MECHI ZA UFUNGUZI KOMBE LA DUNIA HUKO BRAZIL

COSTA DO SAUIPE, Brazil — Defending champion Spain will play its opening 2014 World Cup game against the Netherlands, a repeat of the ill-tempered 2010 final, while host Brazil faces a relatively easy path to the knockout stage after Friday's draw.

Argentina, champion in 1978 and 1986, first plays Bosnia-Herzegovina, the only World Cup newcomer among the 32 teams. After that game at the Maracana stadium in Rio de Janeiro, the Argentine team of four-time world player of the year Lionel Messi then plays Iran and finally Nigeria. In six previous World Cup encounters, Nigeria has beaten Argentina just once.

Argentina will be heavily favored to come out top of its Group F. If so, it could find either Switzerland or France in its way in its first knockout game. Those European nations will be hoping to come out on top of their Group E that also includes Ecuador and Honduras.

The Spain-Netherlands match is on June 13, a Friday. When they met at the 2010 final, referee Howard Webb showed a record 14 yellow cards — two leading to red for the Netherlands' John Heitinga.

England's first match will be in the heat and humidity of the Amazon basin, which coach Roy Hodgson was anxious to avoid. That night game in the Amazon city of Manaus pits the 1966 champion against Italy, a four-time winner.

Both will have to play their best to advance from Group D, since it also includes 2010 semifinalist Uruguay and Costa Rica.

"It's a tough group, there's no doubt about that. In Italy and Uruguay it's almost as though we have got two number one seeds in our group. We know how good Italy are because we lost to them in the quarterfinals at the Euros. The game is going to be tough from a climate point of view for both teams," said Hodgson.

England could also face hostility from the home crowd after the city's mayor said he did not want the English in Manaus because they complained about the venue's climate.

The United States was drawn into a tough group with Germany, the winner in 1954, 1974 and 1990, as well as Cristiano Ronaldo's Portugal and Ghana, a quarterfinalist in 2010. The U.S. is coached by former Germany striker Jurgen Klinsmann.

Brazil starts its campaign for a sixth World Cup title with an opener against Croatia. Mexico and Cameroon are also in the group.

Colombia, Greece, Ivory Coast and Japan are in Group C, with Uruguay, Costa Rica, England and Italy in a strong Group D.

One of the easiest groups on paper looked to be E, with Switzerland, Ecuador, France and Honduras.

Russia, host of the next World Cup, is in Group H with Belgium, Algeria and Korea.

-- The Associated Press

2014 FIFA World Cup schedule

All Times PDT

FIRST ROUND

GROUP A
BrazilCroatiaMexicoCameroon

Thursday, June 12
At Sao PauloBrazil vs. Croatia, 1 p.m.

Friday, June 13
At Natal, BrazilMexico vs. Cameroon, 9 a.m.

Tuesday, June 17
At Fortaleza, BrazilBrazil vs. Mexico, Noon

Wednesday, June 18
At Manaus, BrazilCroatia vs. Cameroon, Noon

Monday, June 23
At Brasilia, BrazilBrazil vs. Cameroon, 1 p.m.At Recife, BrazilCroatia vs. Mexico, 1 p.m.

GROUP B
SpainNetherlandsChileAustralia

Friday, June 13
At Salvador, BrazilSpain vs. Netherlands, NoonAt Cuiaba, BrazilChile vs. Australia, 3 p.m.

Wednesday, June 18
At Rio de JaneiroSpain vs. Chile, 3 p.m.At Porto Alegre, BrazilNetherlands vs. Australia, 9 a.m.

Monday, June 23
At Curitiba, BrazilSpain vs. Australia, 9 a.m.At Sao PauloNetherlands vs. Chile, 9 a.m.

GROUP C
ColombiaGreeceIvory CoastJapan

Saturday, June 14
At Belo Horizonte, BrazilColombia vs. Greece, 9 a.m.At Recife, BrazilIvory Coast vs. Japan, 3 p.m.

Thursday, June 19
At Brasilia, BrazilColombia vs. Ivory Coast, 9 a.m.At Natal, BrazilGreece vs. Japan, 3 p.m.

Tuesday, June 24
At Cuiaba, BrazilColombia vs. Japan, 1 p.m.At Fortaleza, BrazilGreece vs. Ivory Coast, 1 p.m.

GROUP D
UruguayCosta RicaEnglandItaly

Saturday, June 14
At Fortaleza, BrazilUruguay vs. Costa Rica, NoonAt Manaus, BrazilEngland vs. Italy, 6 p.m.

