Where to watch the World Cup final in Montreal
Whether you're cheering for France or Croatia, there's no shortage of places to watch the World Cup final
It all comes down to this, as Croatia and France are the two last teams standing in the 2018 FIFA World Cup.
The squads are going head-to-head in the tournament's final game, which kicked off at 11 a.m.
Whether you favour Les Bleus, or will be donning a red-and-white checkered jersey in support of Vatreni (the Croatian team's nickname), here are some of the best places to watch the match in Montreal.
Parc Jean-Drapeau
The game is being broadcast live on a big screen at Parc Jean-Drapeau.
Fans got access the site starting at 10 a.m., and there will also be food, drinks, and music.
Organizers said they expected as many as 10,000 fans to show up.
Fans setting up to watch <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/WorldCupFinal?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#WorldCupFinal</a> on this screen at Parc Jean-Drapeau. Organizers say they're expecting up to 10,000 people to show up <a href="https://twitter.com/CBCMontreal?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@CBCMontreal</a> <a href="https://t.co/7l7ZDM2VeM">pic.twitter.com/7l7ZDM2VeM</a>
—@mattdamoursVillage au Pied-du-Courant
Village au Pied-du-Courant opened at 9:30 a.m. to host a World Cup party of its own.
The waterfront venue, which is showing the game on a big screen, is in the shadow of the Jacques-Cartier Bridge, at 2100 Notre-Dame Street East.
Mass — then the game — at Croatian church
Exceptional circumstances call for exceptional measures.
For Saint-Nicholas-Tavelich, a Croatian Catholic church on de la Savane Street in Côte-des-Neiges, that means holding mass early to catch the game.
The doors to a hall in the church basement opened just after mass and ahead of the 11 a.m. kick off.
France fans sure to be out across '21e arrondissement'
Montreal's Plateau-Mont Royal neighbourhood — sometimes referred to as the 21e arrondissement, by its high concentration of French citizens — has been teeming with France fans since early Sunday morning.
L'Barouf, a bar on Saint-Denis Street, is a good spot to watch the game if you're cheering for Les Bleus.
Union française de Montréal
The Union française de Montréal, an organization that works to help French citizens integrate into life in Quebec, is hosting an event at its offices (429 Viger Street East).
Tickets are $5 and get you a coffee, tea or juice, and a croissant — of course.
