Brazil World Cup 2014

Mexico plays its first World Cup match today at 10 a.m. versus Cameroon. And you can bet Ticos will be rooting against Mexico. A new poll by YouGov and The New York Times' Upshot confirmed this ostensible feeling as fact.

SÃO PAULO, Brazil – As a nearly full moon glowed beyond a corner of Arena de São Paulo on Thursday evening, strange events seized the first match of the World Cup. A bank of lights at the flawed stadium flickered off, casting an eerie shadow as Brazil and Croatia played on.

Not going to Brazil for the 2014 World Cup? Costa Rica residents not dropping mega-cash to travel to the South American country can enjoy the matches on giant screens and enjoy concerts and other public events taking place in the capital and across the country.

Can Costa Rica win a match in brutal Group D? Tell us your predictions in the comments.

SÃO PAULO, Brazil — Antonio da Silva sat atop a dilapidated wooden throne in the middle of the city. Below him a man shined his brown leather shoes, and in front, the bustling public square Praça da Se came to life. Street performers and sidewalk evangelists harmonized and sermonized away the final hours before chaos was scheduled to give way to competition.

Heiner Mora becomes the third Tico in the past five weeks to lose his spot in the World Cup to injury.

Police in São Paulo fired tear gas Monday to disperse protesters supporting a subway strike that has unleashed transport chaos three days before the Brazilian mega-city hosts the World Cup kickoff.

Nistelrooy Martínez came prepared Saturday afternoon: a blue jersey, a vuvuzela and, painted on his cheeks, the Salvadoran flag.

Costa Rica, down one man, rallied for a 1-1 tie against Ireland in Philadelphia on Friday night during the team's last warm-up before the World Cup.

Brazil will win the soccer World Cup that starts next week, according to model run by UBS in response to client demand. (They were wrong in 2010.)