BERLIN: Some 1.5 billion people worldwide are expected to watch Germany face Costa Rica on television at the opening match of football's World Cup, German public broadcaster ZDF said on Thursday.

"Football fans in 200 countries will be able to watch the game in Munich live," ZDF sports director Dieter Gruschwitz said, referring to Friday's opener.

Media experts estimate 15 to 20 million Germans will be glued to their sets during the first match with hundreds of thousands more expected at public viewing screens erected throughout the country.