World Cup Schedule 2014: Full Listing of Dates, Squads and Groups
Now that the 2014 FIFA World Cup field has been set and the groups have been drawn, it's finally time to check out when the world's best football teams will be taking to the fields in Brazil.
With an endless amount of storylines surrounding the highly anticipated event and legacies of many great players on the line, there will be no shortage of excitement brewing between the 32 teams in the field.
Will Brazil defend their home turf? Will Spain repeat as World Cup champions? Will another team emerge from the field to gain glory for their nation?
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All of those questions and more will be answered over the course of a month in South America.
| Team | Confederation | FIFA Ranking |
| Brazil | CONMEBOL/Hosts | 10 |
| Croatia | UEFA | 16 |
| Mexico | CONCACAF | 20 |
| Cameroon | CAF | 51 |
| Team | Confederation | FIFA Ranking |
| Spain | UEFA | 1 |
| Netherlands | UEFA | 9 |
| Chile | CONMEBOL | 15 |
| Australia | AFC | 59 |
| Team | Confederation | FIFA Ranking |
| Colombia | CONMEBOL | 4 |
| Greece | UEFA | 12 |
| Ivory Coast | CAF | 17 |
| Japan | AFC | 48 |
| Team | Confederation | FIFA Ranking |
| Uruguay | CONMEBOL | 6 |
| Costa Rica | CONCACAF | 31 |
| England | UEFA | 13 |
| Italy | UEFA | 7 |
| Team | Confederation | FIFA Ranking |
| Switzerland | UEFA | 8 |
| Ecuador | CONMEBOL | 23 |
| France | UEFA | 19 |
| Honduras | CONCACAF | 41 |
| Team | Confederation | FIFA Ranking |
| Argentina | CONMEBOL | 3 |
| Bosnia-Herzegovina | UEFA | 21 |
| Iran | AFC | 45 |
| Nigeria | CAF | 36 |
| Team | Confederation | FIFA Ranking |
| Germany | UEFA | 2 |
| Portugal | UEFA | 5 |
| Ghana | CAF | 24 |
| United States | CONCACAF | 14 |
| Team | Confederation | FIFA Ranking |
| Belgium | UEFA | 11 |
| Algeria | CAF | 26 |
| Russia | UEFA | 22 |
| South Korea | AFC | 54 |
Schedule
Group A
| June 12 | 4 p.m. ET 9 p.m. BST | Sao Paulo | Brazil | Croatia |
| June 13 | Noon ET 5 p.m. BST | Natal | Mexico | Cameroon |
| June 17 | 3 p.m. ET 8 p.m. BST | Fortaleza | Brazil | Mexico |
| June 18 | 3 p.m. ET 8 p.m. BST | Manaus | Cameroon | Croatia |
| June 23 | 4 p.m. ET 9 p.m. BST | Brasilia | Cameroon | Brazil |
| June 23 | 4 p.m. ET 9 p.m. BST | Recife | Croatia | Mexico |
Group B
| June 13 | 3 p.m. ET 8 p.m. BST | Salvador | Spain | Netherlands |
| June 13 | 6 p.m. ET 11 p.m. BST | Cuiaba | Chile | Australia |
| June 18 | 6 p.m. ET 11 p.m. BST | Rio De Janeiro | Spain | Chile |
| June 18 | Noon ET 5 p.m. BST | Porto Alegre | Australia | Netherlands |
| June 23 | Noon ET 5 p.m. BST | Curitiba | Australia | Spain |
| June 23 | Noon ET 5 p.m. BST | Sao Paulo | Netherlands | Chile |
Group C
| June 14 | Noon ET 5 p.m. BST | Belo Horizonte | Colombia | Greece |
| June 14 | 6 p.m. ET 11 p.m. BST | Recife | Ivory Coast | Japan |
| June 19 | Noon ET 5 p.m. BST | Brasilia | Colombia | Ivory Coast |
| June 19 | 6 p.m. ET 11 p.m. BST | Natal | Japan | Greece |
| June 24 | 4 p.m. ET 9 p.m. BST | Cuiaba | Japan | Colombia |
| June 24 | 4 p.m. ET 9 p.m. BST | Fortaleza | Greece | Ivory Coast |
Group D
| June 14 | 3 p.m. ET 8 p.m. BST | Fortaleza | Uruguay | Costa Rica |
| June 14 | 6 p.m. ET 11 p.m. BST | Manaus | England | Italy |
| June 19 | 3 p.m. ET 8 p.m. BST | Sao Paulo | Uruguay | England |
| June 20 | Noon ET 5 p.m. BST | Recife | Italy | Costa Rica |
| June 24 | Noon ET 5 p.m. BST | Natal | Italy | Uruguay |
| June 24 | Noon ET 5 p.m. BST | Belo Horizonte | Costa Rica | England |
Group E
| June 15 | Noon ET 5 p.m. BST | Brasilia | Switzerland | Ecuador |
| June 15 | 3 p.m. ET 8 p.m. BST | Porto Alegre | France | Honduras |
| June 20 | 3 p.m. ET 8 p.m. BST | Salvador | Switzerland | France |
| June 20 | 6 p.m. ET 11 p.m. BST | Curitiba | Honduras | Ecuador |
| June 25 | 4 p.m. ET 9 p.m. BST | Manaus | Honduras | Switzerland |
| June 25 | 4 p.m. ET 9 p.m. BST | Rio De Janeiro | Ecuador | France |
Group F
