Euro 2012: 25 Great Soccer Bars to Watch the Games in the US

With just eight days left until the start of Euro 2012 in Poland and Ukraine, you might be beginning to wonder where you are going to watch all the action.

Of course there's always the couch in your living room with your mates, but occasionally you'll want to head out and enjoy some spirited atmosphere.

Here are 25 locations in the good old US of A where you should be able to catch some valuable game time—although I'd advise a cautionary phone call prior to attending, just to make sure.

Freetail Brewing Company, San Antonio

They say everything is bigger in Texas. Well I can neither confirm or deny that statement, but if you're a soccer fan in search of somewhere that offers a host of European games along with coverage of international football then you could do worse than to check out Freetail Brewing Company in San Antonio.

The bar was recently voted US Soccer's bar of the month for March.

Tim Finnegan's, Phoenix

If Phoenix is where you call home, you're probably already aware of the deals on offer in this Irish restaurant and pub.

Tim Finnegan's will be showing every Euro 2012 match live with daily food and drink specials.

Happy hour is between 4-7 p.m. daily, so you can celebrate your team's victory or drown your sorrows accordingly.

Fado Irish Pub & Restaurant, Atlanta

Atlanta boasts a great selection of sports bars, but Fado Irish Pub & Restaurant is guaranteed to be playing all the major games of Euro 2012.

From showing matches from the Premier League, La Liga, Serie A and more, expect a cultural coming together when you visit this place.

Nevada Smiths at Webster Hall, New York

Funnily enough, Nevada Smiths is not located in Nevada; it can be found in one of the busiest cities in the world—New York, New York.

Nevada Smiths declares football its religion and will also cater to any thirsty rugby fans.

Their website boasts over 100 live matches per week, and Euro 2012 will be amongst them.

Ri Ra Irish Pub, Las Vegas

Now this venue actually is in Nevada!

Ri Ra is quite a big chain of Irish pubs found across America, but the one is Las Vegas is known for its footballing clientele.

Following Euro 2012 at this location would be one gamble you'd be sure to win.

MacDinton's, Tampa, Florida

MacDinton's Irish Pub & Restaurant (can you see a pattern emerging here?) is Tampa's must-attend venue for anything football related.

The Florida pub offers coverage of Champions League, the Premier League, Euro 2012 as well as international friendlies.

Turtle Mountain Brewing Company, Rio Rancho, New Mexico

You may not expect a place such as the Turtle Mountain Brewing Company to cater for football fans, but how wrong could you be!

This location in Rio Rancho, New Mexico, offers over a dozen beers on tap and is more of a pub than a brewing company.

O'Brien's Pub, San Diego

O'Brien's Pub advertises itself as "the hoppiest place on earth," and you'd be pretty foolish if you decided not to pay a visit.

O'Brien's even has a soccer link on its website so you can go directly to all the latest Euro 2012 match information before tripping down there for a cold brew.

Tigin Irish Pub, Stamford, Connecticut

Tigin is part of the Fado chain of Irish pubs that basically guarantees football will be shown whenever possible.

Stamford, Connecticut, is fortunate to have a Tigin in the heart of their city that will be showing Euro 2012 in its entirety.

Expect boisterous chatter if England or Ireland are featured.

12 South Taproom and Grill, Nashville

If Jack Daniels' distillery in Lynchburg, Tennessee, isn't your thing, then check out 12 South Taproom in Nashville instead.

This bar and grill offers more tap beers than you could probably drink in a day (that's not a challenge I'm laying down) and the grub is pretty good also.

I have it on good authority (a quick phone call to the bar itself) that football fans are welcomed with open arms; even Freddy Adu made an appearance last month.

Mulligan's, Hoboken, New Jersey

Mulligan's in Hoboken, New Jersey, describes itself as Hoboken's premier football bar.

Their televised football fixture list is up to date and extensive, ensuring the most hardened fan is satisfied.

The menu even has a chicken madras soccer pie. Yum.

