Brazil opens the football World Cup on Thursday facing a test both as a host country and on the field, as its team plays in the opening match of the tournament that oddsmakers expect it to win.
The government spent $11.5 billion to prepare for the month-long event, including building or upgrading stadiums in 12 cities hosting games among the 32-team field. Protesters plan to hold rallies Thursday, continuing their criticism of spending they say is badly needed on other things in Brazil.
The event kicks off with an opening ceremony in Sao Paulo before Brazil takes on Croatia. The host country is trying to win a record sixth World Cup title, and its first since 2002.
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Joy of World Cup Evades Sao Paulo Shantytown
Other teams expected to challenge for the World Cup trophy include Argentina, defending champion Spain, and Germany, which has to first make it through the so-called "Group of Death."
The tournament is played in two stages. The first lasts two weeks with the four teams in each of eight groups playing games against one another. The top two teams in each group then move on to a single-elimination bracket, with a champion being crowned on July 13.
Germany, currently ranked second in the world by World Cup organizer FIFA, is in a group with fourth-ranked Portugal, the United States and Ghana, all of which made it to the round of 16 at the last World Cup in 2010.
Another tough group to watch is the only other to feature more than one top-10 team. It pits seventh-ranked Uruguay against ninth-ranked Italy, 10th-ranked England and number 28 Costa Rica.
