It's once again the time when Americans suddenly get way into soccer for a few weeks.

What's happening: The World Cup is on and the U.S. Men's National Team starts the road to glory this afternoon with a match against Wales at 2pm.

• Since the team failed to qualify in 2018, this is the first time in eight long years fans will get to see Americans compete for the Cup.

What they're saying: "No matter where you go, people's eyes and TVs are going to be on this game," Evan Cipriano, organizer of the fan group American Outlaws, tells Axios.

One of the nation's largest U.S. soccer supporter groups, the American Outlaws has a chapter in Boston, which is hosting a series of watch parties and events around the city for each game.

The headquarters for U.S. soccer fandom in Boston is The Banshee Pub on Dorchester Avenue.

• "The days the U.S. is playing, that will be the place to be," Cipriano said.
• Phoenix Landing is another soccer-obsessed pub ready for the tournament.

There's more interest in this year's cup than The Banshee Pub can handle, so the Outlaws partnered with Parlor Sports in Somerville and the new Dubliner downtown in Center Plaza to handle the crowds.

• Another hotspot will be Banners at the TD Garden, where Cipriano says Mass. native and Olympian Kristie Mewis is expected to attend along with Andrew Farrell of the New England Revolution.

For Friday's game against England, the House of Blues is hosting a sold-out watch party.

• The Revolution and the City of Boston will also host a party at Royale for the England game.

Yes, but: If you're more interested in avoiding the crowds and hooliganism, you can catch the U.S. games on Boston 25 and Fox Sports 1.

Steph here. Twitter is melting down before our eyes, and Boston-area users are freaking out.

Catch up fast: Elon Musk's ultimatum to commit to an "extremely hardcore" workplace at Twitter or leave caused an employee exodus Thursday night, including in Twitter’s Cambridge office.

Why it matters: Twitter was Boston's digital town square in the aftermath of the Boston Marathon bombing, in the first months of the COVID-19 pandemic and even during the contentious debates over whether Boston should host the 2024 Olympics (I'm looking at you, "the 10 people on Twitter").

• Twitter introduced me to the Boston Yeti, Dunkin' stans and Boston-area politicos (affectionately known as the #mapoli and #bospoli crowds).
• But it also propelled the rise and fall of a president who incited an insurrection attempt in the nation's capital and has also led to harassment and death threats for others.

What's new: People are flocking to Tumblr and the decentralized social network Mastodon, including the better.boston server.

• Boston Mayor Wu shared a tweet promoting the better.boston server, which she joined.

Those of us who didn't know about better.boston (myself included) felt like we were sent back to Twitter circa 2007.

• "We're like pioneers in a vast unmapped frontier trying to find other people," says Steve Koczela, president of the MassINC Polling Group (in a DM on Twitter, mind you).

Reality check: Twitter's not dead yet, but if you're on Mastodon, find me here.

🏦 Police arrested one suspect in connection to a Martha's Vineyard bank heist that sparked a manhunt across the island. (Gazette)

The ACLU asked the U.S. Supreme Court to take up a case with roots in Springfield about whether police can use "pole cameras" to conduct long-term surveillance without a warrant. (Commonwealth)

🏙 Boston officials want to give property owners more time to report their greenhouse gas emissions under a new law because so many are about to miss the Dec. 15 deadline. (BBJ)

When people now enter Mozart Park, they will see the faces of Cuban singer Celia Cruz, Dominican musician Juan Luis Guerra and other pioneers of Latin music across the left wall.

• The portraits are part of a 160-foot-long mural the Hyde Square Task Force unveiled this past weekend.

What's happening: A group of three-dozen people, led by painter and Jamaica Plain resident Roberto Chao, created a mural in the Jamaica Plain park paying tribute to Afro-Latino artists.

• The mural, which was finalized last week, is a community-based art project, meaning both professional artists and locals with little to no art experience contributed.

Why it matters: The mural showcases the power of music across the African diaspora, from Afropop and jazz to salsa and merengue — and Boston's role in hosting legendary musicians.

• Some of the featured artists like Cruz and James Brown performed in Boston, while others like Guerra and Puerto Rican cuatro player Fabiola Mendez attended Berklee College of Music.
• Local musician and historian Jorge Arce is also featured.

What they're saying: "This mural is inclusive, not exclusive, and better yet, Afro," Chao told Axios in a recent Spanish-language interview.