TheCable

About 50 protesters chanting “there won’t be a World Cup” while charging towards the Arena Corinthians (venue of the opening match) have clashed with the police in Brazil.

The clash occurred on Thursday afternoon, some four hours to the opening ceremony of the tournament and a further two hours adrift of the opening encounter between hosts Brazil and Croatia.

“Police in the Brazilian city of Sao Paulo have used tear gas to break up a protest against the football World Cup, hours before the city hosts the opening match. Reports said at least one person was arrested,” BBC wrote in a report.

“Protesters said they planned to march close to the stadium where the opening ceremony will take place. Further protests are planned in other Brazilian cities against the expense of hosting the tournament.”

Majority of Brazilians are known to be against the hosting of the World Cup, instead demanding improved conditions of living and an incorruptible government.

A recent poll by Pew Research Centre revealed that 60 per cent of Brazilians are averse to the World Cup on the ground that it deprives the country of economic resources that should have been invested in raising the standard of education, healthcare and other public services.

In 2013, more than one million Brazilians trooped into more than 100 cities in the South American country (pictured) demanding in improved governance instead of the World Cup.

One person died in the resultant violence, while 12 people were injured.