Bay Area sports bars are getting ready to rumble.

They're bracing for earlier opening hours, raucous crowds and beaucoup business for the advent of the World Cup, one of their busiest - and craziest - times.

Even new spots such as the San Francisco Athletic Club scrambled to open in time for the start of the games, going full bore to redo the interior of the former Tortilla Heights with new furnishings, a larger bar and the installation of 27 large-screen TVs and a projection screen.

"In Brazil, they're in a race to get everything ready for the World Cup," said Miles Palliser, co-owner of the 95-seat spot, which is scheduled to open Thursday.

"We were in our own race, trying to turn a restaurant around in a month. We could have taken our time to build it - but this is the most exciting sports event and a great platform for us to launch off of."

Here are other prime places to take in the action:

Owner Brian Coyle named this 8-year-old watering hole for his dad, who wouldn't blink about driving the family 200 miles - er, 320 kilometers - across their native Ireland just to catch a soccer match.

As such, you can bet that Coyle - who founded a San Francisco soccer team in 1996, has sponsored local soccer clubs and has three sons who play the game - will show every World Cup game live on his bar's flat screens.

"We are an out-and-out soccer bar. This will be our third World Cup. I'm hoping for many, many more," Coyle said. "It's great fun with all the oohing and ahhing, and the drama of the penalty shootouts. I live for it."

So do his patrons. Coyle will no doubt commiserate with his countrymen about Ireland not making the World Cup yet again, while expats from the United Kingdom, Mexico and Central and South America fill his place.

Although there's no kitchen, Coyle will make sure everyone's well fed by bringing in savory, handheld British pies. If Brazil does well, don't be surprised if impromptu samba dancing breaks out on the bar top.

668 Haight St., San Francisco; (415) 558-8375. www.dannycoyles.com.

Mad Dog in the Fog

Beer-guzzling, nacho-noshing capacity crowds are expected for every game. Bartender Barbara Glynn advises to come early to nab a good seat.

She's readying for the festivities in her special way. "I'm English," she said. "I'll definitely be putting on my jersey and painting the St. George's cross on my face."

530 Haight St., San Francisco; (415) 626-7279. www.themaddoginthefog.com.

San Francisco Civic Center Plaza

For a really unforgettable time, join the thousands expected to gather here for free live outdoor screenings of the games, right across from City Hall.

The fun begins at 9 a.m. Saturday for the first of three games. Colombia meets Greece. That's followed by Uruguay-Costa Rica at noon and England-Italy at 3 p.m. Three more games will show daily Monday, Tuesday and June 22, and then two matches June 26. In July, the semifinals and finals will be shown.

Youth skills clinics, face-painting activities and plenty of food trucks will be on hand.

Plaza bounded by Polk, Larkin, McAllister and Grove streets, San Francisco. www.worldcupsf.com.

It's always a raucous time in North Beach, but even more so during the World Cup. This Irish bar's reputation precedes itself, says bartender Patrick Dunphy.

Dunphy, who will be working the 8:30 a.m. shift when the bar opens for the morning matches, predicts an early-arriving crowd. "It'll be busy. People will be out on the street, peering in to try to get a look," he said.

1353 Grant Ave., San Francisco; (415) 399-9020. www.maggiemcgarrys.com.

The Old Pro

Manager Mike Ellis couldn't be happier that this year's World Cup is being played in Brazil, where the two time zones are just a few hours ahead of California's. That's because during the 2010 World Cup, which took place in South Africa (nine hours ahead), Ellis was the chef, staggering in at 4 a.m. for 30 days straight to feed 300 for breakfast, another 300 at lunch, and a full house at dinner.

This year, he's looking forward to opening at a respectable 8:30 a.m. for the earliest games. Even at that hour, he warns, the noise level in the expansive, two-story restaurant can be deafening as the rather eclectic crowd gets going.

"We have all ages, all cultures, all income brackets," he said. "You'll have a 40-year-old businessman from JP Morgan in a $2,000 suit sitting next to a kid in a jersey. Then, you'll have the entire kitchen staff from a restaurant across the street come in to watch during their 30-minute break. The sheer volume of the turnout is just insane."

541 Ramona St., Palo Alto; (650) 326-1446. http://oldpropa.com.

General manager John Rahbar is ready to make the harsh decisions: choosing which 9 a.m. games for which he'll open early. Australia vs. Spain? You bet. Algeria vs. Belgium? Not so much.

Basing his picks on team popularity, Rahbar knows just what's in store when Brazil plays, too.

During the 1994 World Cup in the United States, when games were played at Stanford Stadium, the Brazilian team made Los Gatos its home base, turning downtown into party central. Los Gatos still harbors a soft spot for the Brazilians, Rahbar says, many of whom frequent Double D's to take in any important soccer match.

No doubt Bloody Marys and craft beers will be flowing, and everyone noshing on BLT&E sandwiches (with a fried egg), the most popular breakfast item.

"You'd be surprised how many people turn out at 9 a.m. on a weekday," Rahbar said. "It's funny to see how many laptops are on the tables, with people working - but keeping one eye on the TV screen."

354 N. Santa Cruz Ave., Los Gatos; (408) 395-6882. www.doubleds.com.

Speisekammer

At this German restaurant and bar, it'll be all hands on deck for the month of games, says co-owner Cindy Kahl.

The staff will be outfitted in special black jerseys. The large projection screen will be set up and another large TV moved into the middle room so that customers won't miss a minute of any game, no matter where they are in the restaurant.

Any place that specializes in potato pancakes, wiener schnitzel, curry wurscht and sauerbraten is bound to attract a slew of German fans from all over the Bay Area decked out in their national colors of black, red and gold.

No matter how early, they'll be throwing back the pints, too. Kahl said with a laugh, "They're all drinking wheat beer. It is a breakfast beer, after all."

2424 Lincoln Ave., Alameda; (510) 522-1300. www.speisekammer.com.

The Englander

Owner Roy Childress knows the British are coming. Expats, that is, who flock to his pub for their favorite bangers and mash, and free copies of the Union Jack newspaper.

Whenever England plays a game, they turn out in droves, along with plenty of Portuguese Americans, all of whom don't mind sitting cross-legged on the floor when every seat is taken.

"World Cup month is really nuts here," Childress said. "I look forward to it every time."

101 Parrott St., San Leandro; (510) 357-3571. www.englanderpub.com.