World Cup Schedule 2014: Complete Viewing Information and Group Breakdown

Every four years, we're treated to one of the most thrilling spectacles in all of sports—the FIFA World Cup.

Spain enters this year's tournament as defending champions in Group B. Interestingly enough, the 2010 World Cup runner-up Netherlands joins Spain in the group.

Needless to say, we're sure to see some drama and intensity unfold early in the group stage of the tournament—giving us all the more reason to ensure not a moment of action is missed.

After all, 2014 could provide more breathtaking moments like the ones in this tweet from ITV Football:

With the World Cup's opening game just under two weeks away, let's take a look at the tournament's full schedule and overview each of the eight groups.

2014 World Cup Schedule

Date	Fixture	Time (ET)	Channel
Thu., June 12	Brazil vs. Croatia	3:30 p.m.	ESPN
Fri., June 13	Mexico vs. Cameroon	11:30 a.m.	ESPN2
Fri., June 13	Spain vs. Netherlands	2:30 p.m.	ESPN
Fri., June 13	Chile vs. Australia	5:30 p.m.	ESPN2
Sat., June 14	Colombia vs. Greece	11:30 a.m.	ABC
Sat., June 14	Uruguay vs. Costa Rica	2:30 p.m.	ABC
Sat., June 14	England vs. Italy	5:30 p.m.	ESPN
Sat., June 14	Ivory Coast vs. Japan	8:30 p.m.	ESPN
Sun. June 15	Switzerland vs. Ecuador	11:30 a.m.	ABC
Sun. June 15	France vs. Honduras	2:30 p.m.	ABC
Sun. June 15	Argentina vs. Bosnia-Herzegovina	5:30 p.m.	ESPN
Mon., June 16	Germany vs. Portugal	11:30 a.m.	ESPN
Mon., June 16	Iran vs. Nigeria	2:30 p.m.	ESPN
Mon., June 16	Ghana vs. United States	5:30 p.m.	ESPN
Tue., June 17	Belgium vs. Algeria	11:30 a.m.	ESPN
Tue., June 17	Brazil vs. Mexico	2:30 p.m.	ESPN
Tue., June 17	Russia vs. South Korea	5:30 p.m.	ESPN
Wed., June 18	Australia vs. Netherlands	11:30 a.m.	ESPN
Wed., June 18	Spain vs. Chile	2:30 p.m.	ESPN
Wed., June 18	Cameroon vs. Croatia	5:30 p.m.	ESPN
Thu., June 19	Colombia vs. Ivory Coast	11:30 a.m.	ESPN
Thu., June 19	Uruguay vs. England	2:30 p.m.	ESPN
Thu., June 19	Japan vs. Greece	5:30 p.m.	ESPN
Fri., June 20	Italy vs. Costa Rica	11:30 a.m.	ESPN
Fri., June 20	Switzerland vs. France	2:30 p.m.	ESPN
Fri., June 20	Honduras vs. Ecuador	5:30 p.m.	ESPN
Sat., June 21	Argentina vs. Iran	11:30 a.m.	ESPN
Sat., June 21	Germany vs. Ghana	2:30 p.m.	ESPN
Sat., June 21	Nigeria vs. Bosnia-Herzegovina	5:30 p.m.	ESPN
Sun., June 22	Belgium vs. Russia	11:30 a.m.	ABC
Sun., June 22	South Korea vs. Algeria	2:30 p.m.	ABC
Sun., June 22	United States vs. Portugal	5:30 p.m.	ESPN
Mon., June 23	Netherlands vs. Chile	11:30 a.m.	ESPN
Mon., June 23	Australia vs. Spain	11:30 a.m.	ESPN2
Mon., June 23	Croatia vs. Mexico	3:30 p.m.	ESPN
Mon., June 23	Cameroon vs. Brazil	3:30 p.m.	ESPN2
Tue., June 24	Italy vs. Uruguay	11:30 a.m.	ESPN
Tue., June 24	Costa Rica vs. England	11:30 a.m.	ESPN2
Tue., June 24	Japan vs. Colombia	3:30 p.m.	ESPN
Tue., June 24	Greece vs. Ivory Coast	3:30 p.m.	ESPN2
Wed., June 25	Nigeria vs. Argentina	11:30 a.m.	ESPN
Wed., June 25	Bosnia-Herzegovina	11:30 a.m.	ESPN2
Wed., June 25	Ecuador vs. France	3:30 p.m.	ESPN
Wed., June 25	Honduras vs. Switzerland	3:30 p.m.	ESPN2
Thu., June 26	United States vs. Germany	11:30 a.m.	ESPN
Thu., June 26	Portugal vs. Ghana	11:30 a.m.	ESPN2
Thu., June 26	South Korea vs. Belgium	3:30 p.m.	ESPN
Thu., June 26	Algeria vs. Russia	3:30 p.m.	ESPN2
Sat., June 28	Round of 16, 1A vs. 2B	11:30 a.m.	ABC
Sat., June 28	Round of 16, 1C vs. 2D	3:30 p.m.	ABC
Sun., June 29	Round of 16, 1B vs. 2A	11:30 a.m.	ESPN
Sun., June 29	Round of 16, 1D vs. 2C	3:30 p.m.	ESPN
Mon., June 30	Round of 16, 1E vs. 2F	11:30 a.m.	ESPN
Mon., June 30	Round of 16, 1G vs. 2H	3:30 p.m.	ESPN
Tue., July 1	Round of 16, 1F vs. 2E	11:30 a.m.	ESPN
Tue., July 1	Round of 16, 1H vs. 2G	3:30 p.m.	ESPN
Fri., July 4	Quarterfinals	11:30 a.m.	ESPN2
Fri., July 4	Quarterfinals	3:30 p.m.	ESPN
Sat., July 5	Quarterfinals	11:30 a.m.	ESPN2
Sat., July 5	Quarterfinals	3:30 p.m.	ESPN
Tue., July 8	Semifinals	3:30 p.m.	ESPN
Wed., July 9	Semifinals	3:30 p.m.	ESPN
Sat., July 12	Third-Place Match	3:30 p.m.	ESPN
Sun., July 13	Final	2:30 p.m.	ABC

