2016 Rio Olympics daily viewer's guide - (Aug. 4)
Today’s games (all times eastern)
Men’s Soccer:
NBCSN
12:30 p.m.
Iraq vs. Denmark (LIVE)
3 p.m.
Brazil vs. South Africa (LIVE)
5 p.m.
Portugal vs. Argentina (LIVE)
7 p.m.
Fiji vs. South Korea (LIVE)
9 p.m.
Nigeria vs. Japan (LIVE)
USA Network
2 p.m.
Honduras vs. Algeria (LIVE)
4 p.m.
Mexico vs. Germany (LIVE)
6 p.m.
Sweden vs. Colombia (LIVE)
SOCCER SPECIALTY CHANNEL
12 p.m.
Iraq vs. Denmark (LIVE)
2 p.m.
Iraq vs. Denmark Encore
3 p.m.
Brazil vs. South Africa (LIVE)
5 p.m.
Portugal vs. Argentina (LIVE)
7 p.m.
Fiji vs. South Korea (LIVE)
9 p.m.
Nigeria vs. Japan (LIVE)
11 p.m.
Honduras vs. Algeria
12:30 a.m.
Mexico vs. Germany
2 a.m.
Sweden vs. Colombia
TELEMUNDO
1 p.m.
News
2 p.m.
Honduras vs. Algeria (LIVE)
4 p.m.
Mexico vs. Germany (LIVE)
6 p.m.
TBA
NBC UNIVERSO
2 p.m.
News (LIVE)
3 p.m.
Brazil vs. South Africa (LIVE)
5 p.m.
Portugal vs. Argentina (LIVE)
What is better than one day of Olympic soccer? Two straight days of Olympic soccer.
After women’s soccer took over the airwaves yesterday, it is the men’s turn to flood your TV, phone, tablet or computer. Although it won’t have the star power that international soccer tournaments usually has.
In the Olympics, men’s teams are only allowed three player over the age of 23. While that disqualifies a lot of the better players of the senior national teams, it does give the world a chance to see some of the best young talent before they explode on the international stage.
So with one day before the Opening Ceremony, what can fans expect from what NBC has confusingly called “Day -1” of the Olympics.
What should I watch?
Unfortunately, the United States failed to qualify for the Olympics, but there is still plenty of good soccer without Team USA. Like the host country showing up with a bright star to turn its international reputation around.
Barcelona star Neymar will be leading Brazil against a field of 16 teams in an attempt to win the country’s first ever gold medal in soccer. However, it’ll be an uphill for them since the team has not done well in international competition since the 7-1 rout against Germany in the 2014 World Cup.
They will start their campaign against South Africa at 3 p.m. ET on NBCSN, the Soccer Specialty Channel and NBC Universo.
Argentina is also back in the Olympic mix after failing to qualify for the 2012 London Olympics. Even though they won’t have the services of gold medal winners like Lionel Messi and Angel Di Maria, they have enough talent to make an impact at the Olympics.
Their first game is against Portugal, who has medal aspirations of their own, at 5 p.m. ET on NBCSN, the Soccer Specialty Channel and NBC Universo.
Rounding out must-see soccer will be a match between defending gold medalist Mexico and Germany at 4 p.m. ET on the USA Network and Telemundo. Striker Oribe Peralta, who scored the only two Mexico goals in the gold medal game in 2012, is back with the Mexico squad in Rio.
How should I watch it?
Unlike yesterday, there are a couple more overlap points so viewers will have to navigate the games with a little more strategy.
The first game starts at 12:30 p.m. ET on NBCSN and the Soccer Specialty Channel with Iraq competing against Denmark. These teams are long shots to medal, but this will be Denmark’s first appearance in the Olympics since 1992 and Iraq’s first Olympic appearance since it placed fourth in the 2004 Sydney Games.
Brazil-South Africa will be next at 3 p.m. ET. While you’re watching that on NBCSN, the Soccer Specialty Channel or NBC Universo, you can stream the Mexico-Germany game at 4 p.m. ET on NBCOlympics.com or the NBC Sports App.
This is where it gets a little tricky. At 6 p.m. ET, Sweden takes on Colombia, which can be watched on the USA Network or the Soccer Specialty Channel. South Korea and Fiji square off at 7 p.m. ET, and can be streamed on your phone, tablet or computer. Once Sweden-Colombia is done, switch over to NBC where Bob Costas will be previewing the storylines and other Olympic events post Opening Ceremony. By the time that is done, you can switch over to NBCSN where the last game of the day between Japan and Nigeria will take place.
Eleven hours, six games and one preview show. Go get ‘em, Tiger.
