The host nation will kick off the 2014 World Cup with Brazil taking on Croatia Group A and tournament opening match.

As the host nation, Brazil is obviously going to outweigh any opponent in fan support, but on the field, the team may also have the upper hand. Led by star striker Neymar Jr., Brazil is expected to beat out Croatia, Mexico and Cameroon in the group.

CLICK HERE to watch the match. Coverage starts at 3:30 p.m. ET.

According to FIFA.com, the officiating crew will be made up of three Japanese referees and on Iranian. The teams will play in the Arena Corinthians in the city of Sao Paulo, a stadium that seats 61,606 and was constructed earlier this year to prepare for the World Cup.

According to Weather.com, the weather in Sao Paulo will be hot during the day, potentially reaching the 90s, and will cool off in the evening. As the sun goes down, the humidity is expected rise. The match will at least be played under clear conditions.

Brazil has appeared in 20 World Cup tournaments, its first being in 1930. They have won soccer's biggest tournament five times (1958, 1962, 1970, 1994 and 2002).

Arguably one of the greatest soccer players to ever play in the world, Pele, leads all Brazilian footballers with 77 goals in an international career that began in 1957 and ended in 1971. The International Federation of Football History and Statistics voted Pele as the best Brazilian soccer player of the 20th century. Neymar ranks 11th among Brazilian goal scorers with 31.

On the other end of the pitch, is Croatia, a nation whose best World Cup finish was third place 1998, which was the first of its four appearances. Croatia played well in the friendly matches leading up to the World Cup, tying Switzerland and beating Mali and Australia.