Brazil at the 2006 FIFA World Cup World Cup, played Cameroon in the opening match; in 1994, Germany, winner of the 1990 World Cup, played Bolivia; in 1998, Brazil played Scotland and in 2002 France played Senegal). As of the 2006 World Cup, because of the change in the rules, with the last champion no longer having a secured berth in the competition, the opening match has become another privilege of the host nation (in the 2006 World Cup, Germany, as the host nation, played Costa Rica in the opening match). Despite being the returning champion, the Brazilian team debuted, against Croatia, only four days after the
FIFA World Cup Organisers FIFA World Cup Organisers The following were the presidents of the organising committees of the FIFA World Cup, also the presidents of FIFA and the heads of state of the hosting nation included. Besides being the president of FIFA and the French Football Federation, Jules Rimet was also chairman of the organising committee of the 1938 FIFA World Cup. In addition to organising the World Cup that was played in the United States in 1994, Alan Rothenberg had been the organiser of the 1984 Summer Olympics. The 2002 World Cup, which was played in Korea and Japan, was organised for