The U.S. Women's Soccer Team, fresh off their late win against Brazil, face off against France in the World Cup semi-finals. more ›

We're almost a week into the World Cup already and judging by the number of USA jerseys and general conversation/webhype overheard around the city, it looks (gasp!) like people are actually paying attention to soccer (except for the haters, but that's why they're called haters, the snobby parochial nitwits). Where is everyone watching? Last weekend, there were some public viewing spots sponsored by the South African consulate in Chicago, and people came out to Montrose and Daley Plaza to watch the first games on jumbotrons - rain and all. It seems like every bar has some kind of deal or special, but two bars, especially, have risen to the top. Longstanding Chicago soccer bar staple Globe Pub and relative newcomer SmallBar are dominating the field of soccer bars. more ›

Book Cellar, 4736 North Lincoln Avenue, 7 p.m., free more ›

Despite Chicago Magazine's awarding of "Best Pub Trivia" to the Globe Pub a few months ago, we courteously beg to differ. Does the Globe have a drag queen falsetto-voiced nun holding "class" on a weekly basis? We doubt it. But Crew Bar and Grill sure does. We're also pretty sure that the Globe isn't so hardcore that they would create their own nuns-on-the-run video for it. more ›

Last week the English Premier League announced its intention to play some regular season matches abroad. In previous years, international club teams have found financial success by coming to the United States to play some pre- and post-season friendlies with other international powerhouse clubs or local Major League Soccer clubs. more ›

Okay, we had so much fun with yesterday's things that were awesome, we figured we'd bust out another list for today. Plus there's a boatload of terrific stuff. Today in awesome: more ›

U.S. Soccer announced the selections for the 2007 Best of U.S. Soccer Awards and Chicago has several representatives in the competition. For Best Fan Atmosphere Chicago's Soldier Field gets two nods: one for this sSummer's Gold Cup Final in which the United States defeated Mexico and the other for the U.S. game versus Brazil in September. Chicagoist is voting for the Gold Cup game--it wasn't the most pro-U.S. crowd, but the fans filling Soldier field... more ›

Two of Major League Soccer's Most Valuable Player finalists will meet on the pitch tonight in a winner-plays-on playoff game. The Chicago Fire hold a single goal advantage in the two-game series that is based on aggregate scoring. The two league MVP candidates are sure to play important roles in the game. The Fire will look to the leadership of team MVP Cuauhtémoc Blanco to help them knock off DC United, who finished the 2007... more ›

Mexican Primera Division club Cruz Azul, or if you prefer, Club Deportivo Social y Cultural Cruz Azul, arrived in Chicago yesterday for their Wednesday night friendly with the Fire. The game will feature two of Mexico's more prolific goal scorers; the Fire's Blanco, who has been on fire, pun intended, since arriving in Chicago scoring four goals and providing six assists in just 12 games, will try to show up Cruz Azul forward Jared Borgetti... more ›

It was a great atmosphere in Chicago this weekend for soccer fans. The Chicago Fire won an international friendly over MKS Cracovia on Friday night at Toyota Park. Saturday night, Chicagoist visited the Globe Pub where we found United States National Team supporters who had traveled from both coasts for the Gold Cup final. They joined together singing soccer songs while taking in Major League Soccer action via satellite feed. The U.S. fans found themselves... more ›

The United States Soccer Federation selected two Chicago watering holes as finalists for the Best Soccer Bar in America as part of the 2006 Best of U.S. Soccer awards. The finalist will be decided by votes cast by soccer fans who visit USSoccer.com. Voting is open until Wednesday. Representing Chicago are Ginger's Ale House and The Globe Pub. Chicago is the only city to have two finalists for Best Soccer Bar. Chicagoist assumes that U.S.... more ›

The Chicago Fire carry a 1-0 lead into New England for the second leg of the aggregate goal Eastern Conference Semifinal Series. The Chicago Fire defeated the New England Revolution 1-0 in Chicago Sunday when Justin Mapp scored off a free kick in the 34th minute. The Fire can advance to the Eastern Conference Finals with a win or a tie in New England on Saturday night. The Fire have their work cut out for... more ›

It is way too early to say the Chicago Fire are in a must win position this weekend but the combination of starting the season with a loss and a tie and seven straight games on the road ahead, a victory against division rival Columbus Crew is very important. Saturday's game against the Crew represents the Fire's best opportunity to earn three points during the first half of this long road trip. The Columbus Crew... more ›

The Chicago Australian Football Association (CAFA) is preparing for their 2006 season. The sport that is wildly popular down under, also known as Aussie Rules or Footy, has been growing in popularity and participation in Chicago and across the United States for more than 10 years. Aussie Rules is played on a gigantic oval that can be as long and as wide as two American football fields. It is a fast-paced, hard-hitting game that provides... more ›

Think you could be the next Sister Mary Jane, Punky Bruiser or Miss Conduct? Fans of A&E's new series more ›

Another reason to vote: Free food, special drinks, discounted books and more. We've tried to summarize specials that are going on around town, but of course, feel free to add any we've missed! more ›