Ghana ....... V ....... United States 
Venue: Arena das Dunas (Natal, Rio Grande do Norte)
Date: Monday, June 16
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Ghana are wary of a wounded United States side when the two sides open their FIFA World Cup campaigns in Natal on Monday. The African nation have ended the United States' run at the last two World Cups, adding another layer of intrigue to their Group G clash. In 2006, Ghana beat the Americans 2-1 in their final group stage match to book a spot in the last 16 and knock their opponents out. And four years later in South Africa, they repeated the trick, as Asamoah Gyan's stoppage-time winner gave them a 2-1 triumph in a last-16 affair.
A 4-0 friendly win over South Korea earlier this month has boosted Ghana spirits but they are not getting complacent against a US side sure to be gunning for revenge.
With Germany and Portugal, ranked second and fourth in the world respectively, also in Group C, neither side can afford to drop the opening game. Jurgen Klinsmann's side – ranked 13th, 24 places above Ghana – will enter the tournament in good form after successive friendly wins against Azerbaijan, Turkey and Nigeria.
Football is steadily growing in the United States and a lengthy run in the Brazil showpiece could really ignite interest back home. Triumphs against Italy and Germany since 2012 have shown the US have a big scalp in them and although they are without all-time top scorer Landon Donovan in Brazil, Klinsmann will hope captain Clint Dempsey can fill the void.