Tauranga City's Brazilian community is at fever pitch this morning as all eyes turn to Brazil and the global spectacle that is the 2014 FIFA World Cup.

The 20th edition of the global footballing event is taking place in the South American country – one of football's spiritual homelands – kicking off with Brazil taking on Croatia this morning.

Brazilians at Armazem this morning watching the first game of the FIFA World Cup.

It is the second time Brazil has hosted the competition after hosting it in 1950. They are also the only team to have played in every tournament.

Brazilian fan Renelyn Christo has mixed emotions watching the opening match as accusations of corruption and mismanagement swirl amidst the celebrations.

Media are reporting talks of budgets tripling for the construction of some stadiums with companies that won construction contracts donating large sums to political campaigns.

This is bringing people from many parts of Brazil out onto the streets to protest, angry the money did not go to fund schools and healthcare.

'I'm still lost because so many things have happened in Brazil with the tournament and corruption. There is happiness, frustration and anger,” says Renelyn.

'It's because they have spent a lot of money on the World Cup and they should do that and I'm proud of that. But I'm so angry about the corruption as it's supposed to be three billion but it's 26 billion.”

Renelyn is among 40 die-heard fans at Armazem Restaurant and Bar at Mount Maunganui today. The Espirito Santo native remains upbeat about Brazil and believes they will be a competitive force at the finals stage of the tournament.

Lead by the nations 'golden egg” and striker Neymar, the side is looking to lift a sixth World Cup title, continuing its presence as the most successful nation in the tournament's history.

In the 19 tournaments so far, just eight teams have lifted the coveted trophy; Brazil five times, Italy with four, West Germany with three, Argentina and inaugural winners Uruguay, with two titles, and England, France and Spain with one a piece.

Renelyn will be watching as many matches as she can, including every Brazilian match, but admits it is an unusual feeling to not be watching it in her homeland.

'We are pretty excited. It's a pretty strange feeling for me because I usually watch all the action in South America, but now I'm in New Zealand.”

In this morning's match, Renelyn is predicting a 4-0 victory to the home side, getting them off to a positive start.

'Brazil is really good and Croatia has a good reputation but they don't have a good team.”

The event is among the world's most widely viewed sporting events with an estimated 715.1 million people watching the 2006 final between Spain and the Netherlands.

The FIFA World Cup runs from June 12 to July 13.


Sonia Donatelli, Renelyn Christo and Lara Fumandis.