The AC Milan striker proved the difference by nodding home on 50 minutes to narrowly beat a spirited England side.
Already billed as a pivotal clash in the pool, the contest grew in significance prior to kickoff following the news that perceived Group D outsiders Costa Rica had registered a shock 3-1 win over Uruguay.
It was the Three Lions who looked most intent to capitalise on the Uruguayan's slip-up as Raheem Sterling and Danny Welbeck both fired narrowly wide for Roy Hodgson's men early on.
Daniel Sturridge came agonisingly close to opening the scoring but the Liverpool man failed to get on the end of Welbeck's excellent low cross.
With Hodgson's side failing to yield tangible reward for their goalmouth dominance, Italy hit them with a sucker-punch on 35 minutes as Claudio Marchisio fired beyond Joe Hart from the edge of the box following Andrea Pirlo's clever dummy.
England provided an immediate riposte through Sturridge, however, as the striker tapped home a Wayne Rooney cross minutes later to level matters in swift fashion.
In a cruel twist of irony, physio Gary Lewin had to be stretchered away from the dugout after sustaining a dislocated ankle in celebrating the equaliser.
Cesare Prandelli's side threatened to take a half-time lead, as Balotelli saw his clever lob headed off the line by Phil Jagielka, while Marchisio saw his bid rebuffed by the post.
Italy retained that momentum after the interval and took the lead five minutes after the restart, as Balotelli headed home an Antonio Candreva cross.
England went in search of another equaliser but failed to produce the type of chances that they were forging earlier in the contest, with Glen Johnson coming closest to a leveler with a fiercely-struck shot.
Pirlo flashed a free kick against the crossbar in the closing stages, but it would not prove to be a decisive moment as Prandelli's side held on to kick off their campaign with a win.
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