By MICHAEL KLINE
Another international show will take over this weekend, with a healthy spread of the under-20 World Cup and Confederations Cup.
The Under-20 World Cup kicks off the weekend today, with a match between the United States and Spain stealing the show. On Saturday, Mexico will face Greece live on ESPN, with England playing Iraq on Sunday.
This weekend will also feature the last two matchdays of the Confederations Cup group stage, with Italy and Brazil clashing in the early afternoon on Saturday. Both teams having already clinched a ticket to the knockout rounds, but the match carries importance because the loser will have to face Spain in the semifinals.
On Sunday, Group B will be in action to decide which squads move on to the knockout rounds. Spain is essentially a lock to move on, with a +11 goal differential in the tournament so far. If Nigeria don’t manage to beat Spain, and Uruguay beats Tahiti like everyone is expecting, then Nigeria will fail to advance to the next round.
Here is a rundown of This Weekend’s Soccer on TV:
THIS WEEKEND’S SOCCER ON TV
FRIDAY
11am – ESPN3 – France vs. Ghana – Under-20 World Cup
11am – ESPN3 – Cuba vs. South Korea – Under-20 World Cup
2pm – ESPN3 – Nigeria vs. Portugal – Under-20 World Cup
2pm – ESPN3 – United States vs. Spain – Under-20 World Cup
Saturday
11am – ESPN – Mexico vs. Greece – Under-20 World Cup
11am – ESPN3 – Colombia vs. Australi – Under-20 World Cup
2pm – ESPN3 – Turkey vs. El Salvador – Under-20 World Cup
2pm – ESPN3 – Paraguay vs. Mali – Under-20 World Cup
3pm – ESPN – Italy vs. Brazil – Confederations Cup
3pm – ESPN Deportes – Japan vs. Mexico – Confederations Cup
7pm – MLS Direct Kick – DC United vs. San Jose Earthquakes
8pm – MLS Direct Kick – Columbus Crew vs. Chicago Fire
8:30pm – MLS Direct Kick – FC Dallas vs. Sporting Kansas City
9pm – MLS Direct Kick – Houston Dynamo vs. Toronto FC
9:30pm – MLS Direct Kick – Real Salt Lake vs. Seattle Sounders
SUNDAY
10am – ESPN3 – New Zealand vs Uzbekistan – Under-20 World Cup
11am – ESPN3 – Chile vs Egypt – Under-20 World Cup
1pm – ESPN3 – Uruguay vs Croatia – Under-20 World Cup
2pm – ESPN3 – England vs Iraq – Under-20 World Cup
3pm – ESPN – Nigeria vs Spain – Confederations Cup
3pm – ESPN2 – Uruguay vs Tahiti – Confederations Cup
5pm – ESPN – Philadelphia Union vs New York Red Bulls
7pm – NBC Sports Network – Portland Timbers vs Colorado Rapids
11pm – UniMas – Chivas USA vs LA Galaxy
I would like to know how or why a game on the ESPN channel is being watched in the states but cannot be seen here in Venezuela at the corresponding hour. Can somebody clue me in?
Bra v. Ita = delicious
Could be fun. Both teams will rest starters and those sitting on yellows. Fresh players will look to impress? …and nothing to play for, except to avoid Spain in the semis.
I would say that is a lot to play for. Ain’t nobody wanna play Spain.
ESPN and NBC need to wait on deciding which games to show rather than decide before the season starts.
Dallas is playing KC and it isn’t on TV ?
I have nothing againt Philly-NY or Portland-Colorado, but KC versus Dallas is much watch.
Well you can always get direct kick.
The US game today and some others are also on ESPN2.
Cheers!
… and ESPN and ESPNU.
Also, both the Watch ESPN webpage and my U-Verse listings are showing that Japan-Mexico is on ESPNews and Italy-Brazil is on ESPN (though it would not even remotely be the first time that the latter was incorrect).
…and Univision Deportes.