Watching World Cup games outdoors in Perth

Despite being a real latecomer to the world of soccer (or football), I have to admit I’m a huge fan of the FIFA World Cup – I was lucky enough to be living in Japan when it was held there in 2002, and again to be living in Germany when World Cup fever hit that country in 2006. This year, I’m not living in South Africa (although plenty of South Africans do live in Perth!) but I’m still looking forward to the matches taking place in June this year.

Now, watching a World Cup soccer game on your TV at home is all well and good, but I’m likely to be joining some crowds out and about in Perth. There’ll no doubt be several pubs which will make a big deal out of screening the matches but the place I’m hyped about is the new Northbridge Piazza, a great new public space in Northbridge, Perth’s entertainment district. It’s got an 8-meter outdoor LED screen ready to show football at its best, and will be screening quite a few of the games, including:

• Korea Republic v Greece, 12 June at 7.30pm
• Germany v Serbia, 18 June at 7.30pm
• Netherlands v Japan, 19 June at 7.30pm
• Ghana v Australia, 19 June at 10.00pm
• Slovakia v Paraguay, 20 June at 7.30pm
• Italy v New Zealand, 20 June at 10.00pm

Plus they’ll show all 16 finals matches to be held from 26 June. If you’re going to be in Perth during World Cup time, I’d thoroughly recommend checking out some of the games down with the crowds at the Northbridge Piazza – it’ll be heaps of fun, and you might bump into me there, too!