After four long years, the 2014 World Cup is mere days away. This month-long football extravaganza will feature 64 games of near-daily action from the greatest footballing nations on the planet.
But when? And how? And on what channel?
Fear not, sports fan. Below, for your convenience we’ve listed the schedule for all 64 games in classic Eastern Time format, complete with their corresponding kick-off times and the channel where they’ll be broadcast. Plus, we’ve added some of our picks for the best games to watch out for in every day of the two-week long group stage. If as that’s not enough, we’ve compiled tons of expert analysis and predictions, including our picks for high-value World Cup sleepers and our preview of the competition for Golden Boot honours so that you can create a betting account and get in on the action today.
Buckle up: it’s going to be a lot of fun.
[sc:Soccer ]
Where and When to Watch the 2014 World Cup
Group Stage
Thursday, June 12
4:00 PM ET – Brazil vs. Croatia at Arena Corinthians, Sao Paulo (ESPN)
Best Game – Brazil vs. Croatia
The eyes of the world will be on the World Cup’s official curtain-raiser in Sao Paulo, where hosts Brazil take on one of their main challengers in Group A, Croatia.
Friday, June 13
12:00 PM ET – Mexico vs. Cameroon at Estadio das Dunas, Natal (ESPN2)
3:00 PM ET – Spain vs. Netherlands at Arena Fonte Nova, Salvador (ESPN)
6:00 PM ET – Chile vs. Australia at Arena Pantanal, Cuiaba (ESPN2)
Best Game: Spain vs. Netherlands
A rematch of the 2010 World Cup Final, the Spain-Netherlands clash should feature some very attractive football and could decide who tops Group B.
Saturday, June 14
12:00 PM ET – Colombia vs. Greece at Estádio Mineirao, Belo Horizonte (ABC)
[sc:Soccer240banner ]3:00 PM ET – Uruguay vs. Costa Rica at Estádio Castelao, Fortaleza (ABC)
6:00 PM ET – England vs. Italy at Arena Amazonia, Manaus (ESPN)
9:00 PM ET – Ivory Coast vs. Japan at Arena Pernambuco, Recife (ESPN)
Best Game: England vs. Italy
The first of three titanic matchups in the Group of Death, Group D, European giants England and Italy will not want to lose ground to Uruguay.
Sunday, June 15
12:00 PM ET – Switzerland vs. Ecuador at Estádio Nacional Mane Garrincha, Brasilia (ABC)
3:00 PM ET – France vs. Honduras at Estádio Beira-Rio, Porto Alegre (ABC)
6:00 PM ET – Argentina vs. Bosnia-Herzegovina at Estadio do Maracana, Rio de Janeiro (ESPN)
Best Game: Argentina vs. Bosnia-Herzegovina
If Argentina loses a game in the relatively easy Group F, it will most likely come at the hands of Bosnia-Herzegovina and its impressive strike force.
Monday, June 16
12:00 PM ET – Germany vs. Portugal at Arena Fonte Nova, Salvador (ESPN)
3:00 PM ET – Iran vs. Nigeria at Arena da Baixada, Curitiba (ESPN)
6:00 PM ET – Ghana vs. United States at Estadio das Dunas, Natal (ESPN)
Best Game: Germany vs. Portugal
The world will see if the individual talent of Cristiano Ronaldo is enough to defeat the collective might of the Germans.
Tuesday, June 17
12:00 PM ET – Belgium vs. Algeria at Estádio Mineirao, Belo Horizonte (ESPN)
3:00 PM ET – Brazil vs. Mexico at Estádio Castelao, Fortaleza (ESPN)
6:00 PM ET – Russia vs. South Korea at Arena Pantanal, Cuiaba (ESPN)
Best Game: Brazil vs. Mexico
If Brazil wins its first game against Croatia, another win against the Mexicans will all but ensure passage to the next round.
Wednesday, June 18
12:00 PM ET – Australia vs. Netherlands at Estádio Beira-Rio, Porto Alegre (ESPN)
3:00 PM ET – Spain vs. Chile at Estadio do Maracana, Rio de Janeiro (ESPN)
6:00 PM ET – Cameroon vs. Croatia at Arena Amazonia, Manaus (ESPN)
Best Game: Spain vs. Chile
The high-intensity Chilean pressing has another shot at disrupting the Spanish tiki-taka after falling short in 2010.
Thursday, June 19
12:00 PM ET – Colombia vs. Ivory Coast at Estádio Nacional Mane Garrincha, Brasilia (ESPN)
3:00 PM ET – Uruguay vs. England at Arena Corinthians, Sao Paulo (ESPN)
6:00 PM ET – Japan vs. Greece at Estadio das Dunas, Natal (ESPN)
Best Game: Uruguay vs. England
Luis Suarez (if fit) squares off against his Liverpool teammates in a match which could see either team qualify for the next round.
Friday, June 20
12:00 PM ET – Italy vs. Costa Rica at Arena Pernambuco, Recife (ESPN)
3:00 PM ET – Switzerland vs. France at Arena Fonte Nova, Salvador (ESPN)
6:00 PM ET – Honduras vs. Ecuador at Arena da Baixada, Curitiba (ESPN)
Best Game: Switzerland vs. France
Switzerland can keep their hopes of winning Group E alive if they can get a result against neighbors France.
