Sao Paulo: Brazil kicks off the World Cup Thursday hoping to unite the football-mad country after a chaotic seven-year build-up plagued by violent protests. The 32-team extravaganza gets under way in the teeming mega-city of Sao Paulo, where the host nation's beloved 'Selecao' faces Croatia at 5:00 pm (1500 GMT) before 61,600 supporters and a worldwide television audience of several hundred million.
Thursday's Group A match signals the start of a month-long football fiesta taking place against backdrops which showcase Brazil's breathtaking diversity, from the picture postcard beauty of Rio de Janeiro to fading colonial grandeur of Manaus, deep in the Amazon.
After years of apathy and simmering resentment at the tournament's record $11-billion price tag, Brazilians were grudgingly embracing World Cup fever in the final hours before the big kick-off.
Read: Brazil police, protesters clash as World Cup begins
Brazil coach Luiz Felipe Scolari urged compatriots to unite behind his players as they launched their bid for glory. "To all Brazilians I want to tell you the time has arrived. This is our World Cup," Scolari said in an eve-of-tournament rallying cry.
The popular Scolari, who masterminded Brazil's last World Cup win in 2002, said his team were seven matches from immortality. "The first step is Croatia," he said. "After that we have six steps that we want to go up if we want to win the World Cup.
World Cup fever
As the last of the 32 teams who will contest the greatest prize in football arrived in Brazil, mounting evidence of World Cup fever was visible. Rio's iconic Christ the Redeemer statue has been illuminated in the colors of all nations taking part while Brazilian flags fluttered from cars, bars and apartments as excitement built.
In Rio de Janeiro, some of the 600,000 foreign fans travelling to Brazil thronged the famous Copacabana beach, staging impromptu football matches.
Hollywood star Leonardo DiCaprio was among the overseas multitude jetting into the country, taking in the tournament from the luxury of a mega-yacht offshore.
Twelve government leaders or heads of state will be among the VIPS at Thursday's opening ceremony. But even though more Brazilians are sporting the yellow jersey of star forward Neymar, discontent continues to bubble. Scattered protests are planned in several host cities during the tournament.
And as Sao Paulo subway workers late Wednesday voted against a repeat of the strike which plunged the city into gridlocked paralysis last week, airport workers in Rio announced a partial 24-hour walkout. "We're Brazilian and we continue to root for Brazil, but it's our duty to fight for workers rights," union leader Rui Pessoa said.
Read: 2014 FIFA World Cup: Who's saying what at the World Cup
Public rage
The multi-billion-dollar cost of the World Cup has angered many in a country which has chronically under-funded health and public services and rampant violent crime. Rage at poor public services morphed into a nationwide movement during last year's Confederations Cup test event, with deadly clashes rippling across the nation. For the World Cup, a vast security blanket is being deployed, with 150,000 soldiers and police on duty along with 20,000 private security officers.
Brazil's President Dilma Rousseff warned that her government will not tolerate a repeat of last year's protests. "We will guarantee the security of Brazilians and of those who come visit us," she said.
Football's governing body FIFA begins the tournament under mounting pressure over allegations of corruption linked to its decision to award the 2022 World Cup to Qatar. FIFA President Sepp Blatter has responded to the scandals by shoring up his power base.
On Wednesday he signalled his intention to seek a fifth four-year term next year, despite calls for him to step down. "My mandate will finish next year... but my mission is not finished," he said to boos from sections of the FIFA Congress.
Japanese former FIFA executive committee member Junji Ogura however said many senior officials wanted to see the Qatar allegations examined. "There are a lot of people in the executive committee who feel that way, and it's why things are being investigated," Ogura, the Japan Football Association's honorary president, told Kyodo News.
For all the off-field problems, the tournament itself has the makings of a classic. Reigning champions Spain are bidding to make history by becoming the first side from Europe to win a World Cup in South America, which last hosted the tournament in 1978.
Vicente del Bosque's side have dominated international football for the past six years, winning two consecutive European championships either side of their 2010 World Cup triumph.
With that in mind, let the games begin. Read: FIFA World Cup 2014: Let the party begin
Here are some things to look forward to:
NEYMAR'S MOMENT: Carrying the hopes of a nation is something that gives the 22-year-old Brazil striker goose bumps.
"The time everybody has been waiting for has arrived," said Neymar, who will direct the attack for a team that is aiming to "fulfill the dream of every Brazilian by winning the title."
The Barcelona forward has scored 31 goals in 49 matches for Brazil, but he says it's not a one-man show.
"I don't play by myself," Neymar said. "There are 11 players on the field, and everybody knows their role and what they need to do to try to help our team make it far in the tournament."
SPOILERS: Croatia will shock the host nation and the world if they come away with even a draw, particularly without Bayern Munich forward Mario Mandzukic, who was suspended following a red card in a playoff to qualify.
Croatia, which surprisingly finished third in 1998, features Real Madrid midfielder Luka Modric and Sevilla captain Ivan Rakitic, who is moving to Barcelona and will be Neymar's teammate.
Croatia coach Niko Kovac said his team can deliver a "historic result" in Sao Paulo.
EDGE OF THEIR SEATS: With hundreds of millions of people watching on TV, organizers at Itaquerao stadium have extra cause to be edgy about preparations.
The Sao Paulo venue is set to hold a capacity crowd for the first time in the opening match of the World Cup.
The 61,600 spectators will certainly test the facility and put a strain on safety plans and equipment, which was still receiving finishing touches Wednesday after chronic delays, worker deaths and other problems during construction.
Just two matches - and none with more than 37,000 fans - were held at the Itaquerao to test its readiness.
WE ARE ONE: J.Lo is likely to perform at the World Cup after all. Jennifer Lopez told The Associated Press earlier this week that she would be flying to Brazil in time to perform during Thursday's opening ceremony.
"We always were going," she said. "I think people get anxious, especially with me and my schedule ... but we are definitely going."
FIFA officials had announced earlier this week that the singer wouldn't perform the official tune "We Are One (Ole Ola)" alongside Pitbull and Claudia Leitte.
UPSET WATCH: Brazil has won 15 of its last 16 games and heads into the World Cup as a favorite to win the title, but Luiz Felipe Scolari's squad is aware that there's no easy opener at the sport's marquee event.
The World Cup has produced its share of shockers on opening day. Until 2006, the first game usually involved the defending champion, not the host. Two of the biggest: Cameroon upset defending champion Argentina 1-0 in 1990, and defending champion France lost 1-0 to Senegal in 2002.
