Yuichi Nishimura from Japan will be the referee of the 2014 FIFA World Cup opening match Brazil v Croatia to be played at the Arena de Sao Paolo tomorrow. He will be assisted by Toru Sagara and Toshiyuki Nagi.

Nishimura, 42, made his international refereeing debut in 2004. Since, he has already been assigned to numerous other finals tournaments: the U-17 World Cup 2007 (including the final between Spain and Nigeria), the U-20 World Cup 2009, the Club World Cup 2010 (where he refereed TP Mazembe-Internazionale in the deciding match), the Olympic Football Tournament 2012 and two editions of the Asian Cup in 2007 and 2011. In addition, Nishimura was selected for the finals of the CAF Africa Cup of Nations 2008, where he handled three games including the quarter-final between Egypt and Angola.

In club competitions, Nishimura was man-in-the-middle for the AFC Cup final between Al Faisaly and Shabab Al Ordun in 2007 and the AFC Champions League decider between Seongnam Ilhwa Chunma and Zob Ahan in 2010. Besides two Japanese cup finals and four Super Cup matches, Nishimura oversaw a number of Polish league fixtures in 2008. In 2012 Yuichi Nishimura was named AFC Men’s Referee of the Year.

At South Africa 2010 he handled four matches, including the quarter-final encounter between the Netherlands and Brazil.