2010 FIFA World Cup Schedule: TV Guide for Viewers in America

The 2010 FIFA World Cup kicks off on Friday and for fans around the globe that means a month of the best international football on the planet.

For fans watching the action unfold from America, the beautiful game will be aired in three main ways: On ESPN's network of channels, on ABC, and online.

ESPN will broadcast 44 of the 48 group matches, including 10 on ESPN 2. All of the matches they show on TV will also be available for free on ESPN3.com.

The other four group matches—including England against the USA—will be shown exclusively on ABC.

Coverage for all of the matches starts 30 minutes before kickoff, with the exception of America's first game on Saturday, which begins one hour before game time.

All of the matches in the group stages start at either 7:30 a.m. EST, 10 a.m., or 2:30 p.m. When it comes to the final game of each group, the schedules overlap and both games in the group kick off at the same time, either 10 a.m. or 2:30 p.m.

Here's the full schedule of group games being aired in America.

Friday, June 11, 2010

The World Cup kicks off with a pair of games from Group A. It is the only day during the group stage of competition with just two fixtures, but with the excitement of the World Cup finally getting underway, nobody will really notice the absence of a third match.

Expect Soccer City and Cape Town to be awash with color and expectations.

South Africa-Mexico
Kickoff: 10 a.m.
Coverage begins: 9:30 a.m.
Being shown on: ESPN, ESPN3.com

Uruguay-France
Kickoff: 2:30 p.m.
Coverage begins: 2 p.m.
Being shown on: ESPN, ESPN3.com

Saturday, June 12, 2010

Day two of the competition sees two matches in Group B and one of the most highly anticipated matches of the group stages between England and the USA in Group C.

Note that the game against England is on ABC and that they will begin their pregame build up an hour before kickoff, instead of the 30 minutes for the other three group stage games they will be airing later in the competition.

Three new venues open their doors to the public for the first time in the World Cup, but few will be able to match the excitement in Rustenburg where two of the nations with the biggest armies of traveling fans go head to head.

South Korea-Greece
Kickoff: 7.30 a.m.
Coverage begins: 7 a.m.
Being shown on: ESPN, ESPN3.com

Argentina-Nigeria
Kickoff: 10 a.m.
Coverage begins: 9:30 a.m.
Being shown on: ESPN, ESPN3.com

England-USA
Kickoff: 2:30 p.m.
Coverage begins: 1:30 p.m.
Being shown on: ABC

Sunday, June 13, 2010

June 12 will see the two teams likely to finish third and fourth in Group C battle it out before Group D action gets underway. Germany is ranked sixth in the world and the fifth-best nation in Europe, and they are by far the favorites to progress to the round of 16.

Algeria-Slovenia
Kickoff: 7:30 a.m.
Coverage begins: 7 a.m.
Being shown on: ESPN, ESPN3.com

Serbia-Ghana
Kickoff: 10 a.m.
Coverage begins: 9:30 a.m.
Being shown on: ESPN, ESPN3.com

Germany-Australia
Kickoff: 2:30 p.m.
Coverage begins: 2 p.m.
Being shown on: ABC

Monday, June 14, 2010

The fourth day of group competition may be one of the best full days on the calendar, highlighted by three teams in the World's top 20.

Netherlands-Denmark
Kickoff: 7:30 a.m.
Coverage begins: 7 a.m.
Being shown on: ESPN, ESPN3.com

Japan-Cameroon
Kickoff: 10 a.m.
Coverage begins: 9:30 a.m.
Being shown on: ESPN, ESPN3.com

Italy-Paraguay
Kickoff: 2:30 p.m.
Coverage begins: 2 p.m.
Being shown on: ESPN, ESPN3.com

Tuesday, June 15, 2010

The remaining two teams in Group F get their first taste of the 2010 World Cup, and all four teams in Group G, the so-called Group of Death, get their campaign underway.

Two of the top three countries in the world are in action, fans get their first look at Brazil, and the Ivory Coast-Portugal encounter is arguably the most promising of all of the first week matchups.

New Zealand-Slovakia
Kickoff: 7:30 a.m.
Coverage begins: 7 a.m.
Being shown on: ESPN, ESPN3.com

Ivory Coast-Portugal
Kickoff: 10 a.m.
Coverage begins: 9:30 a.m.
Being shown on: ESPN, ESPN3.com

Brazil-North Korea
Kickoff: 2:30 p.m.
Coverage begins: 2 p.m.
Being shown on: ESPN, ESPN3.com

Wednesday, June 16, 2010

Wednesday, June 16 sees the climax of the first round of group stage fixtures and South Africa's second match in Group A. It will also see the first World Cup game to be played in Nelspruit with Mbombela becoming the last of all 10 stadia hosting a match.

