Protesters and police clashed in Sao Paulo on Thursday, as demonstrations against the World Cup and rallies calling for improved public services erupted in several Brazilian cities, just weeks before the tournament is due to begin.
Officers in Brazil’s largest city fired tear gas and rubber bullets at protesters who set piles of trash alight.
Demonstrators blasted the billions spent to host next month’s soccer tournament and said they wanted to draw attention to what they called a lack of investment to improve poor public services.
“We are beginning to gain strength to go against the injustices of the World Cup,” said Luana Gurther, a social sciences student demonstrating in Sao Paulo. “We are the ones who should decide where the public money goes. More funding for schools, hospitals, housing, transportation – not the Cup.”