The World Cup’s month of madness began on Friday, and it will go until July 11. Who are you rooting for? Do you have your own bracket? While I don’t know that much about the individual teams, I understand soccer and have to root for America… even though Jenn and I believe that Italy might have the most attractive team. While you might be streaming it from Univision at work all week, take the weekend to throw yourself a little watching party-ideas below!

Base the food you will serve on the countries you are watching play. If you’re watching a USA game, I recommend serving some classic American dishes. Personally, I would serve an American beer like Bud Light for the beer drinkers. If you’re watching other countries, pick a beer from there! For those who want something sweeter, I would make these Watermelon Cocktails- refreshing for May and all sorts of American!

• Cube a 7.5 lb watermelon
• 4 teaspoons superfine sugar
• 8 ounces silver tequila
• 12 basil leaves
• 12 mint leaves
• 2.5 ounces Cointreau
• 6 cups ice

Place 24 cubes on a lined baking sheet and cover. Freeze for an hour. Puree the rest of the watermelon and add the sugar. Strain it into a bowl. Muddle the basil, mint, and tequila before adding the Cointreau and watermelon. Shake in cocktail shaker with ice and pour into a glass with watermelon ice cubes in it.

For food, start out with some chicken wings and cheese dip or spinach dip. These appetizers are always a crowd-pleaser. Grill up some hot dogs, hamburgers, or make some barbecue- ribs, bbq chicken, brisket! Serve corn on the cob, baked beans, and mashed potatoes on the side. If you need more, go for a mac n cheese. Dessert should definitely be some apple pie! All the best stuff is American (duh). Celebrate the World Cup with this brisket recipe:

• 4 pounds lean beef brisket
• 2 tablespoons liquid smoke flavoring
• 1 tablespoon onion salt
• 1 tablespoon garlic salt
• 1 1/2 tablespoons brown sugar
• 1 cup ketchup
• 3 tablespoons butter
• 1/4 cup water
• 1/2 teaspoon celery salt
• 1 tablespoon liquid smoke flavoring
• 2 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce
• 1 1/2 teaspoons mustard powder
• salt and pepper to taste

Pour liquid smoke over brisket. Rub with onion salt and garlic salt. Roll brisket in foil and refrigerate overnight.

Preheat oven to 300 degrees F (150 degrees C). Place brisket in a large roasting pan. Cover and bake for 5 to 6 hours. Remove from oven, cool, and then slice. Put slices back into pan.

In a medium saucepan, combine brown sugar, ketchup, butter, water, celery salt, liquid smoke, Worcestershire sauce, mustard, salt and pepper. Stir, and cook until boiling.

Pour sauce over meat slices in pan. Cover and bake for 1 more hour.

I’m not really 100% sure what else to tell you to make for other countries… but just run with it.