Paid Post

10 Things You Need To Know Before This World Cup

If, like many of us, you only watch soccer every 4 years, it's time to brush up. Here's what you need to know before the kickoff on June 12. ROGAINE® Brand, official hair care sponsor of the 2014 FIFA World Cup, is bringing you all things soccer and World Cup related.

ROGAINE® Brand
by ROGAINE® Brand

Brand Publisher

1. This year's World Cup is in Brazil. What does that mean? Absolute pandemonium.

Via rebloggy.com

Brazil is a country known for crazy parties, lots of passion, and really fast footwork. Prepare to witness what may be the world's biggest party.

2. Brazil doesn't fool around when it comes to winning World Cups. They currently have five championships under their belt.

Twitter: @ballsdotie / RTE Television / Via balls.ie

Unfortunately for the rest of the world, Brazil is a soccer powerhouse AND has home-field advantage. Which is going to make things pretty tricky for everyone else.

3. Think Team USA doesn't have a shot? Actually, they've qualified for every World Cup since 1990.

Via iheartsportsgifs.tumblr.com

Slowly but surely, Team USA is making a name for itself.

4. That being said, Team USA drew the Group of Death. So this is going to be a tough one.

Via tumtumace.tumblr.com

The rest of the group includes Germany, Ghana, and Portugal. Aside from very specific scenarios, only two teams will advance out of the group stages.

5. Fun fact: Team USA's coach is actually German and coached Germany to a 3rd-place finish in the 2006 World Cup.

Michael Blann / Getty Images

He also happened to be on the German squad that won the 1990 World Cup. No big deal.

6. The goalkeepers are going to have a really hard time adapting to the new ball. Expect to see lots of goals.

Via littleanimalgifs.tumblr.com

This World Cup's official ball — with improved grip, touch, and aerodynamics — may be the most tested ball of all time.

7. Thanks to goal-line technology, there will be no goal controversies at this tournament.

Via northerntangents.wordpress.com

To score a goal in soccer, the entire ball must completely cross the goal line. Now the referee will know for sure when this happens, thanks to science!

8. Vuvuzelas were SO 2010. In fact, they have actually been banned for Brazil 2014.

Via sbnation.com

Imagine the sound of a buzzing bee right in your ear, then multiply that times 1,000. Painful, right? That's why the vuvuzela is no more.

9. So if you plan on getting loud and rowdy this year, arm yourself with a caxirola.

Reg Kehoe and his Marimba Queens / Via publicdomaindiva.tumblr.com

It's like a maraca, but was created specifically to make noise at this year's tournament. Seriously, it's the official musical instrument of the 2014 World Cup.

10. Who should you place your bets on? Apart from Brazil, try Germany, Argentina, or Spain.

Olivier Douliery/Abaca Press / MCT

At least, this is what all the "professional oddsmakers" are saying. But if you look at history, this really isn't that big of a surprise.