World Cup 2014: Pope Francis sends good luck message

The 2014 World Cup kicks off on Thursday afternoon when host nation Brazil takes on Croatia in Group A play, and everyone is looking forward to the beginning of one of the greatest sporting events in the world.

As we prepare for the start of the World Cup, the one and only Pope Francis wished fans around the globe a good time,

The world be watching to see how well all of the nations do in this year’s tournament, but you can be sure that Pope Francis will be keeping a closer eye than most on Lionel Messi and the Argentina squad.

Below is the full television schedule for the 2014 World Cup:

Group Play

Thursday, June 12
Brazil vs. Croatia, 3:30 p.m. ET (ESPN)

Friday, June 13
Mexico vs. Cameroon, 11:30 a.m. ET (ESPN2)
Spain vs. Netherlands, 2:30 p.m. ET (ESPN)
Chile vs. Australia, 5:30 p.m. ET (ESPN2)

Saturday, June 14
Colombia vs. Greece, 11:30 a.m. ET (ABC)
Uruguay vs. Costa Rica, 2:30 p.m. ET (ABC)
England vs. Italy, 5:30 p.m. ET (ESPN)
Ivory Coast vs. Japan, 8:30 p.m. ET (ESPN)

Sunday, June 15
Switzerland vs. Ecuador, 11:30 a.m. ET (ABC)
France vs. Honduras 2:30 p.m. ET (ABC)
Argentina vs. Bosnia-Herzegovina 5:30 p.m. ET (ESPN)

Monday, June 16
Germany vs. Portugal, 11:30 a.m. ET (ESPN)
Iran vs. Nigeria, 2:30 p.m. ET (ESPN)
Ghana vs. United States 5:30 p.m. ET (ESPN)

Tuesday, June 17
Belgium vs. Algeria, 11:30 a.m. ET (ESPN)
Brazil vs. Mexico, 2:30 p.m. ET (ESPN)
Russia vs. South Korea, 5:30 p.m. ET (ESPN)

Wednesday, June 18
Australia vs. Netherlands, 11:30 a.m. ET (ESPN)
Spain vs. Chile, 2:30 p.m. ET (ESPN)
Cameroon vs. Croatia, 5:30 p.m. ET (ESPN)

Thursday, June 19
Colombia vs. Ivory Coast, 11:30 a.m. ET (ESPN)
Uruguay vs. England, 2:30 p.m. ET (ESPN)
Japan vs. Greece, 5:30 p.m. ET (ESPN)

Friday, June 20
Italy vs. Costa Rica, 11:30 a.m. ET (ESPN)
Switzerland vs. France, 2:30 p.m. ET (ESPN)
Honduras vs. Ecuador, 5:30 p.m. ET (ESPN)

Saturday, June 21
Argentina vs. Iran, 11:30 a.m. ET (ESPN)
Germany vs. Ghana, 2:30 p.m. ET (ESPN)
Nigeria vs. Bosnia-Herzegovina, 5:30 p.m. ET (ESPN)

Sunday, June 22
Belgium vs. Russia, 11:30 a.m. ET (ABC)
South Korea vs. Algeria, 2:30 p.m. ET (ABC)
United States vs. Portugal, 5:30 p.m. ET (ESPN)

Monday, June 23
Netherlands vs. Chile, 11:30 a.m. ET (ESPN)
Australia vs. Spain, 11:30 a.m. ET (ESPN2)
Croatia vs. Mexico, 3:30 p.m. ET (ESPN
Cameroon vs. Brazil, 3:30 p.m. ET (ESPN2)

Tuesday, June 24
Italy vs. Uruguay, 11:30 a.m. ET (ESPN)
Costa Rica vs. England 11:30 a.m. ET (ESPN2)
Japan vs. Colombia, 3:30 p.m. ET (ESPN)
Greece vs. Ivory Coast, 3:30 p.m. ET (ESPN2)

Wednesday, June 25
Nigeria vs. Argentina, 11:30 a.m. ET (ESPN)
Bosnia-Herzegovina vs. Iran, 11:30 a.m. ET (ESPN2)
Ecuador vs. France, 3:30 p.m. ET (ESPN)
Honduras vs. Switzerland, 3:30 p.m. ET (ESPN2)

Thursday, June 26
United States vs. Germany, 11:30 a.m. ET (ESPN)
Portugal vs. Ghana, 11:30 a.m. ET (ESPN2)
South Korea vs. Belgium, 3:30 p.m. ET (ESPN)
Algeria vs. Russia, 3:30 p.m. ET (ESPN2)

Knockout Stage

Saturday, June 28
Round of 16, 1A vs. 2B, 11:30 a.m. ET (ABC)
Round of 16, 1C vs. 2D, 3:30 p.m. ET (ABC)

Sunday, June 29
Round of 16, 1B vs. 2A, 11:30 a.m. ET (ESPN)
Round of 16, 1D vs. 2C, 3:30 p.m. ET (ESPN)

Monday, June 30
Round of 16, 1E vs. 2F, 11:30 a.m. ET (ESPN)
Round of 16, 1G vs. 2H, 3:30 p.m. ET (ESPN)

Tuesday, July 1
Round of 16, 1F vs. 2E, 11:30 a.m. ET (ESPN)
Round of 16, 1H vs. 2G, 3:30 p.m. ET (ESPN)

Friday, July 4
Quarterfinals, 11:30 a.m. ET (ESPN2)
Quarterfinals, 3:30 p.m. ET (ESPN)

Saturday, July 5
Quarterfinals, 11:30 a.m. ET (ESPN2)
Quarterfinals, 3:30 p.m. ET (ESPN)

Tuesday, July 8
Semifinals, 3:30 p.m. ET (ESPN)

Wednesday, July 9
Semifinals, 3:30 p.m. ET (ESPN)

Saturday, July 12
Third-place match, 3:30 p.m. ET (ESPN)

Sunday, July 13
Final, 2:30 p.m. ET (ABC)