2014 World Cup Groups

Group	Team 1	Team 2	Team 3	Team 4
A	Brazil	Croatia	Mexico	Cameroon
B	Spain	Netherlands	Chile	Australia
C	Colombia	Greece	Ivory Coast	Japan
D	Uruguay	Costa Rica	England	Italy
E	Switzerland	Ecuador	France	Honduras
F	Argentina	Bosnia-Herzegovina	Iran	Nigeria
G	Germany	Portugal	Ghana	United States
H	Belgium	Algeria	Russia	South Korea

Brazil headlines Group A but will be heavily tested in the World Cup's opening match. With a great deal of pressure on the host country, Croatia should provide an exciting opponent to open up the tournament.

Group B should be very enticing, as we'll see a rematch of the World Cup Final from four years ago when Spain takes on the Netherlands. Spain figures to be the favorite here; however, SportsCenter tweeted one very interesting storyline to watch for:

Japan and the Ivory Coast are two emerging teams in Group C; although, Colombia and Greece could be highly unpredictable. It may take some time before a clear-cut favorite emerges here.

In Group D, we have plenty of talent. Costa Rica appears to be a very strong team, but the offensive prowess of Uruguay can't be discounted. Italy and England are known to step up in a big way during the World Cup as well, leaving this group very much up for grabs.

Switzerland and France should provide a great deal of excitement in Group E. Both teams feature a large amount of experience, and a head-to-head match could decide which country comes out on top.

Here's a look at France's team this year, courtesy of a tweet from Bleacher Report Football:

Argentina looks poised to run away with things in Group F. The team features a bevy of offensive talent, and it should be far too much for the remaining teams to handle. The most intriguing aspect of this group could be the fight for second place.

The United States has the daunting task of falling into Group G. Germany and Portugal are both powerhouses in their own right, and Ghana can never be overlooked. Needless to say, the Americans are big underdogs to advance.

One big storyline from the United States is the absence of Landon Donovan. Sports Illustrated tweeted the fallout:

Group H could be a two-horse race between Russia and Belgium. Both have solid teams but must overcome playing in a far different environment in Brazil. South Korea has surprised before, reaching the semifinals in 2002, and may be a dark horse here.