There are still some qualifying games left before the 2014 Brazil World Cup schedule is complete, but some teams have already claimed their spot in the World Cup. Among those teams is the Netherlands, Italy, and Team USA.
A rocky start to international play has turned into a wonderful stretch for the Americans. Surprisingly the opposite can be said for North American counterpart Mexico. Team Mexico is on the verge of elimination and faces the first World Cup absence since the nation was banned from competition in 1990. Team USA now appears to be the strongest representative from North America. Jurgen Klinsmann has the Americans playing better than ever and it would be nice to see them make a legitimate run in the 2014 World Cup.
In light of the recent Team USA World Cup qualification, I have prepared a look at the World Cup schedule as the tournament in Brazil grows closer to a reality. Please note that we do not know where each team will be playing yet. That information will become available after the World Cup draw in December. The one thing we do know is that Team Brazil should be A1 and will play the opening match in Sao Paulo.
| World Cup Schedule by Date |
| Round Robin: Game 1 (June 12-17) | |||
| Match | Date | Game | Host City |
| 1 | June 12 | Brazil vs Croatia | Sao Paulo |
| 2 | June 13 | Mexico vs Cameroon | Natal |
| 3 | June 13 | Spain vs Netherlands | Salvador |
| 4 | June 13 | Chile vs Australia | Cuiaba |
| 5 | June 14 | Colombia vs Greece | Belo Horizonte |
| 6 | June 14 | Ivory Coast vs Japan | Recife |
| 7 | June 14 | Uruguay vs Costa Rica | Fortaleza |
| 8 | June 14 | England vs Italy | Manaus |
| 9 | June 15 | Switzerland vs Ecuador | Brasilia |
| 10 | June 15 | France vs Honduras | Porto Alegre |
| 11 | June 15 | Argentina vs Bosnia | Rio De Janeiro |
| 12 | June 16 | Iran vs Nigeria | Curitiba |
| 13 | June 16 | Germany vs Portugal | Salvador |
| 14 | June 16 | Ghana vs USA | Natal |
| 15 | June 17 | Belgium vs Algeria | Belo Horizonte |
| 16 | June 17 | Russia vs Korea Republic | Cuiaba |
| Round Robin: Game 2 (June 17-22) | |||
| Match | Date | Game | Host City |
| 17 | June 17 | Brazil vs Mexico | Fortaleza |
| 18 | June 18 | Croatia vs Cameroon | Manaus |
| 19 | June 18 | Spain vs Chile | Rio De Janeiro |
| 20 | June 18 | Netherlands vs Australia | Porto Alegre |
| 21 | June 19 | Colombia vs Ivory Coast | Brasilia |
| 22 | June 19 | Greece vs Japan | Natal |
| 23 | June 19 | Uruguay vs England | Sao Paulo |
| 24 | June 20 | Costa Rica vs Italy | Recife |
| 25 | June 20 | Switzerland vs France | Salvador |
| 26 | June 20 | Ecuador vs Honduras | Brasilia |
| 27 | June 21 | Argentina vs Iran | Belo Horizonte |
| 28 | June 21 | Bosnia vs Nigeria | Cuiaba |
| 29 | June 21 | Germany vs Ghana | Fortaleza |
| 30 | June 22 | Portugal vs USA | Manaus |
| 31 | June 22 | Belgium vs Russia | Rio De Janeiro |
| 32 | June 22 | Algeria vs Korea Republic | Porto Alegre |
| Round Robin: Game 3 (June 23-26) | |||
| Match | Date | Game | Host City |
| 33 | June 23 | Brazil vs. Cameroon | Brasilia |
| 34 | June 23 | Croatia vs. Mexico | Recife |
| 35 | June 23 | Spain vs. Australia | Curitiba |
| 36 | June 23 | Netherlands vs. Chile | Sao Paulo |
| 37 | June 24 | Columbia vs Japan | Cuiaba |
| 38 | June 24 | Greece vs. Ivory Coast | Fortaleza |
| 39 | June 24 | Uruguay vs. Italy | Natal |
| 40 | June 24 | Costa Rica vs. England | Belo Horizonte |
| 41 | June 25 | Switzerland vs. Honduras | Manaus |
| 42 | June 25 | Ecuador vs. France | Rio De Janeiro |
| 43 | June 25 | Argentina vs. Nigeria | Porto Alegre |
| 44 | June 25 | Bosnia vs. Iran | Salvador |
| 45 | June 26 | Germany vs. USA | Recife |
| 46 | June 26 | Portugal vs. Ghana | Brasilia |
| 47 | June 26 | Belgium vs. Korea Republic | Sao Paulo |
| 48 | June 26 | Algeria vs. Russia | Curitiba |
| Round of 16: Game 4 (June 28-July 1) | |||
| Match | Date | Game | Host City |
| 49 | June 28 | 1A vs 2B | Belo Horizonte |
| 50 | June 28 | 1C vs 2D | Rio De Janeiro |
| 51 | June 29 | 1B vs 2A | Fortaleza |
| 52 | June 29 | 1D vs 2C | Recife |
| 53 | June 30 | 1E vs 2F | Brasilia |
| 54 | June 30 | 1G vs 2H | Porto Alegre |
| 55 | July 1 | 1F vs 2E | Sao Paulo |
| 56 | July 1 | 1H vs 2G | Salvador |
| Quarterfinals: Game 5 (July 4-5) | |||
| Match | Date | Game | Host City |
| 57 | July 4 | W49 vs W50 | Fortaleza |
| 58 | July 4 | W53 vs W54 | Rio De Janeiro |
| 59 | July 5 | W51 vs W52 | Salvador |
| 60 | July 5 | W55 vs W56 | Brasilia |
| Semifinals: Game 6 (July 8-9) | |||
| Match | Date | Game | Host City |
| 61 | July 8 | W57 vs W58 | Belo Horizonte |
| 62 | July 9 | W59 vs W60 | Sao Paulo |
| Finals: Game 7 (July 12-13) | |||
| Match | Date | Game | Host City |
| 63 | July 12 | Third Place Match | Brasilia |
| 64 | July 13 | World Cup Final Match | Rio De Janeiro |
Congrats to the teams who have already qualified and are now examining this World Cup schedule. Is it too much to ask for Team USA to make the final in Rio? Perhaps but go big or go home right?
I don't know about you but I'm getting excited just talking about the World Cup! I will be one of the millions anxiously waiting to hear where each team will be playing and who their group opponents will be.
Who do you think is the favorite to win the 2014 Brazil World Cup?