European stalwarts won title for the fourth time when substitute Mario Goetze volleyed in a brilliant goal seven minutes from the end of extra time.
Alcides Ghiggia still remembers the shocked hush in the Maracana stadium, packed with more than 200,000 people, after he scored the goal that felled soccer's superpower.
The Maracana stadium, a footballing theatre which every fan dreams of visiting, has morphed into an ultra-modern, sustainable and safe arena, albeit one with elitist traits, compared to the populist temple it once was.
FIFA is concerned about recent violence in Brazil less than two months before the country hosts the World Cup. But Marketing Director Thierry Weil says soccer's governing body is still confident that Brazil will stage "the biggest party on Earth.''
Tantrums, trickery and tragedies at the FIFA World Cup games over the years.
Manaus is the capital city of the state of Amazonas in northern Brazil. It is known as "Heart of the Amazon" and "City of the Forest". The city is hosting four group matches of the 2014 World Cup.
Rio de Janeiro is the second largest city in Brazil and will have the 2014 World Cup final in its Mara Khanna Stadium. Followings show some sceneries of the city.
FIFA secretary-general Jerome Valcke will this week increase pressure on Brazil's World Cup organizers by visiting three stadiums that are yet to be ready for football's signature event.
Former Brazil captain Lucio believes team balance will be key to the Selecao's chances of winning this year's World Cup.
A total of 1,020 unauthorized FIFA World Cup soccer trophies were intercepted on Wednesday by the customs office in Yiwu, Zhejiang province.
1,020 fake trophies were stopped before being exported to Libya. The General Administration of Customs of China launched a campaign in April to crack down on fake football-related products which violate intellectual property rights ahead of the 2014 World Cup.
The Street Child World Cup in association with Save the Children is a global movement for street children to receive the protection and opportunities to which all children are entitled to.
Tickets for nearly two-thirds of the World Cup matches were sold out within hours of FIFA opening the final online sales phase on Tuesday.
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