Murphy's Irish Pub, Virginia Beach, Virginia

If in doubt, go Irish seems to be the common denominator in footballing circumstances.

Murphy's Irish Pub actually appears in two locations in Virginia, but the Virginia Beach location just nicks the plaudits.

Happy-hour offerings between 4-7 p.m. should please those who have endured a football match just prior.

Flannery's Pub, Cleveland

Flannery's likes to be original by offering a 20-ounce imperial pint—the norm for most Europeans—versus the paltry 16 ounces usually offered by American establishments.

With happy hour between 4-7 p.m., where better than to spend your Euro 2012 football days than here?

Kieran's Irish Pub, Minneapolis

Kieran's Irish Pub is Minneapolis' only official US Soccer bar, but it also covers a range of European football too.

Seating a problem? Kieran's has seven televisions to ensure you can see the action from wherever you're at.

Uptown Cafe, Bloomington, Indiana

The Uptown Cafe doesn't sound like the type of place you'd find a group of thirsty soccer fans, but looks can be deceptive.

Uptown has a bar area that caters to Champions League, Premier League, Serie A, La Liga and international football. All coverage can be found on their website.

Kell's Irish Pub, Portland, Oregon

When it comes to soccer coverage, Kell's has the lot.

In its own words, Kell's says:

"

We cover games from the following competitions Premier League, La Liga, MLS, Euro and World Cup Qualifiers, Six Nations Rugby, GAA and more.

We also show the following channel FSC, FS+, GolTV, DirectKick, ESPNDeportes, FOXSportEspañol.

"

If that doesn't get it done, I'm not sure what will.

Hooters, Nationwide

As with most American states, if you can't find an Irish pub, find a Hooters instead.

Hooters generally offers a mass array of televisions and will be showing full coverage of the European Championships (although you may have to ask them to change to the appropriate channel).

Good food and world-renowned waitresses await.

Meehan's, Atlanta

Meehan's in downtown Atlanta is typically overrun with the red and white shirts of Liverpool supporters, but they are as friendly as can be and welcome any football fans who wish to enjoy live football.

Euro 2012 will draw a mainly English crowd.

Buffalo Wild Wings, Nationwide

Buffalo Wild Wings locations tend to separate their bar and restaurant area's which ensures a good mix of drinkers and eaters.

Expect their bars to have multiple big screen tv's with the odd projection screen thrown in the mix for good measure.

They've got you covered for the Euro's in most locations (a phone call may be advisable to make sure your nearest location caters.)

Some days their wings cost less than 50 cents.

Piper's Pub, Pittsburgh

Piper's Pub is a Scottish bar whose website headings are Menu, Brunch, Scotch, Beer, Football—maybe they should add idyllic.

A full Euro 2012 football schedule is on its website.

Fox and Hound, Omaha, Nebraska

Fox and Hound (occasionally known as Bailey's in some locations) in Omaha, Nebraska, is one of the locations glittered with television sets.

If you can't find your game on in here, you're not looking hard enough.

The George and Dragon Pub, Seattle

It doesn't get any more British than the George and Dragon Pub in Seattle.

The pub refers to itself as the home of football and operates an impressive fixture list for the Euro 2012 schedule.

Nomad World Pub, Milwaukee

With a 15-minute happy hour (not sure how that works), Nomad World Pub has guaranteed to open early for all Euro 2012 matches, according to their website.

Raffles, drink specials and six big-screen televisions should keep the most hardened football fan entertained.

Madra Rua, Charleston, South Carolina

Launching Madra Rua's website instantly eases your concerns as to whether they plan on showing Euro 2012.

"Every match live" is the message that explains it all.

Lucky Bar, Washington, D.C.

If it's good enough for former USMNT player Brian McBride to make an appearance, you can expect them to be showing plenty of soccer at the Lucky Bar.

Didn't get your location covered? Check out www.soccerbars.com, or www.ussoccer.com to find which bars near you should be showing Euro 2012.

On Twitter? Follow me @petercwebster where I post all my B/R content.