Resistance took place across the country during the Confederations Cup last summer, but it was hoped similar eruptions would not take place this time around and Brazilians would unite behind the tournament. 

But, following a series of protests two weeks ago, there has been another surge in tension after police in the capital city Brasilia used tear gas to control demonstrators who attempted to march into the stadium where the World Cup trophy was on public display.

A group of around 1,000 protesters also briefly occupied the roof of the Parliament building.

Although all of the demands are principally socio-economic in focus, the World Cup is being used as a vehicle for these protests, with the rocketing spending figures associated with the month-long tournament contrasting harshly with the lack of funding elsewhere.

Brazilian authorities are taking a heavy-handed approach to reducing the numbers of protesters ahead of the World Cup next month ©AFP/Getty Images




The demonstrators believe the Government of President Dilma Rousseff, who is facing re-election on October 5, has spent too much on the infrastructure to host the World Cup, believing the amount is especially excessive for a developing nation.

With the tournament expected to attract around 600,000 visitors, protesters particularly cited the fact real estate prices have soared in the run-up to the World Cup, pushing lower-income families out of the areas adjacent to the tournament's facilities. 

Meanwhile, the start of preparations by the Brazilian national team at their Granja Comary training base close to Rio de Janeiro, has also been clouded by protests. 

A bus carrying the players to a hilltop training camp was surrounded by striking teachers chanting slogans against the tournament, and on arrival they were greeted by more protesters. 

Many chanted: "There will be no World Cup, there will be a strike".

But Brazilian Justice Minister Jose Eduardo Cardozo has claimed the protest levels will not escalate to the levels seen last year during the Confederations Cup, when more than a million people took to the streets. 

He claimed the protests "will be smaller than the ones last June", although he did add that they remain "prepared for any situation".

Protests have also taken place in various other cities across Brazil in which matches will be held, including Recife in the north-east, and Sao Paulo in the west, where the opening match of the tournament is due tol take place between Brazil and Croatia on June 12.

The tournament is scheduled to continue until July 13, when the final will take place at the Maracanã Stadium in Rio. 

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