Refereeing controversies are to World Cups what gaffes are to political campaigns: overly discussed and inevitable. This year’s tournament kicked off yesterday, and already it has its first. In the opening game between Croatia and Brazil—this year’s host and the most soccer-crazed nation on earth—the heavily favored Brazilians played unevenly.

If there's one thing English people love more than cocaine, it's soccer. The problem is, fans up and down the country might have a tough time getting a buzz on during the World Cup thanks to an unprecedented coke drought. Traditionally, the tournament is a boomtime for dealers, and you'd expect a combination of sunny weather and games that potentially won't finish until 3 AM local time to fuel demand among all-day drinkers who don't want to fall asleep in public.

In a case of “it seemed like a good idea at the time,” three doves were released just before the start of the 2014 FIFA World Cup in Brazil. Two died shortly afterwards. A reporter from The Guardian at the game noticed the doves crash land into the stands.

Van Persie's flying header vs Spain on Friday June 12 2014, in World Cup match between Netherlands and Spain. Candidate for goal of the tournament?

Nando Vila and Joseph O’Neill on the Epic Rematch...That No One's Talking About 

When Iran faces off against Nigeria for a June 16 match in the FIFA World Cup, fans in both teams’ home countries may be hard-pressed to find a public spot to watch the game. In an attempt at crowd control, Iranian police banned cafes and restaurants from airing World Cup games, even Iran's own matches, the BBC reported Tuesday, citing local media. The decision came just weeks after the country banned women from watching the games with men in public cinemas.

Out of Many, One 2014 World Cup Promo for the United States Men's National Soccer Team

The final hours of build up to the most eagerly but most nervously anticipated sporting event in decades began with tear gas, rubber bullets and stun grenades fired down the streets of Sao Paulo, as the promised and much feared protests materialised, where there was hope that they wouldn't.

Most of the world can watch the World Cup for free. Not so much in the US. The tournament, which begins today, will largely air on cable; streaming matches online also requires a television subscription. But there are a few options for so-called cord cutters who don’t pay for TV but still want to watch the World Cup.

All the colour and drama from the Fifa World Cup opening ceremony at the Arena in Sao Paulo.

The land of sun, sex, and soccer couldn’t be more down about the World Cup.

World Cup soccer excitement has launched into space. Three astronauts in orbit are getting into the World Cup spirit on the International Space Station. The crewmembers are joining with billions of soccer fans back on Earth to root for their favorite teams in the 2014 FIFA World Cup tournament, which starts today (June 12) in Brazil.

Most of the world can watch the World Cup for free. Not so much in the US. The tournament, which begins today, will largely air on cable; streaming matches online also requires a television subscription. But there are a few options for so-called cord cutters who don't pay for TV but still want to watch the World Cup....

Brazil's fraught racial and sexual history with soccer—and my family's fraught history with Brazil.

Italy are a bunch of up-tempo, passionate over-actors, right? England are stout and defensive, but kinda boring, yes? Every South American team is fiery and skillful; every African team is a surprise underdog; the Germans play with ruthless, dull efficiency. But this is the World Cup—a country's identity can change so much even between tournaments.

The World Cup is apparently making a lot of people “ill” in China. Football fans are preparing for the kick off the biggest sporting event of the year by purchasing fake sick notes online.

Drug cartels in Peru and Bolivia, two of the world's top producers of cocaine, are drooling over the bountiful market being served up next door by the World Cup in Brazil. "We have observed very intense drug trafficking activity as the World Cup approaches," General Vicente Romero, director of Peru's anti-drug agency, known as DIRANDRO, told AFP.

Brazil is a wonderful place for the World Cup, the quadrennial soccer tournament that begins there on Thursday, but it could prove problematic for traveling fans who suffer from two of the most common phobias: arachnophobia and ophidiophobia, which is even harder to pronounce when a viper is slithering toward you.

In 1971, the organizers of the World Cup found themselves without a cup to call their own. The year before, Pelé’s Brazil had won the tournament for the third time, which meant they got to keep the trophy. As Brazil’s captain, Carlos Alberto, held the trophy aloft on a blazing hot day in Mexico City’s Azteca Stadium, there was a sense that the title, previously kept by the winning team for the four years in between tournaments, really was coming home.