The pneumatic drills stopped, and workers pulled bottles of beer from a cooler and began rooting, some for the Polish players in red and white, and others for the Ecuadorean team in blue, yellow and white.

The fans stood crowded next to piles and rows of Dunlops, Goodyears, Firestones and Michelins. They rested their beers on the rim clamps and tire balancers.[...]

Pepe's is just one of the many places in New York where these kinds of scenes will unfold as the monthlong World Cup tournament becomes a passion of the city's diverse population and offers international matchups certain to make strange bedfellows out of various ethnic groups.