The national teams of 31 countries advanced through qualification competitions that began in June 2011 to participate with the host nation Brazil in the final tournament. A total of 64 matches are being played in 12 cities across Brazil in either new or redeveloped stadiums. For the first time at a World Cup finals, match officials are using goal-line technology, as well as vanishing spray for free kicks.[2]
With the host country, all world champion teams since the first World Cup in 1930: Argentina, England, France, Germany (who won the tournament three times as West Germany), Italy, Spain and Uruguay, have qualified for this competition. Spain is the defending champion, having defeated the Netherlands 1–0 in the 2010 final to win its first World Cup. All previous four World Cup tournaments staged in South America were won by South American teams.
Team base camps
The base camps are used by 32 national squads to stay and train before and during the World Cup tournament. On 31 January 2014, FIFA announced the base camps for each participating team,[20] having earlier circulated a brochure of 84 prospective locations.[22] Only five teams have opted to stay in the northern region of Brazil.[23]
The official ball of the 2014 World Cup is the Adidas Brazuca. The name was selected by a public vote that received responses from more than 1 million Brazilian football fans; ''Brazuca" received over 70 per cent of the vote. It is produced by Adidas, the official FIFA World Cup match ball supplier since 1970. The ball was manufactured by Forward Sports of Sialkot, Pakistan for Adidas.
For the first time at a World Cup Finals ,the officials are being assisted by goal-line technology. The previous World Cup was a catalyst for the decision to adopt technology after England were wrongly denied a goal in their round of 16 tie against Germany. Following the mistake in this game, FIFA President Sepp Blatter said "it would be a nonsense not to reopen the file on goal-line technology"[32] and in 2012 the IFAB approved its usage.[33] This is the fourth FIFA competition to use the technology after successful trials at 2012 Club World Cup, 2013 Club World Cup and 2013 Confederations Cup. The German company GoalControl was selected as the tournament's official goal-line technology provider in October 2013.[34]
Following successful trials,[nb 3] FIFA approved the use of vanishing spray by the referees for the first time at a World Cup Finals. The water-based spray, which disappears within minutes of application, can be used to mark a ten-yard line for the defending team during a free kick and also to draw where the ball is to be placed for a free kick.[35]
For the first time at a World Cup Finals ,the officials are being assisted by goal-line technology. The previous World Cup was a catalyst for the decision to adopt technology after England were wrongly denied a goal in their round of 16 tie against Germany. Following the mistake in this game, FIFA President Sepp Blatter said "it would be a nonsense not to reopen the file on goal-line technology"[32] and in 2012 the IFAB approved its usage.[33] This is the fourth FIFA competition to use the technology after successful trials at 2012 Club World Cup, 2013 Club World Cup and 2013 Confederations Cup. The German company GoalControl was selected as the tournament's official goal-line technology provider in October 2013.[34]
Following successful trials,[nb 3] FIFA approved the use of vanishing spray by the referees for the first time at a World Cup Finals. The water-based spray, which disappears within minutes of application, can be used to mark a ten-yard line for the defending team during a free kick and also to draw where the ball is to be placed for a free kick.[35]
