching the matches in a country who is excited about them!

We'll be in York for that game. Where would the best spot be to enjoy this match?

Thanks so much. We'll be rooting for England.

In a pub that has big TV screens. My wife and I watched some matches of the last World Cup in a bar in NYC and USA v Ghana in Times Square on the big ESPN screen. Great atmosphere.

Some cities put up giant outdoor screen for important World Cup matches, so keep your eyes peeled for local announcement nearer the time.

We'll be rooting for England.

Why?

We'll be rooting for England.

Why?>>

in the hope that hostile locals won't spot that they are interlopers...as if!

Because my husband is a huge fan of the English leagues. I prefer France!

I was just wondering if there was a specific pub in York that might be better to watch the matches in? I realize they'll be in several, but is one better than another? Same with Edinburgh, as we'll be there also.

Just about every pub in the country will have the games on. Your experience of watching England games in York will be a bit different than in Edinburgh.

The general idea is that you support your own country's team...unless you are Scottish and you also support every team that England are playing....

Some years ago I was in York while an important England match against Germany was being played. Went to several pubs in the centre and couldn't get into any of them as all seats were taken and people were standing round every screen. Eventually found a pub a little out of centre in a residential area and watched the match with some locals, in comfort.
So if you intend to watch the England's opening game (it will be in the evening), I suggest you get there early, at least an hour before kick off. Also remember some pubs get very rowdy with drunk, mostly young male crowds and atmosphere can get rather intimidating. Use your discretion. If you celebrate a US goal, you won't be very popular and can get a nasty reaction from some people.

I was thinking what Alec wrote . . . Imagine going into a sports bar in the States on Super Bowl Sunday. Very, VERY crowded. You won't be able to just pick a place and walk in.

The best place to watch a football match is the one where the crowd suits you.

There's no way any of us can know which pub in York (assuming there's no public giant screen) matches what suits you. But we don't need to.

The England/US match is at 1930 on June 12. Before then, there'll have been the opening match (at 1500 the previous day) a match involving France at 1930 the previous day and one involving Argentina at 1500 the day of the England match. So use those - all of some interest in England - to judge pubs' ambience

Thanks everyone for your help. I didn't realize the pubs would be so crowded. flanneruk's suggestion is very helpful. We'll be watching as many matches as we can fit in, so I guess we'll have all kinds of experiences.

The pubs will be rammed. Unless you act the twat there shouldn't be any bother (we can easily lose to the yanks and still get through - not that we're going to lose).

As Flanneur says - have a gander a bit earlier and see if you feel comfortable.

Most English people will be happy to talk to you and enjoy the banter. There are obviously a few wankers as there are everywhere but this game should be a bit of a party as it's the first one.

Things only get lairy when we get knocked out. Then they DO get lairy.

How will York deal with all those American soccer hooligans? turn them away at the city limits? At the airports or ferry ports?

Two things for the OP: (1) I'm disgusted that you would cheer for England over the US and you're Americans. If CW cheered for the US against England, I'd be disgusted by that. I actually root for the English in asSOCiation football tournaments but would not against my home nation. This is completely reasonable: I also root for just about anyone who plays the Germans.

(2) I'm amazed that you "didn't realize the pubs would be so crowded" -- it's only the national game of the nation where the game originated and England has been STARVING for a World Cup title for 44 years (and the Germans have won two in the interim). I wonder: what color is the sun on your planet?

You're deep in danger of "act[ing] the twat".

As a helpful notion, however, pick a pub with a big screen around 2 pm the day the English play the US, start drinking, curse out the Argentines for two hours from 3-5 (you'll make scores of friends in England with that), continue drinking (and have something to eat), then watch the mother country and her prodigal son play.

I don’t know York so can’t recommend anywhere but what I can say is that you’ll have a much better time of it in a small local’s pub rather than the city centre beer barns which will be crowded – unpleasantly so.

Also don’t worry about being a yank. We don’t take the Americans seriously when it comes to football (actually this is a massive understatement – we think they’re hilariously awful). So there’s no rivalry, and people won’t mind you supporting your own country (and would find it mighty odd to support another country against your own – no one does this, although the jocks will support anyone against England. The sad sad bastards).

You might want to eat beforehand as there’s no way you’ll get fed during – and afterwards the place will be full of pissed people (English meaning of pissed).

The USA is going to get beaten worse than Tiger Woods.

>(and would find it mighty odd to support another country against your own – no one does this, although the jocks will support anyone against England. The sad sad bastards).<

Just like you would support anyone who plays Arsenal CW. Same thing innit.

For Gawd's sake don't show any sign of supporting England if you watch any games in a public place in Edinburgh.

Not really ‘cos I don’t blame Arsenal for spurs being crap. (Not that we’re crap at the moment).

I find the whole ABE thing bloody silly. I know for most jocks it’s mainly a bit of fun, but too many of them take it to heart and really do hate the English (trust me I know this from personal experience in some of Motherwell’s rougher pubs (does it have any other kind?)

For Gawd's sake don't show any sign of supporting England if you watch any games in a public place in Edinburgh.>>>

Like I said; sad sad bastards.