Saturday, June 21
12:00 PM ET – Argentina vs. Iran at Estádio Mineirao, Belo Horizonte (ESPN)
3:00 PM ET – Germany vs. Ghana at Estádio Castelao, Fortaleza (ESPN) x
6:00 PM ET – Nigeria vs. Bosnia Herzegovina at Arena Pantanal, Cuiabá (ESPN)
Best Game: Germany vs. Ghana
The Ghanaians look to cling on for dear life in the Group of Death in a potential elimination game against Germany.
Sunday, June 22
12:00 PM ET – Belgium vs. Russia at Estadio do Maracana, Rio de Janeiro (ABC)
3:00 PM ET – South Korea vs. Algeria at Estádio Beira-Rio, Porto Alegre (ABC)
6:00 PM ET – United States vs. Portugal at Arena Amazonia, Manaus (ESPN)
Best Game: United States vs. Portugal
The man named after Ronald Reagan (Cristiano Ronaldo) aims to shoot down the USA right out of the World Cup.
Monday, June 23
12:00 PM ET – Netherlands vs. Chile at Arena Corinthians, Sao Paulo (ESPN2)
12:00 PM ET – Australia vs. Spain at Arena da Baixada, Curitiba (ESPN)
4:00 PM ET – Croatia vs. Mexico at Arena Pernambuco, Recife (ESPN)
4:00 PM ET – Cameroon vs. Brazil at Estadio Nacional Mané Garrincha, Brasilia (ESPN2)
Best Game: Croatia vs. Mexico
Croatia vs. Mexico could potentially be a winner-take-all matchup for the runner-up spot in Group A.
Tuesday, June 24
12:00 PM ET – Italy vs. Uruguay at Estadio das Dunas, Natal (ESPN)
12:00 PM ET – Costa Rica vs. England at Estadio Mineirao, Belo Horizonte (ESPN2)
4:00 PM ET – Japan vs. Colombia at Arena Pantanal, Cuiabá (ESPN)
4:00 PM ET -Greece vs. Ivory Coast at Estadio Castelao, Fortaleza (ESPN2)
Best Game: Italy vs. Uruguay
The irresistible force that is Uruguay’s attack meets the immovable object known as Italy’s defense in a possible clash for the top spot in Group D.
Wednesday, June 25
12:00 PM ET – Nigeria vs. Argentina at Estadio Beira-Rio, Porto Alegre (ESPN)
12:00 PM ET – Bosnia Herzegovina vs. Iran at Arena Fonte Nova, Salvador (ESPN2)
4:00 PM ET – Ecuador vs. France at Estadio do Maracana, Rio de Janeiro (ESPN2)
4:00 PM ET – Honduras vs. Switzerland at Arena Amazonia, Manaus (ESPN)
Best Game: Nigeria vs. Argentina
In a day where everything could already be decided, the magic of Lionel Messi is something to look forward to.
Thursday, June 26
12:00 PM ET – United States vs. Germany at Arena Pernambuco, Recife (ESPN)
12:00 PM ET – Portugal vs. Ghana at Estádio Nacional Mane Garrincha, Brasilia (ESPN2)
4:00 PM ET – South Korea vs. Belgium at Arena Corinthians, Sao Paulo (ESPN)
4:00 PM ET – Algeria vs. Russia at Estadio Beira-Rio, Porto Alegre (ESPN2)
Best Game: United States vs. Germany
US head coach Jurgen Klinsmann battles his home country in what may be the Americans’ final participation in this year’s World Cup.
Round of 16 TV Schedule
Once the top two have been decided from each group, the teams are split into a straight-elimination playoff bracket. Winners go on, losers go home, with ties decided by a 30-minute overtime or, if necessary, by penalty kicks.
Saturday, June 28
12:00 PM ET – 1A vs. 2B at Estadio Mineirao, Belo Horizonte (ABC)
4:00 PM ET – 1C vs. 2D at Estadio do Maracana, Rio de Janeiro (ABC)
Sunday, June 29
12:00 PM ET – 1B vs. 2A at Estadio Castelao, Fortaleza (ESPN)
4:00 PM ET – 1D vs. 2C at Arena Pernambuco, Recife (ESPN)
Monday, June 30
12:00 PM ET -1E vs. 2F at Estadio Nacional Mane Garrincha, Brasilia (ESPN)
4:00 PM ET – 1G vs. 2H at Estadio Beira-Rio, Porto Alegre (ESPN)
Tuesday, July 1
12:00 PM ET – 1F vs. 2E at Arena Corinthians, Sao Paulo (ESPN)
4:00 PM ET – 1H vs. 2G at Arena Fonte Nova, Salvador (ESPN)
Quarterfinals
Friday, July 4
12:00 PM ET -Round of 16 winners at Estadio do Maracana, Rio de Janeiro (ESPN2)
4:00 PM ET – Round of 16 winners at Estadio Castelao, Fortaleza (ESPN)
Saturday, July 5
12:00 PM ET – Round of 16 winners at Estadio Nacional Mane Garrincha, Brasilia (ABC)
4:00 PM ET – Round of 16 winners at Arena Fonte Nova, Salvador (ESPN)
Semifinals
Tuesday, July 8
4:00 PM ET – Quarterfinal winners at Estadio Mineirao, Belo Horizonte (ESPN)
Wednesday, July 9
4:00 PM ET – Quarterfinal winners at Arena Corinthians, Sao Paulo (ESPN)
Third-place Game
Saturday, July 12
4:00 PM ET – Semifinal losers at Estadio Nacional Mané Garrincha, Brasilia (ESPN)
Final
Sunday, July 13
4:00 PM ET – Semifinal winners at Estadio do Maracana, Rio de Janeiro (ABC)
