World Cup 2014 Opening Ceremony Time, Live Stream Free & TV Schedule: Latest News Updates
The 2014 World Cup kicks off Thursday with what is anticipated to be a dramatic opening ceremony, complete with pop stars and cultural displays from host nation Brazil. According to Bleacher Report, the event will be similar to recent opening ceremonies of the Olympic Games, and the inaugural match between Brazil and Croatia is set to immediately follow the performance.
Here is everything you need in order to tune in and watch on Thursday.
When: Thursday, June 12
Where: Arena Corinthians de Sao Paulo, Sao Paulo, Brazil
Opening Ceremony: 2 p.m. ET, 7 p.m. BST
Match Kick-Off: 4 p.m. ET, 9 p.m. BST
TV (US): ESPN
TV (U.K.): ITV
Live Stream: ESPN3, ITV Player
In an odd development, Fifa announced that the opening ceremony will not feature any speeches, a move said to be an attempt to quell any social unrest during the world's most popular sporting event.
All that aside, the opening ceremony looks to be a lot of fun. The program is scheduled to last 25 minutes and will feature two main components, the first of which is an ensemble show featuring singers and dancers celebrating Brazilian history and culture. Musical acts from pop stars are to follow the ensemble section and will feature Pitbull, Jennifer Lopez and Brazil's own Claudia Leitte, who will all perform the hit single "We Are One (Ole Ola)." According to Bleacher Report, the song has become an international hit in recent weeks and has over 40 million views on YouTube. "We Are One (Ole Ola)" is the official song of the tournament and will be heavily featured throughout the 2014 World Cup.
There was some controversy earlier this week surrounding Jennifer Lopez allegedly pulling out of the opening ceremony; however, Lopez' representative announced that was not the case, "Any statements to the contrary were premature. Jennifer would not want to disappoint her fans or fans of futbol. She will be there."
According to Fifa, the show's artistic director, Daphne Cornez, has stated the spirits of all involved are high, "Everyone is very motivated. It doesn't matter whether they're feeling tired...they just keep on smiling. It's amazing."
Even though the ceremony will last under a half-hour, according to Fifa each minute of the performance viewers will see actually represents 20 hours of preparation, with a total of 84 hours of rehearsal occurring before the final performance.
Organizers also had to be extra careful that the ceremony sets and performers do not damage the stadium pitch, since the inaugural game is to immediately follow the performance. According to Fifa, pitch specialists have worked closely with ceremony organizers to ensure no damage occurs.