Thursday, June 19
At Sao PauloUruguay vs. England, Noon

Friday, June 20
At Recife, BrazilCosta Rica vs. Italy, 9 a.m.

Tuesday, June 24
At Natal, BrazilUruguay vs. Italy, 9 a.m.At Belo Horizonte, BrazilCosta Rica vs. England, 9 a.m.

GROUP E
SwitzerlandEcuadorFranceHonduras

Sunday, June 15
At Brasilia, BrazilSwitzerland vs. Ecuador, 9 a.m.At Porto Alegre, BrazilFrance vs. Honduras, Noon

Friday, June 20
At Salvador, BrazilSwitzerland vs. France, NoonAt Curitiba, BrazilEcuador vs. Honduras, 3 p.m.

Wednesday, June 25
At Manaus, BrazilSwitzerland vs. Honduras, 1 p.m.At Rio de JaneiroEcuador vs. France, 1 p.m.

GROUP F
ArgentinaBosnia-HerzegovinaIranNigeria

Sunday, June 15
At Rio de JaneiroArgentina vs. Bosnia-Herzegovina, 3 p.m.

Monday, June 16At Curitiba, BrazilIran vs. Nigeria, Noon

Saturday, June 21
At Belo Horizonte, BrazilArgentina vs. Iran, 9 a.m.At Cuiaba, BrazilBosnia-Herzegovina vs. Nigeria, 3 p.m.

Wednesday, June 25
At Porto Alegre, BrazilArgentina vs. Nigeria, 9 a.m.At Salvador, BrazilBosnia-Herzegovina vs. Iran, 9 a.m.

GROUP G
GermanyPortugalGhanaUnited States

Monday, June 16
At Salvador, BrazilGermany vs. Portugal, 9 a.m.At Natal, BrazilGhana vs. United States, 3 p.m.

Saturday, June 21
At Fortaleza, BrazilGermany vs. Ghana, Noon

Sunday, June 22
At Manaus, BrazilPortugal vs. United States, Noon

Thursday, June 26
At Recife, BrazilGermany vs. United States, 9 a.m.At Brasilia, BrazilPortugal vs. Ghana, 9 a.m.

GROUP H
BelgiumAlgeriaRussiaSouth Korea

Tuesday, June 17
At Belo Horizonte, BrazilBelgium vs. Algeria, 9 a.m.At Cuiaba, BrazilRussia vs. South Korea, 3 p.m.

Sunday, June 22
At Rio de JaneiroBelgium vs. Russia, 3 p.m.At Porto Alegre, BrazilAlgeria vs. South Korea, 9 a.m.

Thursday, June 26
At Sao PauloBelgium vs. South Korea, 1 p.m.At Curitiba, BrazilAlgeria vs. Russia, 1 p.m.

SECOND ROUND

Saturday, June 28
Game 49At Belo Horizonte, BrazilGroup A winner vs. Group B second place, 9 a.m.Game 50At Rio de JaneiroGroup C winner vs. Group D second place, 1 p.m.

Sunday, June 29
Game 51At Fortaleza, BrazilGroup B winner vs. Group A second place, 9 a.m.Game 52At Recife, BrazilGroup D winner vs. Group C second place, 1 p.m.

Monday, June 30
Game 53At Brasilia, BrazilGroup E winner vs. Group F second place, 9 a.m.Game 54At Porto Alegre, BrazilGroup G winner vs. Group H second place, 1 p.m.

Tuesday, July 1
Game 55At Sao PauloGroup F winner vs. Group E second place, 9 a.m.Game 56At Salvador, BrazilGroup H winner vs. Group G second place, 1 p.m.

QUARTERFINALS

Friday, July 4
Game 57At Fortaleza, BrazilGame 49 winner vs. Game 50 winner, 1 p.m.Game 58At Rio de JaneiroGame 53 winner vs. Game 54 winner, 9 a.m.

Saturday, July 5
Game 59At Salvador, BrazilGame 51 winner vs. Game 52 winner, 1 p.m.Game 60At Brasilia, BrazilGame 55 winner vs. Game 56 winner, 9 a.m.

SEMIFINALS

Tuesday, July 8
At Belo Horizonte, BrazilGame 57 winner vs. Game 58 winner, 1 p.m.

Wednesday, July 9
At Sao PauloGame 59 winner vs. Game 60 winner, 1 p.m.

THIRD PLACE

Saturday, July 12
At Brasilia, BrazilSemifinal losers, 1 p.m.

CHAMPIONSHIP

Sunday, July 13
At Rio de JaneiroSemifinal winners, Noon