Japan's Yuichi Nishimura is the the referee for the opening match of the 2014 FIFA World Cup between Brazil and Croatia on Thursday, 12 June. He will be assisted by countrymen Toru Sagara and Toshiyuki Nagi, with Alireza Faghani of Iran designated as the fourth official.
The 42 year old is set to become the third Japanese referee to have officiated at two World Cup finals after Shizuo Takada (1986 and 1990) and Toru Kamikawa (2002 and 2006).
In 2012, Yuichi Nishimura was named AFC Men's Referee of the Year.
