Extensive Studio Programming – Pre-Match Shows, SportsCenter, World Cup Tonight, ESPN FC World Cup Encore, and More

For additional info and resources, please visit the 2014 FIFA World Cup Media Kit which includes:

Photos | Videos | Bios | Schedules

ESPN will present all 64 matches of the 2014 FIFA World Cup live and in high definition on ESPN, ESPN2 and ABC during its comprehensive coverage of the month-long tournament in Brazil, June 12 – July 13. Extensive studio programming originating from the host country is also planned, including pre-match shows, halftime and post-match segments.

ESPN will televise 43 World Cup matches, while ESPN2 will air 11. All ESPN and ESPN2 matches (and surrounding studio programming) will be available via WatchESPN.

ABC will broadcast 10 matches (all available on WATCH ABC), beginning with Colombia vs. Greece at 11:30 a.m. ET on Saturday, June 14, live from Estadio Mineirao in Belo Horizonte. The tournament will conclude on ABC with the title match Sunday, July 13, at 2:30 p.m. from Rio de Janeiro’s famed Estadio Do Maracana.

The opening match on Thursday, June 12, features host country and five-time World Cup champions Brazil vs. Croatia at 3:30 p.m. on ESPN and WatchESPN from Arena de Sao Paulo. The following day, Friday, June 13, at 3 p.m., ESPN will televise Spain vs. Netherlands, the much-anticipated rematch of the South Africa 2010 final (Spain won 1-0).

STUDIO PROGRAMMING – Pre-Match Shows, Halftime and Post-match Segments, SportsCenter, World Cup Tonight, ESPN FC World Cup Encore, and More:

ESPN’s coverage of every match will be preceded by a 30-minute pregame show, including teams walking onto the pitch, national anthems and ceremonial handshakes – all symbolic FIFA World Cup traditions. The 30-minute pre-match show, halftime and post-match segments will anchor the surround programming around each match presentation.

Special editions of SportsCenter will air between match telecasts on ESPN, ESPN2 and ABC. Additionally, ESPN’s flagship news and information program will follow all matches, except when a match precedes another live event on the network. On every match day, World Cup Tonight, ESPN’s definitive daily news, highlights and analysis program for the quadrennial event, will recap the day’s action. ESPN FC World Cup Encore – which will generally air for two hours on match days on ESPN, ESPN2 or ESPNEWS – will feature condensed versions of the best action in the day’s matches with analysis from ESPN FC pundits.

U.S. MEN’S NATIONAL TEAM:

The U.S. Men’s National Team, currently ranked No. 13 in the FIFA/Coca-Cola World Ranking, will kick-off its 2014 FIFA World Cup campaign against Ghana (ranked No. 37) on ESPN and WatchESPN on Monday, June 16, at 5:30 p.m. from the Estadio das Dunas in Natal. The U.S. team’s first round matches (all available on WatchESPN):