BRASILIA: Brazil clash with Japan in Brasilia Saturday in the opening game of the Confederations Cup, an appetizer for the World Cup, which they will host next year.

The two-week tournament, which ends June 30, gets underway after nationwide protests over higher transport prices and amid resentment over the huge investments made for sporting events while deep social inequality festers.

A three-time winner, Brazil are aiming for a fourth title but face stiff competition from Spain, Italy, Uruguay, Mexico, Nigeria, Japan and Tahiti.

The eight teams are divided in two groups of four, with the two top teams from each group advancing to the semi-finals.

If Brazil win Group A, they will then travel to Belo Horizonte -- for a June 26 semi-final against either reigning South American champions Uruguay or African champions Nigeria, assuming current World Cup champions Spain win Group B.

But a young Brazil squad, under Luiz Felipe Scolari and currently in 22nd place in the FIFA rankings, first needs to get past four-time Asian Cup champions Japan.

The two teams have met nine times since 1989, with seven wins for the Brazilians and two draws.

The Confederations Cup is seen as a key test of Brazil's readiness to stage its first World Cup since 1950 a year from now.

Some 355,000 Brazilians and foreign tourists are expected to watch games in the six host cities: Brasilia, Belo Horizonte, Fortaleza, Recife, Rio and Salvador. (AFP)