Key dates
Thursday: Tournament begins with host Brazil playing Croatia (3 p.m., ESPN)
Monday: United States vs. Ghana (5 p.m., ESPN)
June 22: United States vs. Portugal (5 p.m., ESPN)
June 26: United States vs. Germany (11 a.m., ESPN)
June 28-July 1: Round of 16
July 4-5: Quarterfinals
July 8-9: Semifinals
July 13: Championship
Defending champion
Spain defeated the Netherlands 1-0 in overtime in 2010 in South Africa.