Ignoring that Honduras-Chile game—which could only be entertaining if Honduras fielded 17 players at one time—Wednesday's schedule isn't bad. Seeing the hosts playing in Loftus Versfeld will add some excitement to the proceedings, especially if they can take something from their game with Mexico in Soccer City.

Honduras-Chile
Kickoff: 7:30 a.m.
Coverage begins: 7 a.m.
Being shown on: ESPN, ESPN3.com

Spain-Switzerland
Kickoff: 10 a.m.
Coverage begins: 9:30 a.m.
Being shown on: ESPN, ESPN3.com

South Africa-Uruguay
Kickoff: 2:30 p.m.
Coverage begins: 2 p.m.
Being shown on: ESPN, ESPN3.com

Thursday, June 17, 2010

Argentina will be looking for their second win of the competition in the early kickoff on Thursday, with the other Group B match second, and the first of 10 games being aired on ESPN2 rounding off the day.

Lionel Messi, Carlos Tevez, and Juan Sebastian Veron should have no trouble seeing off South Korea, but if you really want to stay in bed for this one, no one would blame you.

Argentina-South Korea
Kickoff: 7:30 a.m.
Coverage begins: 7 a.m.
Being shown on: ESPN, ESPN3.com

Greece-Nigeria
Kickoff: 10 a.m.
Coverage begins: 9:30 a.m.
Being shown on: ESPN, ESPN3.com

France-Mexico
Kickoff: 2:30 p.m.
Coverage begins: 2 p.m.
Being shown on: ESPN2, ESPN3.com

Friday, June 18, 2010

Three games with seemingly predictable results are on the cards for June 18, starting with the fourth match in Group D and then back-to-back fixtures in the USA's group.

Each of these contests will be the third games played in their respective stadiums, and it will be Team USA's first match in Johannesburg.

Germany-Serbia
Kickoff: 7:30 a.m.
Coverage begins: 7 a.m.
Being shown on: ESPN, ESPN3.com

Slovenia-USA
Kickoff: 10 a.m.
Coverage begins: 9:30 a.m.
Being shown on: ESPN, ESPN3.com

England-Algeria
Kickoff: 2:30 p.m.
Coverage begins: 2 p.m.
Being shown on: ESPN2, ESPN3.com

Saturday, June 19, 2010

Bert van Marwijk's Netherlands will get play underway to start the second weekend of World Cup competition in Group E, followed by Ghana and Australia's second of three matches in Group D, and finishing with a Group E matinee on ABC.

The Ghana game has the potential to be a very evenly-fought contest, and even though the focus of the day will be whether the Netherlands can make it two wins in two, don't overlook the middle game of the day for excitement.

Netherlands-Japan
Kickoff: 7:30 a.m.
Coverage begins: 7 a.m.
Being shown on: ESPN, ESPN3.com

Ghana-Australia
Kickoff: 10 a.m.
Coverage begins: 9:30 a.m.
Being shown on: ESPN, ESPN3.com

Cameroon-Denmark
Kickoff: 2:30 p.m.
Coverage begins: 2 p.m.
Being shown on: ABC

Sunday, June 20, 2010

I would have preferred to see all four Group G teams in action again on the same day, but the schedule splits them up this time, which isn't necessarily a bad thing if you're tuning in on Monday morning. Plus, while you don't get Portugal, you do get defending champions in their second Group F encounter.

Slovakia-Paraguay
Kickoff: 7:30 a.m.
Coverage begins: 7 a.m.
Being shown on: ESPN, ESPN3.com

Italy-New Zealand
Kickoff: 10 a.m.
Coverage begins: 9:30 a.m.
Being shown on: ESPN, ESPN3.com

Brazil-Ivory Coast
Kickoff: 2.30 p.m.
Coverage begins: 2 p.m.
Being shown on: ABC

Monday, June 21, 2010

You'll have to wake up early to catch the best game of the day here, although you might be able to catch some of the second half at work on ESPN3.com if you need to be at work by 8 a.m.

Following Portugal's Group G game, the last two matches of the second rotation take center stage. All 32 teams will have played twice by the time Monday is finished.

Switzerland has been disappointing since the start of the year and Chile has slipped to their worst world ranking in more than two years. The Swiss are in the ascendancy though, so expect them to take the fight to the South Americans. The games either side of this match look like blowouts, so in terms of entertainment, this could be pretty good.

Portugal-North Korea
Kickoff: 7:30 a.m.
Coverage begins: 7 a.m.
Being shown on: ESPN, ESPN3.com

Chile-Switzerland
Kickoff: 10 a.m.
Coverage begins: 9:30 a.m.
Being shown on: ESPN, ESPN3.com

Spain-Honduras
Kickoff: 2:30 p.m.
Coverage begins: 2 p.m.
Being shown on: ABC

Tuesday, June 22, 2010

Tuesday begins the final four days of ground stage competition. If you haven't qualified heading into the final round of fixtures, it will be vital for teams to pick up points in their third and final chance. Expect some teams to rest players if they have already secured their place in the knockout round.

