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ESPN Presents "Countdown to Brazil" on June 11-12
2014 FIFA World Cup Preview Featuring Former World Cup Stars Michael Ballack, Gilberto Silva, Alexi Lalas, Ruud Van Nistelrooy, Steve McManaman; MLS Match; and More
ESPN will kick off its month long coverage of the 2014 FIFA World Cup with 24 hours of "Countdown to Brazil" programming focusing on the quadrennial tournament. The "Countdown to Brazil" (#CountdownToBrazil) will begin Wednesday, June 11, at 3 p.m. ET on ESPN with a two-hour 2014 FIFA World Cup Preview and conclude on Thursday, June 12, at 3 p.m. on ESPN with the 2014 FIFA World Cup Match Day, the live pregame show leading into the tournament-opening match: Brazil vs. Croatia from Arena de Sao Paulo.
A majority of the 24 hours will be on ESPN2 beginning at 5 p.m. with There Is No Tomorrow, an inside look at the five-time World Cup Champion Brazilian National Team. The programming will include re-airs of all episodes in the ESPN Films documentary on the U.S. Men's National Team - Inside: U.S. Soccer's March to Brazil - beginning at 5:30 p.m. on ESPN2 and concluding at 9:30 p.m. with an original, 30-minute epilogue of the series.
At 2 a.m. on ESPN2, the 24-hour soccer programming will continue with ESPN FC: Most Memorable World Cup Moments, and from 3 - 5 a.m. overnight, the network will feature four of the 30 for 30: Soccer Stories documentary series - Mysteries of the Juliet Rimet Trophy, Barbosa, Ceasefire Massacre and the Myth of Garrincha. "Soccer Stories" will be followed at 5 a.m. on ESPN2 by I Scored A Goal, ESPN's ambitious 2010 FIFA World Cup project that featured interviews with most of the living men who scored a goal in the World Cup title match.
ESPN "Countdown to Brazil" schedule:
Date Time (ET) Programming Network
Wed, Jun 11 3 p.m. 2014 FIFA World Cup Preview ESPN / WatchESPN
5 p.m. There Is No Tomorrow ESPN2 / WatchESPN
5:30 p.m. Inside: U.S. Soccer's March to Brazil ESPN2 / WatchESPN
9:30 p.m. Epilogue: Inside: U.S. Soccer's March to Brazil ESPN2 / WatchESPN
10 p.m. Major League Soccer: Portland Timbers vs. FC Dallas ESPN2 / WatchESPN
12 a.m. Re-air -- 2014 FIFA World Cup Preview ESPN2 / WatchESPN
2 a.m. ESPN FC: Most Memorable World Cup Moments ESPN2 / WatchESPN
3 a.m. 30 for 30: Soccer Stories - "Mysteries of The Juliet Rimet Trophy" and "Barbosa" ESPN2 / WatchESPN
4 a.m. 30 for 30: Soccer Stories - "Ceasefire Massacre" and "Myth of Garrincha" ESPN2 / WatchESPN
5 a.m. I Scored A Goal ESPN2 / WatchESPN
Thu, Jun 12 6 a.m. 2010 FIFA World Cup: United States vs. Algeria ESPN2 / WatchESPN
8 a.m. E:60: World Cup Special ESPN2 / WatchESPN
9 a.m. SportsCenter ESPN2 / WatchESPN
2014 FIFA World Cup Preview Special (3 p.m. on ESPN):
On the eve of the opening match, Mike Tirico, Bob Ley and Lynsey Hipgrave will host a two-hour live preview of Brazil 2014 from ESPN's World Cup host set location at Clube dos Marimbas, a members-only sailing club overlooking the famous Copacabana Beach. The program will feature mostly all of ESPN's FIFA World Cup analysts: Alexi Lalas and Roberto Martinez.
Steve McManaman, Alexi Lalas, Taylor Twellman, Michael Ballack, Gilberto Silva, Santiago Solari, Roberto Martinez and Ruud van Nistelrooy.
Other elements:
· Reports from ESPN correspondents covering team camps - Jeremy Schaap (U.S.A.), John Sutcliffe (Mexico), and Rubens Pozzi (Brazil);
· General assignment reporters Julie Foudy and Bob Woodruff will offer features and their perspective on the tournament;
· Comprehensive previews of all the FIFA World Cup groups and key matchups;
· A look at Brazil and how the nation is addressing the challenges of hosting the World Cup.
MLS - Portland Timbers vs. FC Dallas at 10 p.m.:
As part of the 24-hour soccer programming, ESPN2 will present live coverage of Major League Soccer Western Conference matchup - Portland Timbers vs. FC Dallas - live from Providence Park in Portland, Ore., at 10 p.m. The Portland Timbers vs. Dallas FC will be the last match before the league takes a two-week break for the 2014 FIFA World Cup.
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