The Spot

Striking Images of Brazil’s Anti-World Cup Protest Movement

The biggest challenge to Brazil’s World Cup preparations over the past few weeks has been the chaos caused by striking public workers. While São Paulo subway workers voted to at least temporarily suspend their strikes on Monday night, protests by activists angry at the money being spent by Brazil to host the event are expected to continue throughout the World Cup.

Though nowhere near the size of last year’s broad-based social movement, which brought millions to the streets, protests have been building back up in recent months. The tournament, which begins Thursday in São Paulo, has reportedly cost in excess of $11 billion, money protesters say could have been spent on public infrastructure. The movement has already produced its share of powerful images. Here are some of the most striking photos.

Demonstrators from the anarchist group Black Bloc clash with police during a protest against the World Cup on the opening day of the event on June 12, 2014 in Sao Paulo, Brazil.
Demonstrators from the anarchist group Black Bloc clash with police in São Paulo during a protest against the World Cup on June 12, 2014, the opening day of the event.

Photo by Victor Moriyama/Getty Images

Brazil protests
Police take up positions during a World Cup protest outside Carrao Metro Station on June 12, 2014 in São Paulo.

Photo by Mario Tama/Getty Images

Brazil protests
A journalist is taken from a protest on a stretcher outside Carrao Metro Station on June 12, 2014 in São Paulo.

Photo by Mario Tama/Getty Images

Brazil protests
A journalist is carried after being injured during a World Cup protest in São Paulo on June 12, 2014.

Photo by Victor Moriyama/Getty Images

protest its demolition as part of renovations ahead of the World Cup Brazil.
Police officers clash with supporters of the native Indian community during a protest outside the Indian museum, next to the Maracanã stadium, in Rio de Janeiro, Dec. 16, 2013. Police arrested more than 20 indigenous people who occupied the abandoned museum to protest its demolition as part of renovations ahead of the World Cup.

Photo by Pilar Olivares/Reuters

Brazil protests
Demonstrators clash with military police officers spraying tear gas during a protest in São Paulo on April 29, 2014. An estimated 1,500 protesters gathered for a march against the costs associated with Brazil’s hosting of the World Cup.

Photo by Nacho Doce/Reuters

Brazil protests
A member of Brazil’s Homeless Workers’ Movement blocks the Octavio Frias de Oliveira Bridge during a protest against the World Cup in São Paulo on May 22, 2014.

Photo by Nacho Doce/Reuters

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Police officers search for demonstrators during the “International Day of World Cup Resistance” in São Paulo on May 15, 2014.

Photo by Nelson Almedia/AFP/Getty Images

Brazil protests
Protesters clash with police officers during an anti-World Cup protest on May 15, 2014, in São Paulo.

Photo by Victor Moriyama/Getty Images

Brazil protests
About 25,000 members of the Homeless Workers’ Movement held large demonstrations to claim their right to housing on May 22, 2014, in São Paulo. They question government spending for the construction of stadiums for the World Cup.

Photo by Victor Moriyama/Getty Images

Brazil protests
A young protester stands in front of police guarding a government building at a demonstration against the new increase in public bus fares on Feb. 10, 2014 in Rio de Janeiro. Widespread protests began in the country last June following a different bus fare increase in São Paulo.

Photo by Mario Tama/Getty Images

Brazil protests
Demonstrators attack a Bradesco bank branch during a protest against the World Cup in São Paulo on Jan. 25, 2014.

Photo by Nacho Doce/Reuters

Brazil protests
Police officers hit a demonstrator during a protest against the government’s expenditure for the World Cup in São Paulo on Feb. 22, 2014.

Photo by Nelson Almedia/AFP/Getty Images

Brazil protests
Members of the Homeless Workers’ Movement hold demonstrations in São Paulo.

Photo by Victor Moriyama/Getty Images

Brazil protests
Police officers stand guard as demonstrators march in São Paulo on March 13, 2014.

Photo by Nelson Almedia/AFP/Getty Images

Brazil protests
A member of the Homeless Workers’ Movement waves a flag on May 22, 2014 in São Paulo.

Photo by Victor Moriyama/Getty Images

Brazil protests
Indigenous Indians dance as they attend a protest against the Indian policy of President Dilma Rousseff’s government and the costs of the 2014 World Cup in front of the Brazilian congress in Brasilia, May 28, 2014.

Photo by Joedson Alves/Reuters

Brazil protests
Brazilian natives from different ethnic groups block the entrance of the Ministry of Justice during a protest as part of Indigenous Mobilization Week, in Brasilia on May 29, 2014.

Photo by Evaristo Sa/AFP/Getty Images

Brazil protests
A boy holds a soccer ball, with red tape on it the shape of cross in front of a Brazilian flag at Santa Luzia slum in Brasilia, May 30, 2014.

Photo by Joedson Alves/Reuters