The “New Corinthians Stadium” in Sao Paulo has bee
choosen to host the opening ceremony which is promising to be one the
biggest showpiece curtain raiser in the recently history.
19:37
The ball is opening!
And now the ball in the middle of the pitch has split into
segments to reveal, oh yes, Jennifer Lopez belting out the official
World Cup song 'We Are One (Ola Ola)' alongside Pitbull.
She's wearing a very revealing green sequin dress and looking very fine indeed. He's wearing white trousers that look uncomfortably high.
We've also got the delightful Claudia Leitte on stage in a blue sparkly dress.
She's wearing a very revealing green sequin dress and looking very fine indeed. He's wearing white trousers that look uncomfortably high.
We've also got the delightful Claudia Leitte on stage in a blue sparkly dress.
19:32
Oh, a bit of football...
Now, at last, the ceremony acknowledges that a football
tournament is about to take place as kids in the colours of the 32
nations make their way into the middle and show off some juggling skills
with a ball on an elastic string.
The colourful globe in the middle going mad now, showing the flags of all the countries and then the Brazuca, the official ball of the competition.
The colourful globe in the middle going mad now, showing the flags of all the countries and then the Brazuca, the official ball of the competition.
19:30
PICTURES - The Opening Ceremony in full swing
19:28
Capoeira on display
Now a demonstration of the traditional and very exciting Brazilian martial art of Capoeira. England's players tried their hand at it when they toured Rio de Janeiro the other day.
19:25
Celebrating the diversity of Brazil
We've now moved on from the nature phase to celebrate the
rich diversity of Brazil, with hundreds of performers in bright costumes
twirling around and dancing to a classic Brazilian rhythm.
Doghouse: One fan pleads for forgiveness from their significant other
Refreshed: While others in those famous yellow shirts and face-paint enjoy a beer in the stands
19:23
Hours of planning and preparation for opening ceremony
The preparations for the opening ceremony as thorough as for
the tournament itself. Workshops to find and train those taking part
tonight started back in March and there have been some 84 hours of
rehearsals to get them fully drilled and in sync.
At the moment, the rather mesmerizing ball continues to swirl and glow in its many colours as everyone dances around. some are on trampolines and some in canoes, each aspect designed to reflect a part of Brazilian life.
At the moment, the rather mesmerizing ball continues to swirl and glow in its many colours as everyone dances around. some are on trampolines and some in canoes, each aspect designed to reflect a part of Brazilian life.
Larger than life: A colourful prop in the opening ceremony, followed by a group of performers
19:18
We're underway
The opening ceremony underway now in Sao Paulo and, at the
moment, we have lots of people dressed as trees and flowers striding
their way across the very colourful stage.
In the centre of it all, a swirling multi-coloured ball serves as an eye-catching centrepiece.
Each of the props used in tonight's ceremony has been designed with an even weight distribution so as not to cause any damage to the playing surface here.
If you've seen the shocking state of the pitch in Manaus, where England will play Italy on Saturday, you'll know this is very wise indeed.
In the centre of it all, a swirling multi-coloured ball serves as an eye-catching centrepiece.
Each of the props used in tonight's ceremony has been designed with an even weight distribution so as not to cause any damage to the playing surface here.
If you've seen the shocking state of the pitch in Manaus, where England will play Italy on Saturday, you'll know this is very wise indeed.
Blooming: People dressed as colourful flowers take part in the opening act of the ceremony
The one they all want: Mexico fans in the crowd pose with a replica of the trophy
19:15
Schedule
A little bit of time-keeping for you - the opening ceremony
is expected to get underway at 7.15pm UK time (so very shortly indeed)
and will last about 25 minutes or so.
There will then be quite a lot of time for Adrian Chiles and his ITV colleagues to fill until the actual kick-off at 9pm.
There will then be quite a lot of time for Adrian Chiles and his ITV colleagues to fill until the actual kick-off at 9pm.
19:13
Oliver Todd: While coaches speak of the
value of experience at a World Cup, it is inevitably the lesser heard-of
young players who provide some of every tournament’s stand-out moments.
Roy Hodgson has made the effort to inject his squad with young talent to spring a surprise on England’s opponents, but across the competition other countries are doing the same with not-so-big names looking to make an impact.
So looking ahead, here’s 10 players you might not have heard of who can light up the World Cup.
Click the link above to read.
Roy Hodgson has made the effort to inject his squad with young talent to spring a surprise on England’s opponents, but across the competition other countries are doing the same with not-so-big names looking to make an impact.
So looking ahead, here’s 10 players you might not have heard of who can light up the World Cup.
Click the link above to read.
19:09
From referees squirting shaving foam on the pitch to mystic turtles, here's Riath Al-Samarrai with a top ten of things you will see at the World Cup for the first time this summer.
And, yes, he has included England winning a penalty shoot-out. To be fair, we are long overdue a taste of success from 12 yards.
Click on the link above to read.
And, yes, he has included England winning a penalty shoot-out. To be fair, we are long overdue a taste of success from 12 yards.
Click on the link above to read.
Stage is set: Setting up the opening ceremony in Sao Paulo
19:06
The world's greatest ever party is about to begin
There won't be a spare seat at the Arena de Sao Paulo this
evening as the 20th World Cup finals get underway and the samba
celebrations are already in full swing.
Time to celebrate: At last, the Brazil World Cup is here and the action can commence
19:00
The long wait is finally over...
Let the endless debate and discussion cease, get your mates
on the sofa, unplug the phone, get the chilled beers from the fridge,
get the takeaway ordered and enjoy a full month of world class football.
The World Cup kicks off this evening, the pomp and pageantry of the opening ceremony at the Arena de Sao Paulo leading in to the first course - Brazil vs Croatia.
Stay with me here for all the best pictures and coverage of the opening ceremony and then I'll hand you over to Mr Dan Ripley for the first of 64 matches at the world's greatest sporting spectacle.
The World Cup kicks off this evening, the pomp and pageantry of the opening ceremony at the Arena de Sao Paulo leading in to the first course - Brazil vs Croatia.
Stay with me here for all the best pictures and coverage of the opening ceremony and then I'll hand you over to Mr Dan Ripley for the first of 64 matches at the world's greatest sporting spectacle.
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