By Tara Kyle
DNAinfo Reporter/Producer
MANHATTAN — From the canteens of Midtown's Little Brazil to the sports fields of Central Park, soccer fans across the city are gearing up for the start of the World Cup in South African on Friday.
The opening ceremonies for the World Cup have already begun and the action will kick off on the field with a 10 a.m. match between host country South Africa and Mexico in Johannesburg.
“I’m excited. Go South Africa. I’m not for Mexico. Anybody but Mexico,” said Upper West Side resident Adam Toobin, 17, citing Mexico’s recent defeat of Team USA as the cause for his animosity. “That’s the rivalry.”
Jonathan Jimenez, 21, a sales clerk at an apparel store called Upper 90 Soccer and Sport, said jerseys for both the U.S. and Mexico have sold out — and England is going fast.
“We all argue every day with customers on who is going to win and who is going to be the best player,” said Jimenez, who also lives on the Upper West Side, near the 697 Amsterdam Ave. store.
Customer consensus, according to Jimenez, is that Spain will emerge triumphant in the July 11 finals.
France will play Uruguay at 2:30 p.m. in the late game. There are a slew of bars in Manhattan that will be showing the games, but if fans want a place with a decidedly French atmosphere they should head to Opia at 130 E. 57th Street.
Opia will have a disc jockey before and after every France game. The restaurant will also serve "Les Blues" cocktails in honor of the French team. The bar can accommodate up to 400 people, whether they are rooting for or against France.
Downtown, inside Buzios Boutique and Brazilian Market at 20 W. 46th St., manager Marcela Ramos, 29, said sales of flags, T-shirts and jerseys are all up. Ramos, who now lives in Woodside, Queens, expressed confidence that Brazil will take down North Korea in their first round match-up.
"It'll be a piece of cake. Hopefully," she said.
Before Americans can worry much about Brazil or Mexico, they’ll have to get by heavily favored England on Saturday.
The last time these two teams met during the World Cup was 1950, when Team USA pulled off a miraculous victory. Toobin, like many, is hoping for a repeat.
“It’s a big game,” he said. “I have faith.”