--- description: Thursday marks the start of the highly anticipated 2014 World Cup. These photos chronicle everything that's happening on and off the field title: On the Field and in the Streets: Photos From the World Cup Kickoff image: https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/blta950d51a4b8d18e3/69869768d0b6f20bf2304d58/world-cup-brazil.jpg?branch=production&width=3840&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=16:9 ---  * [World](/section/world/) ## World Update your preferences in [Account Settings](/account/preferences/) Close * [World Cup](/tag/world-cup/) ## World Cup Update your preferences in [Account Settings](/account/preferences/) Close # On the Field and in the Streets: Photos From the World Cup Kickoff by [TIME Staff](/author/time-staff/) ## TIME Staff Update your preferences in [Account Settings](/account/preferences/) Close Jun 12, 2014 7:42 PM CUT  The Brazilian flag is seen at the base of the statue of the Christ the Redeemer on top of Corcovado hill in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, on June 12, 2014 The Brazilian flag is seen at the base of the statue of the Christ the Redeemer on top of Corcovado hill in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, on June 12, 2014Ben Stansall—AFP/Getty Images by [TIME Staff](/author/time-staff/) ## TIME Staff Update your preferences in [Account Settings](/account/preferences/) Close Jun 12, 2014 7:42 PM CUT Some 600,000 international travelers are crowding into the excited streets of Brazil to experience the 2014 World Cup. The highly anticipated month-long tournament kicks off today with a game between Croatia and Brazil. As festivities unfold throughout the day, _TIME_ will be updating FIFA fans at home with photos capturing the action both on and off the field  The Brazilian flag is seen at the base of the statue of the Christ the Redeemer on top of Corcovado hill in Rio de Janeiro on June 12, 2014. Ben Stansall—AFP/Getty Images  Dancers perform during the opening ceremony prior to the FIFA World Cup 2014 group A preliminary round match between Brazil and Croatia at the Arena Corinthians in Sao Paulo on June 12, 2014. Mauricio Duenas—EPA  A dancer performs during the opening ceremony of the 2014 World Cup at the Corinthians arena in Sao Paulo on June 12, 2014. Ivan Alverado—Reuters  Performers participate in the opening ceremony of the 2014 World Cup at the Corinthians arena in Sao Paulo on June 12, 2014. Damir Saolj—Reuters  Performers take part in the opening ceremony of the 2014 FIFA World Cup at the Corinthians Arena in Sao Paulo on June 12, 2014. Fabrice Coffrini—AFP/Getty Images  A brazilian soccer fan walks on the street near the Corinthians Arena ahead the 2014 World Cup match between Brazil and Croatia in Sao Paulo on June 12, 2014. Ricardo Mores—Reuters  A reflection of cheering fans is seen before the 2014 World Cup opening match between Brazil and Croatia at the Corinthians arena in Sao Paulo on June 12, 2014. Ivan Alvarado—Reuters  Brazil's national soccer players pose for a team photo before their 2014 World Cup opening match against Croatia at the Corinthians arena in Sao Paulo on June 12, 2014. Paulo Whitaker—Reuters  Brazil and Croatia players stand in a circle as doves are released before kickoff at the 2014 World Cup opening match at the Corinthians arena in Sao Paulo on June 12, 2014. Fabrizio Bensch—Reuters  Sao Paulo residents hang out on the roof of a building in a neighborhood adjacent to Itaquerao Stadium, where fans gathered on the stands before the start of the World Cup opening match between Brazil and Croatia in group A in Sao Paulo on June 12, 2014. Julio Cortez—AP  Brazil's Neymar fights for the ball with Croatia's Ivan Rakitic during their 2014 World Cup opening match at the Corinthians arena in Sao Paulo on June 12, 2014. Fabrizio Bensch—Reuters  Ivan Perisic of Croatia celebrates a first half goal during the 2014 FIFA World Cup Brazil Group A match between Brazil and Croatia at Arena de Sao Paulo on June 12, 2014 in Sao Paulo. Adam Pretty—Getty Images  A Brazil soccer fan watches a screen broadcasting the World Cup opening match between Brazil and Croatia inside the FIFA Fan Fest area on Copacabana beach in Rio de Janeiro on June 12, 2014. Silvia Izquierdo—AP  Croatia's goalkeeper Stipe Pletikosa fails to save the goal scored by Brazil's Neymar (unseen) during the 2014 World Cup opening match at the Corinthians arena in Sao Paulo on June 12, 2014. Paulo Whitaker—Reuters  Brazil's Neymar celebrates a goal during the 2014 World Cup opening match between Brazil and Croatia at the Corinthians arena in Sao Paulo June 12, 2014. Murad Sezer—Reuters  Brazil soccer fan reacts after the second goal for Brazil during the first 2014 World Cup soccer match between Brazil and Croatia, in a restaurant in Lille, northern France on June 12, 2014 Michel Spingler—AP  Croatia's players react after conceding a goal to Brazil's Oscar (unseen) during their 2014 World Cup opening match at the Corinthians arena in Sao Paulo on June 12, 2014. Pawel Kopcznski—Reuters  A supportersof the Brazilian national football team holds a Brazilian flag out of a car window in Itu, Brazil on June 12, 2014. Kirill Kudryavtsev—AFP/Getty Images ```json [{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"NewsArticle","@id":"https://time.com/2863621/world-cup-brazil-first-day/","mainEntityOfPage":{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https://time.com/2863621/world-cup-brazil-first-day/"},"headline":"On the Field and in the Streets: Photos From the World Cup Kickoff","datePublished":"2014-06-12T19:42:24.000Z","dateModified":"2026-05-11T05:08:17.102Z","description":"Thursday marks the start of the highly anticipated 2014 World Cup. 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