World Cup Protests Erupt across Brazil

Protests are raging throughout Brazil, with the kickoff to the 2014 World Cup now only days away. Even though Brazil is a country of soccer fanatics, officials are starting to worry the protests will overshadow the whole tournament.

Above: A protestor in Rio de Janeiro stood with tape on her mouth that read “Child Education.” Education is one of the social causes that protestors are saying should have been funded instead of the World Cup.

Demonstrators burned a Brazilian flag in Goiania.

Women demanded better salaries and labor conditions at a protest against the World Cup in Rio de Janeiro.

A native Brazilian stood outside the Justice Ministry, during a protest to demand the demarcation of indigenous lands in Brasilia.

The group Rio da Paz installed giant soccer balls covered with red crosses outside the National Congress in Brasilia.

Riot police stood guard during a protest in Sao Paulo.

A protestor dressed as Batman carried a sign with a photo of former soccer phenom Ronaldo.

So far, the riots have not turned deadly, as they did during the 2013 Conferedations Cup protests. Here, masked demostrators patrolled the streets in Rio.

Police kept tabs on a demonstrator in a Guy Fawkes mask in Brasilia.

Paramilitary police personnel formed a line against activists in front of Mane Garrincha National Stadium in Brasilia.

Activists from the World Cup Popular Committee group protested in front of one of the new stadiums in Brasilia.

A boy walked through a protest in the Santa Luzia favela, or slum. The World Cup estimates that 16 percent of Brazilians live in poverty.

Children held soccer balls with red tape on them in the shape of crosses, in the Santa Luzia slum.