After so much talk about delays, protests and problems, fans will at last get a chance to cheer for Brazil's national team on home soil in Sao Paulo in football's 2014 FIFA World Cup opening game. Rio de Janeiro, the second largest city in Brazil, will host a succession of matches including the final match of the World Cup. We put together this set of images that underline Rio's sweeping beauty, from glowing amber sunsets to poignant moments found in our historic photo archive. 

Lead Image Caption: A boy and a girl sit on a rooftop at the Dona Marta slum, overlooking the Botafogo neighborhood in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, Friday, June 6, 2014. The 2014 Brazil World Cup is set to begin in a few days, with Brazil and Croatia competing in the opening match on June 12. (AP Photo/Enric Marti) 

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