There could be nothing to play for or everything to play for in these final matches. At a minimum, group seeding could be up for grabs. By lunchtime we will know whether South Africa are the first host nation not to make it through to the knockout stages.

If they can progress as group runners up, they will meet the winner of Group B, likely Argentina, but possibly Nigeria.

Tuesday marks the first day that four matches will take place, and the first time that fans will have to chose what game they watch. In the first 11 days of the tournament, fans could hypothetically watch every single game without any overlapping schedules.

The final Group A games both kick off at 10 a.m. with the final Group B matches scheduled for 2:30 p.m. Expect fans to be rapidly flicking between ESPN's channels if their qualification hinges on the outcome of the other group match.

There is no 7:30 a.m. game today, so at least fans can get a few extra hours in bed.

Mexico-Uruguay
Kickoff: 10 a.m.
Coverage begins: 9:30 a.m.
Being shown on: ESPN, ESPN3.com

France-South Africa
Kickoff: 10 a.m.
Coverage begins: 9:30 a.m.
Being shown on: ESPN2, ESPN3.com

Nigeria-South Korea
Kickoff: 2:30 p.m.
Coverage begins: 2 p.m.
Being shown on: ESPN2, ESPN3.com

Greece-Argentina
Kickoff: 2:30 p.m.
Coverage begins: 2 p.m.
Being shown on: ESPN, ESPN3.com

Wednesday, June 23, 2010

As with Tuesday, there are four games Wednesday, with group matches getting underway at the same time.

England will possibly be looking to top Group C, with the USA squaring off against Algeria for that all-important second qualifying spot. Of course, if the USA takes points of England in their opening fixture, this could be a battle to see who wins the group. Germany will likely await the runner-up, so this matchday could be vital.

Group D takes center stage in the afternoon, although the table could already be set heading into the final games. Look for Germany to rest starters against Ghana.

Slovenia-England
Kickoff: 10 a.m.
Coverage begins: 9:30 a.m.
Being shown on: ESPN2, ESPN3.com

USA-Algeria
Kickoff: 10 a.m.
Coverage begins: 9:30 a.m.
Being shown on: ESPN, ESPN3.com

Ghana-Germany
Kickoff: 2:30 p.m.
Coverage begins: 2 p.m.
Being shown on: ESPN, ESPN3.com

Australia-Serbia
Kickoff: 2:30 p.m.
Coverage begins: 2 p.m.
Being shown on: ESPN, ESPN3.com

Thursday, June 24, 2010

The penultimate day of group stage competition brings Groups E and F to their climax.

While Italy and the Netherlands appear favorites to advance as group winners, there could be fierce battles for the remaining spot in each pool.

Group F is the early start today with Group E taking the mid-afternoon ESPN spot.

Slovakia-Italy
Kickoff: 10 a.m.
Coverage begins: 9:30 a.m.
Being shown on: ESPN, ESPN3.com

Paraguay-New Zealand
Kickoff: 10 a.m.
Coverage begins: 9:30 a.m.
Being shown on: ESPN2, ESPN3.com

Denmark-Japan
Kickoff: 2:30 p.m.
Coverage begins: 2 p.m.
Being shown on: ESPN, ESPN3.com

Cameroon-Netherlands
Kickoff: 2:30 p.m.
Coverage begins: 2 p.m.
Being shown on: ESPN2, ESPN3.com

Friday, June 25, 2010

By the time dinner is on the table on Friday afternoon, fans will know what to expect from the round of 16.

Half of the teams in the tournament will officially be eliminated and the brackets for the knockout stages of the competition will be locked.

Brazil, Portugal, and the Ivory Coast are all hoping to progress from Group G, although only two will make it through. Ivory Coast has the easiest final match of the trio, but by then it could all be meaningless if they haven't found results in their first two matches. Similarly, both Portugal and Brazil could have secured their place in the next round and they could be playing for seeding.

Expect fireworks on the final morning of group competition.

Spain and the other three also-rans in Group H will round things off. While the Spanish seem like an automatic bet to go through, Switzerland might be fighting for their World Cup lives against Honduras. But if Spain is in fact through by now, will Chile be able to pick up enough easy points to join them?

North Korea-Ivory Coast
Kickoff: 10 a.m.
Coverage begins: 9:30 a.m.
Being shown on: ESPN2, ESPN3.com

Portugal-Brazil
Kickoff: 10 a.m.
Coverage begins: 9:30 a.m.
Being shown on: ESPN, ESPN3.com

Switzerland-Honduras
Kickoff: 2:30 p.m.
Coverage begins: 2 p.m.
Being shown on: ESPN2, ESPN3.com

Chile-Spain
Kickoff: 2:30 p.m.
Coverage begins: 2 p.m.
Being shown on: ESPN, ESPN3.com