Brazil. Home to Samba, the Amazon Rainforest and, of course football (the non-American version). Starting today, the country plays host to the World Cup. As you read this, soccer fans the world over are plotting ways they will not miss out on any of the action. Those who do not have cable may feel they face a disadvantage (54 of the games are on ESPN), but, fear not, we have created a cord-cutters guide to watching the world’s largest sporting event-over-the-air.
Here is everything a cord-cutter needs to know to make sure you don’t miss a game:
- Don’t panic. Every game is on television, radio (find your local affiliate here and online. This is good news, because, if you miss a game, you can catch the repeat online later. You can check out the official Fifa website for match scheduling here, and put them in your local time too. (A special note, if you’re outside of the US, you have other options—so check in with the stations in your country to find out who’s broadcasting and streaming.)
- The best games are over-the-air for free. Each ABC game is broadcast over-the-air for free. And it includes the FINAL, woohoo! All you need is an antenna from Antennas Direct to get the most-watched game!
- Dust off the Spanish phrase book and watch the games for free on Univision. Spanish language station, Univision, will broadcast all of the games for free, over-the-air via local Univision affiliates, and so all you need is an antenna. Fifty-six games, including the ones with stream restrictions to pay-TV customers, will be available via Univision. The station also has options via its free Android and iOS app for viewing the first two rounds. The commentary is better anyway: Gooooaaaaallllll!
PROTIP: Watch the games live and free over-the-air via Univision and tune into your local ESPN radio affiliate / listen to the ESPN radio online for English commentary.
- Stream the pay-television broadcasts online. Online users can access the live stream through the WatchESPN website as well as through dedicated apps for set-top streaming devices (Amazon’s Fire TV, Roku, Apple TV, Xbox One and Xbox 360, and Google Chromecast). A benefit of the streaming apps is you have access to two alternate feeds for each telecast bringing multiple camera angles on ‘ESPN3 Surround.’
- Make some new friends or go to the bar. With ESPN and ESPN2 broadcasting 54 of the matches, you can easily use this as an excuse to find conviviality with other fans.
- Catch up on the action with the ESPN website for all of the coverage. There is a new version of the ESPN FC website for soccer fans, and new free ESPN FC app with robust news, scores, highlights and commentary.
Here is a breakdown of what you can get!
(All times Eastern)
First Round PayTV FREE TV (Over the Air)
Thursday, June 12
Brazil vs. Croatia (ESPN) (Univision)
Friday, June 13
Mexico vs. Cameroon (ESPN2) (Univision)
Spain vs. Netherlands (ESPN) (Univision)
Chile vs. Australia (ESPN2) (Univision)
Saturday, June 14
Colombia vs. Greece (ABC) /(Univision)
Uruguay vs. Costa Rica (ABC) /(Univision)
England vs. Italy (ESPN) (Univision)
Ivory Coast vs. Japan (ESPN) (Univision)
Sunday, June 15
Switzerland vs. Ecuador (ABC) /(Univision)
France vs. Honduras (ABC) /(Univision)
Argentina vs. Bosnia-Herzegovina (ESPN) (Univision)
Monday, June 16
Germany vs. Portugal (ESPN) (Univision)
Iran vs. Nigeria (ESPN) (Univision)
Ghana vs. United States (ESPN) (Univision)
Tuesday, June 17
Belgium vs. Algeria (ESPN) (Univision)
Brazil vs. Mexico (ESPN) (Univision)
Russia vs. South Korea (ESPN) (Univision)
Wednesday, June 18
Australia vs. Netherlands (ESPN) (Univision)
Spain vs. Chile (ESPN) (Univision)
Cameroon vs. Croatia (ESPN) (Univision)
Thursday, June 19
Colombia vs. Ivory Coast (ESPN) (Univision)
Uruguay vs. England (ESPN) (Univision)
Japan vs. Greece (ESPN) (Univision)
Friday, June 20
Italy vs. Costa Rica (ESPN) (Univision)
Switzerland vs. France (ESPN) (Univision)
Honduras vs. Ecuador (ESPN) (Univision)
Saturday, June 21
Argentina vs. Iran (ESPN) (Univision)
Germany vs. Ghana (ESPN) (Univision)
Nigeria vs. Bosnia Herzegovina (ESPN) (Univision)
Sunday, June 22
Belgium vs. Russia (ABC) /(Univision)
South Korea vs. Algeria (ABC) /(Univision)
United States vs. Portugal (ESPN) (Univision)
Monday, June 23
Netherlands vs. Chile (ESPN2) (Univision)
Australia vs. Spain (ESPN) (UniMas / Galavision)
Croatia vs. Mexico (ESPN) (Univision)
Cameroon vs. Brazil (ESPN2) (UniMas / Galavision)
Tuesday, June 24
Italy vs. Uruguay (ESPN) (Univision)
Costa Rica vs. England (ESPN2) (UniMas / Galavision)
Japan vs. Colombia (ESPN) (Univision)
Greece vs. Ivory Coast (ESPN2) (UniMas / Galavision)
Wednesday, June 25
Nigeria vs. Argentina (ESPN) (Univision)
Bosnia Herzegovina vs. Iran (ESPN2) (UniMas / Galavision)
Ecuador vs. France (ESPN2) (Univision)
Honduras vs. Switzerland (ESPN) (UniMas / Galavision)
Thursday, June 26
United States vs. Germany (ESPN) (Univision)
Portugal vs. Ghana (ESPN2) (UniMas / Galavision)
South Korea vs. Belgium (ESPN) (Univision)
Algeria vs. Russia (ESPN2) (UniMas / Galavision)
Round of 16
Saturday, June 28
1A vs. 2B (ABC) / (Univision)
1C vs. 2D (ABC) / (Univision)
Sunday, June 29
1B vs. 2A (ESPN) (Univision)
1D vs. 2C (ESPN) (Univision)
Monday, June 30
1E vs. 2F (ESPN) (Univision)
1G vs. 2H (ESPN) (Univision)
Tuesday, July 1
1F vs. 2E (ESPN) (Univision)
1H vs. 2G (ESPN) (Univision)
Quarterfinals
Friday, July 4
Round of 16 winners (ESPN2) (Univision)
Round of 16 winners (ESPN) (Univision)
Saturday, July 5
Round of 16 winners (ABC) /(Univision)
Round of 16 winners (ESPN) (Univision)
Semifinals
Tuesday, July 8
Quarterfinal winners (ESPN) (Univision)
Wednesday, July 9
Quarterfinal winners (ESPN) (Univision)
Third-Place Game
Saturday, July 12
Semifinal losers (ESPN) (Univision)
Final
Sunday, July 13
Semifinal winners (ABC) /(Univision)