World Cup TV Schedule 2014: Complete Viewing Info for Every Tournament Match

Years of anticipation are set to give way to month-long excitement as the 2014 FIFA World Cup kicks off from Brazil on Thursday.

The host nation has won a record five World Cup titles, but has never secured the crown on its home soil, losing the 1950 World Cup Final to South American rivals Uruguay at the Maracana Stadium in Rio de Janeiro.

When the Selecao open the tournament against Croatia in Sao Paulo on Thursday, they'll hope it marks the start of a redeeming journey.

Below you'll find a complete viewing guide for all 64 World Cup matches this summer.

Date	Matchup	Start Time (ET)	TV	Live Stream
Thu, June 12	Group A: Brazil vs. Croatia	4 p.m.	ESPN	WatchESPN
Fri, June 13	Group A: Mexico vs. Cameroon	12 p.m.	ESPN2	WatchESPN
Fri, June 13	Group B: Spain vs. Netherlands	3 p.m.	ESPN	WatchESPN
Fri, June 13	Group B: Chile vs. Australia	6 p.m.	ESPN2	WatchESPN
Sat, June 14	Group C: Colombia vs. Greece	12 p.m.	ABC	WatchESPN
Sat, June 14	Group D: Uruguay vs. Costa Rica	3 p.m.	ABC	WatchESPN
Sat, June 14	Group D: England vs. Italy	6 p.m.	ESPN	WatchESPN
Sat, June 14	Group C: Ivory Coast vs. Japan	9 p.m.	ESPN	WatchESPN
Sun, June 15	Group E: Switzerland vs. Ecuador	12 p.m.	ABC	WatchESPN
Sun, June 15	Group E: France vs. Honduras	3 p.m.	ABC	WatchESPN
Sun, June 15	Group F: Argentina vs. Bosnia-Herzegovina	6 p.m.	ESPN	WatchESPN
Mon, June 16	Group G: Germany vs. Portugal	12 p.m.	ESPN	WatchESPN
Mon, June 16	Group F: Iran vs. Nigeria	3 p.m.	ESPN	WatchESPN
Mon, June 16	Group G: Ghana vs. United States	6 p.m.	ESPN	WatchESPN
Tue, June 17	Group H: Belgium vs. Algeria	12 p.m.	ESPN	WatchESPN
Tue, June 17	Group A: Brazil vs. Mexico	3 p.m.	ESPN	WatchESPN
Tue, June 17	Group H: Russia vs. South Korea	6 p.m.	ESPN	WatchESPN
Wed, June 18	Group B: Australia vs. Netherlands	12 p.m.	ESPN	WatchESPN
Wed, June 18	Group B: Spain vs. Chile	3 p.m.	ESPN	WatchESPN
Wed, June 18	Group A: Cameroon vs. Croatia	6 p.m.	ESPN	WatchESPN
Thu, June 19	Group C: Colombia vs. Ivory Coast	12 p.m.	ESPN	WatchESPN
Thu, June 19	Group D: Uruguay vs. England	3 p.m.	ESPN	WatchESPN
Thu, June 19	Group C: Japan vs. Greece	6 p.m.	ESPN	WatchESPN
Fri, June 20	Group D: Italy vs. Costa Rica	12 p.m.	ESPN	WatchESPN
Fri, June 20	Group E: Switzerland vs. France	3 p.m.	ESPN	WatchESPN
Fri, June 20	Group E: Honduras vs. Ecuador	6 p.m.	ESPN	WatchESPN
Sat, June 21	Group F: Argentina vs. Iran	12 p.m.	ESPN	WatchESPN
Sat, June 21	Group G: Germany vs. Ghana	3 p.m.	ESPN	WatchESPN
Sat, June 21	Group F: Nigeria vs. Bosnia-Herzegovina	6 p.m.	ESPN	WatchESPN
Sun, June 22	Group H: Belgium vs. Russia	12 p.m.	ABC	WatchESPN
Sun, June 22	Group H: South Korea vs. Algeria	3 p.m.	ABC	WatchESPN
Sun, June 22	Group G: United States vs. Portugal	6 p.m.	ESPN	WatchESPN
Mon, June 23	Group B: Netherlands vs. Chile	12 p.m.	ESPN2	WatchESPN
Mon, June 23	Group B: Australia vs. Spain	12 p.m.	ESPN	WatchESPN
Mon, June 23	Group A: Croatia vs. Mexico	4 p.m.	ESPN	WatchESPN
Mon, June 23	Group A: Cameroon vs. Brazil	4 p.m.	ESPN2	WatchESPN
Tue, June 24	Group D: Italy vs. Uruguay	12 p.m.	ESPN	WatchESPN
Tue, June 24	Group D: Costa Rica vs. England	12 p.m.	ESPN2	WatchESPN
Tue, June 24	Group C: Japan vs. Colombia	4 p.m.	ESPN	WatchESPN
Tue, June 24	Group C: Greece vs. Ivory Coast	4 p.m.	ESPN2	WatchESPN
Wed, June 25	Group F: Nigeria vs. Argentina	12 p.m.	ESPN	WatchESPN
Wed, June 25	Group F: Bosnia-Herzegovina vs. Iran	12 p.m.	ESPN2	WatchESPN
Wed, June 25	Group E: Ecuador vs. France	4 p.m.	ESPN2	WatchESPN
Wed, June 25	Group E: Honduras vs. Switzerland	4 p.m.	ESPN	WatchESPN
Thu, June 26	Group G: United States vs. Germany	12 p.m.	ESPN	WatchESPN
Thu, June 26	Group G: Portugal vs. Ghana	12 p.m.	ESPN2	WatchESPN
Thu, June 26	Group H: South Korea vs. Belgium	4 p.m.	ESPN	WatchESPN
Thu, June 26	Group H: Algeria vs. Russia	4 p.m.	ESPN2	WatchESPN
Sat, June 28	Group A winner vs. Group B runner-up	12 p.m.	ABC	WatchESPN
Sat, June 28	Group C winner vs. Group D runner-up	4 p.m.	ABC	WatchESPN
Sun, June 29	Group B winner vs. Group A runner-up	12 p.m.	ESPN	WatchESPN
Sun, June 29	Group D winner vs. Group C runner-up	4 p.m.	ESPN	WatchESPN
Mon, June 30	Group E winner vs. Group F runner-up	12 p.m.	ESPN	WatchESPN
Mon, June 30	Group G winner vs. Group H runner-up	4 p.m.	ESPN	WatchESPN
Tue, July 1	Group F winner vs. Group E runner-up	12 p.m.	ESPN	WatchESPN
Tue, July 1	Group H winner vs. Group G runner-up	4 p.m.	ESPN	WatchESPN
Sat, July 5	Quarterfinal	12 p.m.	ABC	WatchESPN
Sat, July 5	Quarterfinal	4 p.m.	ESPN	WatchESPN
Tue, July 8	Semifinal	4 p.m.	ESPN	WatchESPN
Wed, July 9	Semifinal	4 p.m.	ESPN	WatchESPN
Sat, July 12	Third Place Game	4 p.m.	ESPN	WatchESPN
Sun, July 13	Final	4 p.m.	ABC	WatchESPN

