The Beijing Olympics may officially start next Friday with the Opening Ceremony, but the soccer tournament opens two days earlier when the U.S. women’s team takes on rival Norway.
NBC (and its network of cable channels, including a soccer-only channel available on some cable systems) will show an unprecedented number of games.
What a difference 12 years makes. At the 2006 Athens Games, the U.S. women, led by Mia Hamm, won the gold medal. NBC never showed the game, instead relegated it to a highlights package which aired a day later.
Below is a complete TV listing of the Olympic soccer tournament. (All times Eastern)
Wednesday, Aug. 6
MSNBC, 7:30-10 a.m. — Women’s Soccer, United States vs. Norway (LIVE).
UNIVERSAL HD, 7:30-10 a.m. — Women’s Soccer, United States vs. Norway (Simulcast)
NBC OLYMPIC SOCCER CHANNEL, 5 a.m.-5 p.m. — Women’s games
Thursday, Aug. 7
MSNBC, 4:30-7 a.m. — Men’s Soccer, USA vs. Japan (LIVE)
TELEMUNDO, 4:30-7 a.m. — Men’s Soccer, Honduras vs. Italy (LIVE)and Ivory Coast vs. Argentina (LIVE)
UNIVERSAL HD, 4:30-7 a.m. — Men’s Soccer, USA vs. Japan (Simulcast)
NBC OLYMPIC SOCCER CHANNEL, 5 a.m.-5 p.m. — Men’s games
Saturday, Aug. 9
USA and USA HD, 2 a.m.-2 p.m. — Women’s Soccer – USA vs. Japan (LIVE) and Canada vs. China
MSNBC, 5 a.m.-5 p.m. — Women’s Soccer – Nigeria vs. Germany (LIVE) and Brazil vs. North Korea (LIVE)
TELEMUNDO, 7:30 a.m.-2 p.m. — Women’s Soccer – USA vs. Japan (LIVE)
NBC OLYMPIC SOCCER CHANNEL, 5 a.m.-5 p.m. — Women’s games
Sunday, Aug. 10
USA and USA HD, 2 a.m.-2 p.m. — Men’s Soccer – USA vs. Netherlands (LIVE) and Argentina vs. Australia
MSNBC, 5 a.m.-5 p.m. — Men’s Soccer – Italy vs. South Korea (LIVE)
TELEMUNDO — 4 a.m.-2 p.m. — Men’s Soccer – Argentina vs. Australia (LIVE) and New Zealand vs. Brazil
NBC OLYMPIC SOCCER CHANNEL, 5 a.m.-7 p.m. — Men’s games
Monday, Aug. 11
NBC OLYMPIC SOCCER CHANNEL, 5 a.m.-5 p.m. — Best of Men’s & Women’s games
Tuesday, Aug. 12
USA and USA HD, 7:30-10 a.m. — Women’s Soccer – Nigeria vs. Brazil
NBC OLYMPIC SOCCER CHANNEL, 5 a.m.-5 p.m. — Women’s games, including USA vs. New Zealand (LIVE)
Wednesday, Aug. 13
USA and USA HD, 2 a.m.-Noon — Men’s Soccer – USA vs. Nigeria (LIVE) and China vs. Brazil (LIVE)
TELEMUNDO, 2-7:30 a.m. — Men’s Soccer – South Korea vs. Honduras (LIVE) and China vs. Brazil (LIVE)
NBC OLYMPIC SOCCER CHANNEL, 5 a.m.-7 p.m. — Men’s games
Thursday, Aug. 14
NBC OLYMPIC SOCCER CHANNEL, 5 a.m.-5 p.m. — Best of Men’s & Women’s games
Friday, Aug. 15
USA and USA HD, 2 a.m.-Noon — Women’s Soccer Quarterfinal (LIVE)
MSNBC, 5 a.m.-5 p.m. — Women’s Soccer Quarterfinals
NBC OLYMPIC SOCCER CHANNEL, 6 a.m.-6 p.m. — Women’s games
Saturday, Aug. 16
MSNBC, 5 a.m.-5 p.m. — Men’s Soccer Quarterfinals (LIVE)
TELEMUNDO, 2 a.m.-2 p.m. — Men’s Soccer Quarterfinals (LIVE)
NBC OLYMPIC SOCCER CHANNEL, 6 a.m.-6 p.m. — Men’s games
Sunday, Aug. 17
NBC OLYMPIC SOCCER CHANNEL, 6 a.m.-6 p.m. — Best of Men’s & Women’s games
Monday, Aug. 18
MSNBC, 8 a.m.-Noon — Women’s Soccer Semifinal (LIVE)
NBC OLYMPIC SOCCER CHANNEL, 6 a.m.-6 p.m. — Women’s Semifinals
Tuesday, Aug. 19
MSNBC, 5 a.m.-5 p.m. — Men’s Soccer Semifinals (LIVE)
TELEMUNDO, 2-8 a.m. — Men’s Soccer Semifinals (LIVE)
NBC OLYMPIC SOCCER CHANNEL, 6 a.m.-6 p.m. — Men’s Semifinals
Wednesday, Aug. 20
NBC OLYMPIC SOCCER CHANNEL, 6 a.m.-6 p.m. — Best of Women’s & Men’s Semifinals
Thursday, Aug. 21
USA and USA HD, 2 a.m.-Noon — Women’s Soccer Gold Medal Match (LIVE)
MSNBC, 5 a.m.-5 p.m. — Women’s Soccer Bronze Medal Match (LIVE); 8-11 a.m. — Women’s Soccer – Gold Medal Match (LIVE)
NBC OLYMPIC SOCCER CHANNEL, 6 a.m.-6 p.m. — Women’s Gold Medal Match
Friday, Aug. 22
MSNBC, 5 a.m.-5 p.m. — Men’s Soccer Bronze Medal Match (LIVE)
TELEMUNDO, 11 p.m.-2 a.m. — Men’s Soccer Gold Medal Match (LIVE)
NBC OLYMPIC SOCCER CHANNEL, 7 a.m.-7 p.m. — Men’s Bronze Medal Match and Women’s Gold Medal Match
Saturday, Aug. 23
CNBC and CNBC HD, Midnight-2 a.m. — Men’s Soccer Gold Medal Game (LIVE)
NBC OLYMPIC SOCCER CHANNEL, Midnight-Noon — Men’s Soccer Gold Medal Match