SAO PAULO (AP) — With all of the issues and questions
leading up to the World Cup, Itaquerao Stadium shined under blue skies
as Brazil kicked off its home World Cup with a football-style carnival.
Jennifer
Lopez, rapper Pitbull and Brazilian pop star Claudia Leitte bounced
around a giant stage resembling a peeled melon singing "We Are One" on
Brazil’s Valentine’s Day.
Brazil is ready to samba, and plans to teach the world to join in for the coming month during soccer’s
showcase tournament.
The
soccer-crazed country hoped Thursday’s Croatia-Brazil opener would just
be the start of a run to extend its record to six World Cup wins.
The field was covered in for the opening ceremony, which cost $8 million, or about $18 million Brazilian
reais.
Copyright 2014 The Associated Press. All rights
reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or
redistributed.
SAO PAULO (AP) — With all of the issues and questions
leading up to the World Cup, Itaquerao Stadium shined under blue skies
as Brazil kicked off its home World Cup with a football-style carnival.
Jennifer
Lopez, rapper Pitbull and Brazilian pop star Claudia Leitte bounced
around a giant stage resembling a peeled melon singing "We Are One" on
Brazil’s Valentine’s Day.
Brazil is ready to samba, and plans to teach the world to join in for the coming month during soccer’s
showcase tournament.
The
soccer-crazed country hoped Thursday’s Croatia-Brazil opener would just
be the start of a run to extend its record to six World Cup wins.
The field was covered in for the opening ceremony, which cost $8 million, or about $18 million Brazilian
reais.
Copyright 2014 The Associated Press. All rights
reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or
redistributed.