Host Cities at a Glance
MUNICH
Population: 1.3 million
Game Days: June 9, six p.m. (Cup opener); June 14, six p.m.; June
18, six p.m.; June 21, nine p.m.; June 24, five p.m.; July 5, nine
p.m. Don't forget: Munich has everything a major
European city has to offer, including lots of shopping. Don't miss:
nearby historic Augsburg. Dachau is also nearby. Take a drive up
Germany's famed "Romantic Road."
Hamburg
Population: 1.7 million
Game Days: June 10, nine p.m.; June 15, three p.m.; June 19, six
p.m.; June 22, four p.m.; June 30, nine p.m. Don't
forget: The "Venice of the North" and Germany's
second-largest metropolitan area. Check out the fantastic
Fischmarkt (a market for much more than just fish) and take a
relaxing harbor cruise. It's the home base
for the U.S. team.
Stuttgart
Population: 590,000
Game Days: June 13, six p.m.; June 16, six p.m.; June 19, nine
p.m.; June 22, nine p.m.; June 25, five p.m.; July 8, nine p.m.
Don't forget: Take in the gorgeous Schlossplatz
and the spectacular Schlossgarten. Groove in Bohnenviertel ("bean
quarter"), home to many of the town's hipper bars and
restaurants.
Cologne
Population: 1 million
Game Days: June 11, nine p.m.; June 17, six p.m.; June 20, nine
p.m.; June 23, nine p.m.; June 26, nine p.m. Don't
forget: Schmitz recommends Lapidarium. "It's not really my
style of pub, but it's a good place to watch football. A typical
Cologne experience would be a visit to the Kolner Dom and then to
Frueh am Dom, a big, famous pub/restaurant." Also visit nearby Bonn
and Aachen.
Frankfurt
Population: 640,000
Game Days: June 10, three p.m.; June 13, three p.m.; June 17, three
p.m.; June 21, nine p.m.; July 1, nine p.m. Don't
forget: Eylert recommends viewing games via the giant TV
screen that will be placed in the middle of the Main River.
Dortmund
Population: 590,000
Game Days: June 10, six p.m.; June 14, nine p.m.; June 19, three
p.m.; June 22, nine p.m.; June 27, five p.m.; July 4, nine p.m.
Don't forget: Excellent beer. Take a brewery tour
in the Ruhr area or go walking and cycling in and around
Sauerland.
Berlin
Population: 3.39 million
Game Days: June 13, nine p.m.; June 15, nine p.m.; June 20, four
p.m.; June 23, four p.m.; June 30, five p.m.; July 9, eight p.m.
(final) Don't forget: See the Palace of the
Republic before it gets knocked down. Berhalter recommends Mao Thai
restaurant in the popular Prenzlauer Berg area and Bar Maxwell in
Mitte. The Berlin Philharmonic orchestra plays outside on June
18.
Hanover
Population: 520,000
Game Days: June 12, nine p.m.; June 16, nine p.m.; June 20, four
p.m.; June 23, nine p.m.; June 27, nine p.m. Don't
forget: Cherundolo recommends the Steintor area where "a
lot of the foreigners meet and hang out," and central walking and
shopping district Kroepke.
Leipzig
Population: 495,000
Game Days: June 11, three p.m.; June 14, three p.m.; June 18, nine
p.m.; June 21, four p.m.; June 24, nine p.m. Don't
forget: July features the Bach Music Competition. Die-hard
fans should visit Thomaskirche, the late-Gothic church where the
musical genius was choirmaster.
Nuremberg
Population: 490,000
Game Days: June 11, six p.m.; June 15, six p.m.; June 18, three
p.m.; June 22, four p.m.; June 25, nine p.m. Don't
forget: Eat the famed gingerbread, visit Kaiserburg
castle, and shop at the flea-market-esque Hauptmark.
Gelsenkirchen
Population: 278,000
Game Days: June 9, nine p.m.; June 12, six p.m.; June 16, three
p.m.; June 21, four p.m.; July 1, five p.m. Don't
forget: Even if you're not going to make it to the games,
go see AufSchalke, one of Europe's most fabulous stadiums. Shop in
the city center, Bahnhofstrasse.
Kaiserslautern
Population: 100,000
Game Days: June 12, three p.m.; June 17, nine p.m.; June 20, nine
p.m.; June 23, four p.m.; June 26, five p.m. Don't
forget: Visit the imperial palace and hang out and relax
in Martinsplatz.