Brazil will face Croatia in the Opening Match of the 2014 FIFA World Cup on 12 June, 2013!
This year’s edition will be the 20th edition! Scheduled to take place in Brazil from 12 June to 13 July 2014, the 2014 FIFA World Cup will be the second time this tournament is hosted in Brazil, the previous being in 1950.
Brazil was elected unchallenged as host nation in 2007 after the international football federation, FIFA, decreed that the tournament would be staged in South America for the first time since 1978 in Argentina.
The national teams of 31 countries advanced through qualification competitions that began in June 2011 to participate with the host nation Brazil in the final tournament.
A total of 64 matches are to be played in twelve cities across Brazil in either new or redeveloped stadiums, with the tournament beginning with a group stage.
For the first time at a World Cup Finals, the matches will use goal-line technology.
Spain is the defending champion, having defeated the Netherlands 1–0 in the 2010 World Cup final to win its first World title.
The previous four World Cup Finals staged in South America were all won by South American teams.
Here’s the full list of the draws
Group A: Brazil, Croatia, Mexico, Cameroon
Group B: Spain, Netherlands, Chile, Australia
Group C: Colombia, Greece, Cote d’Ivoire, Japan
Group D: Uruguay, Costa Rica, England, Italy
Group E: Switzerland, Ecuador, France, Honduras
Group F: Argentina, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Iran, Nigeria
Group G: Germany, Portugal, Ghana, USA
Group H: Belgium, Algeria, Russia, Korea Republic
CLICK HERE to see the DRAW PROCEDURE. See MATCH SCHEDULE here!