Group A: South Africa, Mexico, Uruguay, France

This will be a tough group for the host nation South Africa to progress from even if France are traditionally quite slow starters. With teams from four different continents, Group A reflects the multicultural aspect of London.

Friday 11 June, 3pm: South Africa v Mexico
Friday 11 June, 7.30pm: Uruguay v France
Wednesday 16 June, 7.30pm: South Africa v Uruguay
Thursday 17 June, 7.30pm: France v Mexico
Tuesday 22 June, 3pm: Mexico v Uruguay
Tuesday 22 June, 3pm: France v South Africa

LondonTown top two prediction: France & Mexico

South Africa

You can't get more Saffa than The Springbok Pub on South Africa Road but the White City drinking den isn't an establishment that comes with much recommendation. Although it underwent much-needed renovation work (which called time on the sticky carpets) the place is rather bereft of soul and is now primarily a haunt for Queens Park Rangers fans. More central, in Covent Garden, you'll find the ever popular The Springbok Bar pub which has its own adjoining South African food shop. Given its location, it's always pretty busy, but despite having two large screens and three TVs, the awkward shape of the basement bar means an uninterrupted view is hard to get. A much better option is The Bok Bar in Marylebone, which has four TVs and ample seating. Although not ostensibly a South African bar - the kitchen serves decent (and cheap) Thai food - the Bok Bar does boast biltong amongst its bar snacks. Finally, Shoreditch's East Village is showing all the South Africa games on large screens if none of the above appeals. In terms of the Bafana Bafana's chances as host nation: well, they've only one World Cup victory to their name (and that was against Slovenia in 2002) and it will take a miracle for this record to be improved.

Friday 11 June, 3pm: South Africa v Mexico
Wednesday 16 June, 7.30pm: South Africa v Uruguay
Tuesday 22 June, 3pm: France v South Africa

Mexico

Soho South American hotspot Barrio Central will be showing all Mexico games in the World Cup this summer and should be an excellent destination for any Latin team. In fact, Mexico against Uruguay should be a real corker at this two-floor bar and club on Poland Street, as well as at the flagship Barrio North in Islington. There's a stand-alone caipirinha bar, two dozen tequilas on offer and cocktails can be served in lucha libre wrestling masks - how much more Mexican can you get? If you're after a spot of Mexican cuisine alongside your match, then try Stoke Newington's Mercado Bar & Cantina, which serves all the classics such as nachos, quesadillas, tacos, taquitos, tostadas and guacamole with totopos. On the pitch, Mexico will be favourites to progress alongside France from the group. El Tri have made the last 16 in the previous four tournaments but never gone beyond the quarter-finals in their history. Strangely, their coach has only selected four midfielders in his entire squad, but has an array of versatile defenders who can pitch in, while up front he has Arsenal's Carlos Vela and Manchester United new signing Javier Hernandez on hand for goals.

Friday 11 June, 3pm: South Africa v Mexico
Thursday 17 June, 7.30pm: France v Mexico
Tuesday 22 June, 3pm: Mexico v Uruguay

Uruguay

Uruguayans in London are a rare breed - in fact, you can probably count them on the fingers of both your hands - so locating an out-and-out establishment showing Uruguay's games will be tricky. Lucky then that South American teams often get cast under the same umbrella, for Buen Ayre, an animated Argentinean grill restaurant in Broadway Market, is promising to show all the Latino games. With its traditional parrilladas (mixed grills), the popular London Fields establishment offers an unrivalled meat fiesta and was seen by one famous food critic as one of the best things to happen to London on opening in the '90s. Yes, it may be located in the depths of East London, but once you're through its doors, Buen Ayre masquerades convincingly as any South American town and should act as the perfect foil for viewing Los Charruas. The first side to ever win the World Cup, sleeping giants Uruguay are not the force they were of yesteryear, but do boast the goal-scoring talents of Diego Forlan, whose brace saw Atletico Madrid beat Fulham in this year's Europa League. In a tight group, Uruguay and Mexico should be fighting for qualification alongside France.

Friday 11 June, 7.30pm: Uruguay v France
Wednesday 16 June, 7.30pm: South Africa v Uruguay
Tuesday 22 June, 3pm: Mexico v Uruguay

France

South Kensington, Notting Hill and, latterly, Bethnal Green may be packed to the mansard rafters with French people, but look no further than Clapham's Le Bar des Magis for your Gallic port of call for the World Cup. Adjoined to the popular bistro Le Bouchon - which itself sponsors the local French-flavoured Sunday league side the Mavericks - Le Bar des Magis is a genuine French establishment which shows all of Olympique Lyonnais games and attracted hoards of crowds during France's unlikely run to the final in the last World Cup. The drink of choice is, of course, Kronenbourg, while there's even a crèche next door so you don't have to worry about your "gamins" during the games. Les Bleus, of course, only scraped through to the tournament at Ireland's expense thanks to that infamous handball by captain Thierry Henry. If this bad karma is compounded by bad celestial signs then madcap coach Raymond Domenech, an amateur astrologist, may see his swansong come to a fittingly ignominious early end. If you don't fancy venturing south of the river, Old Street's East Village has chosen France as one of their adopted teams and will be showing all France's group games and beyond. Bonne chance!

Friday 11 June, 7.30pm: Uruguay v France
Thursday 17 June, 7.30pm: France v Mexico
Tuesday 22 June, 3pm: France v South Africa