[Berlin_Freeper]

Thousands flee floods in World Cup host city
The civil defense department in Brazil’s Parana state said that 132 cities have been flooded there, including the state capital of Curitiba that will host four World Cup games.

[Berlin_Freeper]

Nishimura of Japan to referee World Cup opener
Japanese referee Yuichi Nishimura will handle the opening game of the World Cup between Brazil and Croatia as FIFA picked the same official who oversaw the Brazilians' elimination in the last tournament in South Africa.

FIFA also selected Nicola Rizzoli of Italy to officiate the hotly-anticipated Group B game between world champion Spain and the Netherlands, a rematch of the ill-tempered final four years ago.