RIO DE JANEIRO, April 9 (Xinhua) -- Police from each of the World Cup's 32 participating nations have been invited to protect fans during football's showpiece tournament in Brazil.

Seven officers from each country will reinforce Brazil's own police forces during the June 12-July 13 tournament, Brazil's ministry of justice

announced Wednesday.

International police will act as an intermediary between fans and the Brazilian authorities, the ministry said.

They will be deployed in the country's 12 World Cup host cities in addition to locations where national teams are based.

Visiting officers will wear their normal uniforms but will not have police powers and will be unarmed.