World Cup watch parties set for Downtown LA, Lynwood, Torrance

LOS ANGELES (FOX 11 / CNS) - A watch party organized by Major League Soccer's Los Angeles Football Club for Wednesday's four 2018 FIFA World Cup games, including the Group F games between Mexico and Sweden and Germany and South Korea, will be held at the La Cita Bar & Nightclub in downtown Los Angeles.

The Mexico-Sweden and Germany-South Korea games will both begin at 7 a.m.

MLS' Los Angeles Galaxy is conducting a watch party for the Germany-South Korea game at Alpine Village in Torrance.

The Brazil-Serbia and Costa Rica-Switzerland games, which begin at 11 a.m., will also be shown at both La Cita Bar & Nightclub and Alpine Village.

Viewing parties for the South Korea-Germany game for South Korean fans will be held at the grass lawn outside Wilshire Park Place at 3700 Wilshire Blvd. and the Glory Church of Jesus Christ at 1801 S. Grand Ave. near downtown Los Angeles, the building formerly known as the Olympic Auditorium.

The final games in each group in the World Cup are played simultaneously in an attempt to avoid collusion.

The rule was adopted for the 1986 World Cup after West Germany and Austria appeared to arrange a 1-0 West German victory that would let both teams advance to the second round in the 1982 tournament.

Mexico would advance to the tournament's knockout stage and win its group with a victory or tie. Mexico would also advance to the knockout stage if Germany loses to or ties South Korea.

A loss by Mexico and a victory by Germany would leave Mexico, Germany and Sweden in a three-way tie for first in Group F. A Mexico loss to Sweden by two goals or more would eliminate Mexico on goal difference in group matches, the first tiebreaker.

In a three-way tie, Mexico would advance with a 2-1 loss to Sweden and if Germany defeats South Korea, 1-0, based on goals scored, the second tiebreaker.

South Korea would be eliminated with a loss or tie against Germany. South Korea would advance to the knockout stage if it defeats Germany by two more or goals and Sweden loses to Mexico.

Mexico upset defending champion Germany, 1-0, in its tournament opener June 17, and defeated South Korea, 2-1, Saturday.

Sweden defeated South Korea, 1-0, June 18, and lost to Germany, 2-1, Saturday.

Mexico has recorded shutouts in six of its past nine games.

Mexico has reached the knockout round each of the last six World Cups, then lost in the round of 16 each time.

Mexico is 15th in the rankings compiled by FIFA, soccer's international governing body. Sweden is ranked 24th.