PHOTOS - FIFA World Cup Opening

The greatest show on Earth: Jennifer Lopez leads

the celebrations as Brazil's World Cup party kicks

 off in blaze of colour.

• >  
• > Pop star Jennifer Lopez helped kick off celebrations at the Arena
• > de Sao Paulo in Brazil for the World Cup opener 
• > Entertainers young and old performed to the crowd ahead of the
• > first game of the tournament -  Brazil v Croatia
• > Planning for the grand opening ceremony started back in March
• > and performers spent nearly 100 hours rehearsing
• > Brazil went behind within the first 15 minutes of the opening
• > match against Croatia after Marcelo scored an own goal

 

Thousands of fans turned out to the Arena de Sao Paulo in Brazil this evening as the opening ceremony of the World Cup got underway.

 

Entertainers performed to the jubilant crowd as superstar Jennifer Lopez took to the stage to kick off the world’s biggest football tournament.

 

The ceremony, which cost around £4.5million, was followed by the opening match of the month-long tournament - and hosts Brazil went behind within 15 minutes against Croatia after Marcelo scored an own goal. 

 
 

 

 

 

 

 

Singer Jennifer Lopez, rapper Pitbull and Brazilian popstar Claudia Leitte bounced around the giant stage as they sang the official World Cup song 'We Are one (Ola Ola)' during the opening ceremony.

 
 

 

 

 

> Superstar Jennifer Lopez sizzled in a sparkly green
>  number as she performed to thousands of people at
 the official World Cup opening ceremony.

 

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> Jennifer Lopez wore a sparkling leotard as she sang
> the official FIFA World Cup song 'We Are one (Ole Ola)'
> alongside Pitbull and Claudia Leitte.

  

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> The home fans - all in good spirits - cheered alongside
> small pockets of Croatians, who wore their team's red
> and white jersey, as the high-profile trio sang the official
>  World Cup song 'We Are one (Ole Ola)'.

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> Singer Jennifer Lopez was joined by rapper Pitbull and
> Brazilian pop star Claudia Leitte as the world's biggest
> football tournament commenced in Brazil this evening

    

> The 30-minute show was choreographed by Brazil's
> Paulo Barros and featured a variety of performers each
> dressed in random but colourful costumes.

 

> It began with children, dressed in the colours of the
> 32 nations, bouncing on trampolines as performers
>  dressed as trees and flowers walked around the centre
> of the stadium.

 

> The colourful costumes were meant to represent the
> ‘nature phase’ of the show, which celebrated the rich
>  diversity of Brazil.

 

> Another 'phase' of the ceremony saw entertainers
>  dressed as lifesize footballs and referees, as a nod
> to the start of the 2014 World Cup.

 

> All of the celebrations centred around a gigantic globe
>  situated in the middle of the Corinthians Arena and
>  performers – each dressed in an array of colourful
> outfits – danced in front of the excited crowd.

 

> The globe displayed all of the flags of the countries
>  taking part in the 2014 World Cup and resembled
>  the Brazuca - the official ball of the competition.

 

> Superstar Jennifer Lopez, rapper Pitbull and Brazilian
>  popstar Claudia Leitte headlined the show and bounced
> around the giant stage as they sang the official World
>  Cup song 'We Are one (Ola Ola)'.

 

> Miss Lopez wore a sparkling green sequin dress for
>  the performance, which delighted fans following earlier
>  reports she might not attend.

 

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> Celebrations centred around a gigantic globe situated
> in the middle of the Corinthians Arena in Sao Paulo
> and performers - dressed in an array of colourful outfits
>  and costumes - danced in front of the crowd.

 

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> A globe in the centre of the stadium displayed all of the
> flags of the countries taking part in the 2014 World Cup
> and resembled the Brazuca - the official ball of the
> competition.

 

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<img width="963" height="628" id="_x0000_i1032" src="http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2014/06/12/article-2656542-1