Berlin staged a big party at the Brandenburg Gate on Wednesday to get thousands of fans in the mood for the World Cup and offer a taste of the entertainment cities around Germany have lined up for the tournament.

A soccer fan waves with a German national flag during the opening of the 'Fan-Mile' at the boulevard 'Strasse des 17. Juni' in Berlin June 7, 2006. The fan party area named 'Fan-Mile' for the World Cup 2006 is located on the boulevard between Berlin's landmarks Brandenburg Gate and Victory Column. [Reuters]

Fans from nations including Brazil, Paraguay, Poland, Ecuador, Netherlands and Switzerland, many in colourful costumes, mingled with German revellers at the landmark which was once a symbol of the city's Cold War division.

British rock group Simple Minds headlined the concert to welcome visitors for the month-long finals, which begin on Friday when the host nation take on Costa Rica in Munich.

"It's a wonderful feeling that hundreds of thousands of people are coming here, to be welcomed by friends," Berlin mayor Klaus Wowereit told the crowd, which he put at 250,000.

Fans strolled among beer and food stalls in evening sunshine as the smell of grilled sausages wafted through the air.

"This is very cool," said Martijn Lucas, a 23-year-old Dutch student from Tilburg sporting the bright orange of his national team.

GOOD ATMOSPHERE

"It's good to bring people together and create a good atmosphere."

The 12 host cities are all staging Fan Fest programmes, showing World Cup games on giant screens and providing other entertainment for the many supporters travelling to Germany without a match ticket.

Organisers proudly declare it is the first time such an extensive programme has been organised at a World Cup.

But security officials fear festivals could be a magnet for hooligans, with alcohol on sale and fans from different nations able to mix freely.

Police at Wednesday's concert said there was no sign of trouble.

"I think this is superb. It's a nice change," said Claudio Saltermann, a Swiss farmer cloaked in the blue and white flag of Sweden because he has relatives in the Scandinavian country.

World soccer chiefs had planned a gala opening ceremony at Berlin's Olympic Stadium but scrapped the idea amid concerns it could damage the pitch.