There are plenty of intriguing group stage matchups on tap this June, but few will be as highly anticipated as Friday's Group B opener between defending World Cup champions Spain and the Netherlands.

The two European powerhouses met in South Africa for the World Cup final four years ago, and La Roja won 1-0 in extra-time to secure their first-ever World Cup championship. 

As ESPN FC points out, Spain are one of the favorites to conquer Brazil this summer:

Although the two squads will look slightly different than they did in 2010, some familiar talent will be on display. Xavi, Andres Iniesta, Cesc Fabregas and Sergio Ramos are just some of the Spanish stars set to return to the World Cup, while Arjen Robben, Robin van Persie and Wesley Sneijder each look to propel the Dutch back to the World Cup final.

Earlier this week, Robben discussed the key to the Netherlands' success, per the Associated Press, via FoxNews.com:

"

I don't think we're capable at the moment of playing tiki-taka or beautiful football. In the end, it's all about the result. The counter attack is a very dangerous weapon that we're certainly going to use at this tournament.

"

One day after Spain and Holland collide for Group B supremacy, two other past World Cup winners, England and Italy, will go head-to-head in a pivotal Group D clash.

Between them, Italy and England have combined to win five World Cups since 1934. Therefore, Saturday's showdown promises to add another thrilling chapter to this European rivalry. What's more, neither team can afford a poor showing. With 2010 World Cup semifinalist Uruguay set to make noise in Group D, it's possible that either Italy or England will be going home before the knockout stage.

That possibility only adds to the significance of their opener this weekend.

The drama will only continue on Monday when Group G, the Group of Death, gets underway. Although Americans will be glued to the United States-Ghana matchup, the preceding showdown between Germany and Portugal will be must-see television as well.

Opta Sports notes Germany's unparalleled World Cup experience via Twitter:

Three-time World Cup champions, the Germans have finished third at each of the previous two World Cups and were runners-up prior to that in 2002. Possessing an explosive roster loaded with talent in midfield, Die Mannschaft are the favorite to finish atop Group G.

However, Joachim Low's squad can expect to face stiff resistance from Portugal, a tournament dark-horse built around reigning FIFA Ballon d'Or winner Cristiano Ronaldo.

Ronaldo has scored 49 goals in 110 appearances for Portugal since 2003, and led the squad to a fourth-place finish at the 2006 World Cup in Germany. 

The U.S. will hope to contain the dynamic forward in their second Group G match, but slowing Ronaldo will be Germany's burden during the first week of action in Brazil.

While both Germany and Portugal are projected to advance to the knockout stage, Monday's meeting in Salvador, Brazil will be a determining factor in how the group shakes out this summer. A poor result for Portugal could derail the Iberians' hopes of making a deep run. 

Follow Bleacher Report Featured Columnist Patrick Clarke on Twitter.