RIO DE JANEIRO, June 12 — Rio’s famous Christ the Redeemer statue is illuminated with the colours of the 32 World Cup participating countries.

Brazil kicks off the World Cup 32-team extravaganza in the teeming mega-city of Sao Paulo, where the host nation’s beloved ‘Selecao’ faces Croatia at 5pm (4am Malaysia time) before 61,600 supporters and a worldwide television audience of several hundred million. — AFP-Relaxnews

A woman walks in front of Brazilian flags for sale on a street ahead of the 2014 World Cup in Salvador June 10, 2014. — Reuters pic