Protesters in Brazil demanding more spending on social projects and housing instead of the World Cup have begun a day of protests in cities across the country, Radio New Zealand reports.
They have blocked main roads into Sao Paulo, burned tyres and caused severe disruption during rush-hour in Brazil's biggest city, the BBC reports.
Photo from the #MTST protest outside #WorldCup stadium (Photo: Folha) via @BenTavener #NaoVaiTerCopa #Brazil pic.twitter.com/tr0tROq0px
— Doc Rocket (@DocR0cket) May 15, 2014
Activists called for a day of protests in 50 cities across Brazil.
The scale of the demonstrations is expected to give an indication of the security challenges the government may face during the football tournament, which starts on 12 June.
The protesters say they want the government to spend billions of dollars on social projects, transport and housing, instead of the World Cup.
One of the biggest protests in Sao Paulo took place in the city's Itaquera district near the Arena Corinthians stadium, which will host the tournament's opening match.
The government has tried to downplay the scale of Thursday's unrest, arguing it was not related to the World Cup.
➊ Not your ordinary day in Brazil—Protest at the World Cup opening arena in São Paulo. http://t.co/XPYcE0VOyd pic.twitter.com/wZ2WzEqJv4
— Brazil Character Lab (@scharlab) May 15, 2014
