USA World Cup Schedule: Preview and Start Times for Americans' Group Fixtures

After a relatively weak group in 2010, the Karma train flattened the United States with a frightening draw for Brazil.

If the Americans hope to get to the round of 16 at the 2014 World Cup, they'll have to get past a team that has beat them at the last two tournaments, a team that has one of the most unstoppable players on the planet and a team that has arguably more depth and talent than any other country in the world. 

Still, if we've learned anything through the opening days of this tourney—ahem, Netherlands and Costa Rica—it's to expect the unexpected. 

Let's take a look at what stands in the way of the Red, White and Blue in the coming weeks. 

USA Schedule

Opponent	Date	Local Time	Time (ET)	Time (BST)
Ghana	Mon, June 16	7 p.m.	6 p.m.	11 p.m.
Portugal	Sun, June 22	6 p.m.	6 p.m.	11 p.m.
Germany	Thur, June 26	1 p.m.	Noon	5 p.m.

Note: Schedule courtesy of FIFA.com

Ghana (Monday, June 16)

J Pat Carter/Associated Press

The Black Stars will undoubtedly be hyped up as the kryptonite to the USA's Superman. In 2006, Ghana denied the Americans a spot in the knockout round with a 2-1 victory on the last day of group play, and in 2010, they knocked out the Red, White and Blue from the round of 16 with a goal in extra time.  

Nevertheless, the Americans aren't concerned about recent history. 

“Not a word’s been spoken,” goalkeeper Tim Howard told reporters, via SoccerByIves.net's Franco Panizo. “We’ve said that all along. That was four years ago. It’s ancient history really the way football is looked at. This is a different team with a different mindset.”

While Asamoah Gyan and Kevin Prince Boateng, the goalscorers from that 2010 match, remain, this is a young Ghana team, as Squawka noted:

Ghana is a strong, physical team with a solid defense—they allowed just five goals in their last six World Cup qualification matches. They are most dangerous, though, on the counter-attack, where they possess tremendous speed. 

As such, Jurgen Klinsmann's team, which features two full-backs in Fabian Johnson and DaMarcus Beasley who enjoy bombing forward, must be careful not to get caught too far up the field. 

On the same wavelength, though, scoring first for the Americans could prove to be massive in this respect, as Ghana—a team that relies on the break—isn't built to play from behind. 

According to Sports Illustrated's Grant Wahl, since 1998, just nine percent of teams that lost their opener have advanced out of group play. Needless to say, it will be critical for the USA to grab at least a point here. 

Portugal (June 22)

Paulo Duarte/Associated Press

While Ghana is filled with youth, Portugal comes in at the complete opposite end of the age spectrum, per Squawka:

Of course, one of the guys under 30 is the one who matters here. Cristiano Ronaldo, the reigning Ballon d' Or winner, is one of the two best players in the world. He is coming off a 31-goal season in La Liga—which was actually down from his previous three campaigns—and can be absolutely transcendent on the international stage. 

Just ask poor Sweden: 

Portugal needed that performance just to qualify, however, and they tend to rely on their star a little too much. They don't have great depth, and if Ronaldo has a down game, Seleccao will undoubtedly struggle.

The Cauldron's Andy Glockner doesn't foresee a great tournament from Paulo Bento's side:

Still, Ronaldo sounds healthy, which means Johnson is going to have his hands full. Portugal is the oddsmakers' second favorite in the group. 

Germany (June 26)

Matthias Schrader/Associated Press

The Americans actually took down Germany, 4-3, in February, but that was a friendly. And many of Germany's top players didn't play. And backup goalkeeper Marc-Andre ter Stegen made an egregious error on an own goal. And the United States still nearly gave up a late lead.

Even with Marco Reus and several other players injured, Die Mannschaft remain one of the most talented teams in the world and will surely be favorites against countryman Jurgen Klinsmann. 

In fact, ESPN Stats & Info dubbed them the third favorite to win the entire tournament:

The hope for the USA is that by the time this fixture rolls around, the Germans will have six points and a spot atop the group locked up. 

If not, and if the Germans field a full-strength starting XI, the Americans better hope they have at least four points by this juncture.