Japanese Referee To Officiate First World Cup Game

Brazil is the host of the 2014 World Cup, Spain is the champion, Holland is runners-up but none of the countries will be taking the centre field in the first game of the World Cup.

It is now official that Japan will be the first to kick off the World Cup as FIFA has named three Japanese referees to officiate the first game of the World Cup between hosts Brazil and Croatia.

Centre referee Nishimura Yuichi will be the first person on planet to hold the Brazuca into the field of play in the FIFA World Cup. The Japanese referee has officiated in football games around the world for different confederations.

He was the only Asian referee and one of three judges selected to judge in the 2008 African Cup of Nations, refereed the Uruguay vs France game at the 2010 FIFA World Cup. He also officiated the quarterfinal game between Brazil and Netherlands and was the 4th official in the final between Netherlands and Spain.

The 47 year-old referee was also in charge of the  2010 FIFA Club World Cup between Inter Milan and TP Mazembe, Nishimura also refereed the final match of the 2010 AFC Champions League Final, Seongnam Ilhwa Chunma vs. Zob Ahan.

The referee will be assisted by two other Japanese referees Sagara Toru and Nagi Toshiyuki; Iranian referess Faghani Alizera and Kamranifar Hassan are the fourth and Reserve Assistant referees.