This summer in Germany the 18th FIFA World Cup will take place, showing off the top 32 nations battling for the sport's supremacy. Among the notable teams taking part in this tournament include: defending champion Brazil, host Germany, and formidable powers England, France and Argentina. Brazil sits behind no one as the favorites to repeat. Sportsbooks have listed the Seleção at 5/2 odds to capture FIFA Gold, the others falling behind the South American juggernaut.
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The tournament opening round match is scheduled for June 9 in Munich and they will continue through July 9, the date of the championship match. During this month of exciting play teams will be placed throughout Germany's 12 host cities, however all eyes will be set on the city of Berlin, the site of the Final match of the 2006 FIFA World Cup.
Key World Cup Dates
May 15: World Cup Rosters (23-man squad) due for 32 competing teams
June 9-23: World Cup Group Play. Group winner and runner-up advance to Round of 16.
June 24-27: Round of 16
-In Munich, Leipzig, Stuttgart, Nuremberg, Kaiserslautern, Cologne, Dortmund, Hanover
June 30-July 1: World Cup Quarterfinals
-In Berlin, Hamburg, Gelsenkirchen, Frankfurt
July 4-5: World Cup Semi-finals
- In Dortmund and Munich
July 8: World Cup Third Place Match
-In Stuttgart
July 9: World Cup Final
-In Berlin
Notable Group Play Matches (all times local):
June 13: Brazil vs. Croatia - Berlin - 21:00
June 17: Italy vs. United States -Kaiserslautern - 21:00
June 20: England vs. Sweden - Cologne - 21:00
June 21: Argentina vs. Netherlands - Frankfurt - 21:00
June 21: Portugal vs. Mexico - Gelsenkirchen - 16:00
June 22: Italy vs. Czech Republic - Hamburg - 16:00
Click here for complete World Cup match schedule.