| June 15 | 6 p.m. ET 11 p.m. BST | Rio De Janeiro | Argentina | Bosnia-Herzegovina |
| June 16 | 3 p.m. ET 8 p.m. BST | Curitiba | Iran | Nigeria |
| June 21 | Noon ET 5 p.m. BST | BeloHorizonte | Argentina | Iran |
| June 21 | 6 p.m. ET 11 p.m. BST | Cuiaba | Nigeria | Bosnia-Herzegovina |
| June 25 | Noon ET 5 p.m. BST | Porto Alegre | Nigeria | Argentina |
| June 25 | Noon ET 5 p.m. BST | Salvador | Bosnia-Herzegovina | Iran |
Group G
| June 16 | Noon ET 5 p.m. BST | Salvador | Germany | Portugal |
| June 16 | 6 p.m. ET 11 p.m. BST | Natal | Ghana | United States |
| June 21 | 3 p.m. ET 8 p.m. BST | Fortaleza | Germany | Ghana |
| June 22 | 3 p.m. ET 8 p.m. BST | Manaus | United States | Portugal |
| June 26 | Noon ET 5 p.m. BST | Recife | United States | Germany |
| June 26 | Noon ET 5 p.m. BST | Brasilia | Portugal | Ghana |
Teams to Watch in Brazil
Brazil
There are few, if any, squads heading to the World Cup this summer that are capable of the excitement that the host country brings.
The Brazilians are led by 21-year-old phenom Neymar (he'll be 22 once the tournament begins), who has turned into a superstar player over the last six months. From leading his team to a dominating 3-0 victory over Spain in the Confederations Cup final to excelling immediately as a featured part of Barcelona's offense since signing in the summer, he's impressed on every level.
The team's goal-scoring and attacking prowess doesn't end there, though. Fred, Hulk, Robinho, Oscar and Paulinho will also be getting plenty of the ball in attacking spots. Julio Cesar is a world-class goalkeeper and the defense is littered with experience.
This squad lucked out in not having to go through the rigors of World Cup qualifying—not that it would've tripped them up—and they've shown no signs of rust without the extra competition. They're dominating their opponents in seemingly every match and look poised to carry that into the World Cup.
Spain
The Spanish national team have been the absolute dominant force of world football's biggest events over the last half decade.
Led by Vicente del Bosque, Spain not only won the last World Cup in 2010, but they also won the Euro Championship in both 2008 and 2012. Save for a Confederations Cup loss to Brazil this summer—certainly not a tournament that the world gets up for compared to Euro and World Cup action—the Spanish have been unbeatable in international competitions.
The pass-heavy style of Spain may bore you, but there's no hiding from the fact that this squad possesses a level of chemistry that is unrivaled in today's soccer. The formula of Xavi, Andres Iniesta, Xabi Alonso, Sergio Ramos, Cesc Fabregas and more has translated into many championships.
Dynasties don't last forever, and despite a deeper bench than ever this upcoming summer, Spain's reign won't last forever. With many players in this core group quickly exiting their prime, the window of opportunity is closing and the players will take advantage of that.
Italy
Italy boast one of the most talent-rich rosters in the field, but it all starts and ends with one player—Mario Balotelli.
After many years of a by-committee approach that relied heavily on midfield and defensive prowess, Italy suddenly have their best weapon at the head of the offensive attack. Balotelli was too young to crack the roster in 2010, but he has emerged as an explosive striker who can generate goals individually and at a moment's notice.
The 23-year-old will be accompanied by Andrea Pirlo, one of the most skilled passers and strategic midfielders in the game. Goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon between the pipes means that nothing will be getting into the net easily.
After their emergence in Euro 2012, it's obvious that this new-look Italy team can thrive with Balotelli at the top. Assuming he continues his ascendance on the international stage, Italy are a threat to win it all.
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