Twelve Top 20 Ranked Teams; 42 Qualifying Matches for 2014 FIFA World Cup, including USA-Guatemala

ESPN will present 43 live matches, 42 of which are 2014 FIFA World Cup qualifying contests, on Friday, Oct. 12, and Tuesday, Oct. 16. The matches will begin Friday with Russia, No. 12 in FIFA World Ranking, vs. No. 3 Portugal with striker Cristiano Ronaldo at 11 a.m. ET on ESPN2, ESPN Deportes and WatchESPN, and conclude on Tuesday with the pivotal USA vs. Guatemala game at 7:15 p.m. on ESPN2, ESPN Deportes Radio and WatchESPN.

The U.S., currently in a three-way tie with Guatemala and Jamaica in their group, needs a tie or win to advance to the Hexagonal – the CONCACAF’s fourth and final round matches for 2014 FIFA World Cup qualification. ESPN’s lead play-by-play commentator Ian Darke, analyst Taylor Twellman and sideline reporter Mónica González will call the U.S.-Guatemala match. Host Bob Ley and analysts Alexi Lalasand Kasey Keller will provide studio commentary from Kansas City. Match coverage will begin at 6:30 p.m. with a 45-minute pre-game program.

In addition to live match telecasts, ESPN Deportes coverage will include special editions of the following studio programs: a one-hour edition of Destino Brasil, the FIFA World Cup qualifying news and highlights program (Friday, 10 a.m. and Tuesday, 2 p.m.); Fuera de Juego (Friday and Tuesday at 9 p.m.); Futbol Picante (Friday, 8 p.m., and Tuesday, 12 a.m.); and Los Capitanes (Tuesday, 1 p.m.).

Other highlights:

• The FIFA World Cup qualifying matches will include 12 of the top 20 teams in FIFA World Ranking such as Spain (No. 1), Germany (2), Portugal (3), England (5), Netherlands (6), and Italy (8).

• On Friday at 2 p.m., 2010 FIFA World Cup champion Spain travels to Belarus (ESPN Deportes and ESPN3); and on Tuesday, will host No. 13 France at 3 p.m. on ESPN2, ESPN Deportes and WatchESPN.

• England will travel to Poland on Tuesday, Oct. 16, at 3 p.m. on ESPN3.

• Two Netherlands matches – vs. Andorra on Friday at 2:30 p.m., and at Romania on Tuesday at 2 p.m. – will be on ESPN3.

• Guyana vs. Mexico on Friday at 9 p.m. will be broadcast by ESPN Deportes Radio.