World Cup battles to shift from street to pitch as tournament kicks off

After years of construction delays and budget overruns, the World Cup will officially kick off in Brazil later Thursday. The run-up to the tournament has been clouded by popular discontent and labor disputes — with clashes between protesters and police breaking out just hours before the first match — but most pundits expect the negative air to dissipate as focus turns from the street to the pitch.

First up on the sporting schedule is the host nation’s opening game against Croatia in São Paulo at 4 p.m. local time, an event expected to draw a global audience of more than 3 billion people — around half the world’s entire population.

A subway strike in São Paulo that had threatened to disrupt the opening of the World Cup was averted late Wednesday after 1,500 workers voted against continuing the strike during the games. But nonetheless, demonstrations turned ugly in São Paulo on Thursday, with police using tear gas, stun grenades and rubber bullets to break up an anti–World Cup demonstration.

Dozens of activists, some with banners reading “If we have no rights, there won’t be a Cup,” gathered near a city subway station ahead of the game. At least one was arrested, according to local media.

Labor conflicts also arose in Rio de Janeiro, where fans were arriving ahead of Sunday's match between Argentina and Bosnia-Herzegovina.

On Wednesday, airport check-in counter clerks, baggage handlers and janitorial staff who have been demanding raises of at least 5.6 percent for several months voted to strike starting at midnight. The work stoppage will affect the city's Galeão international airport, as well as the Santos Dumont airport, which connects Rio to other Brazilian destinations.

A union representative said only 20 percent of workers would stay off the job for 24 hours, abiding by a labor court order that threatened to fine unions more than $22,000 if staffing fell below 80 percent of normal levels. The official agreed to discuss specifics of the walkout only if not quoted by name because he wasn't authorized to speak publicly.

More than 3 million Brazilians and 600,000 foreigners are expected to travel in Brazil during the tournament, which wraps up with the final match in Rio on July 13.

The opening match takes place at a newly built stadium in São Paulo that, because of its late delivery and high cost, came to embody the troubled World Cup preparations.

It was completed six months after deadline, and at a cost of $525 million, about $150 million over budget. Due to the delays, Thursday's game will be the facility's first at full capacity — something that represents a violation of normal protocol of soccer’s ruling body, FIFA, for World Cup games.

Within Brazil, many are angry over the total $11.3 billion spent on hosting the World Cup when basic social services are poorly financed.

Protests and labor strikes are planned in all 12 host cities.

In the northern city of Natal, where the United States plays its first game Monday against Ghana, bus drivers will stay home Thursday for at least 24 hours to press their demands for a 16 percent pay increase.

But most Brazilians say the country will rally as soon as the action starts, especially if their team justifies its billing as the favorite to win the tournament for a record sixth time.

“Just wait until Brazil starts winning. Then you'll see people in the streets," Rogerio Souza, a fan in São Paulo, told The Associated Press, although he warned failure would cause more discontent.

"Brazilians only count titles. No one cares about second place. If they don't win the cup at home, you'll see the criticism rain down."

Al Jazeera and wire services