The 2014 World Cup and the 2016 Summer Olympics are set to take place on Brazilian soil in the next two years. Yet as the world’s spotlight focuses in on Brazil, its people cry for change. Since June 2013, a number of protests have taken place in major cities across the country challenging corruption, the quality of public services, and the amount of money being put into the games.

In June of 2013, the protests started in Brazil before the 2013 FIFA Confederations Cup with a backlash against the raise in bus and underground fares. Since then, the range and scale of the protests have grown considerably. Some of the factors that sparked the protests have been the high cost of living, the corruption within the government and the high cost of spending in relation to the World Cup and Olympics. The protestors have demonstrated their goals of an increase of government funds for public transportation, national heath care, and education.

Brazil has already spent fifteen billion dollars total on the World Cup. A specific stadium that costs around $230 million has been a recent subject of controversy. Brazilians have protested against the construction of the new stadium that can hold more than 40,000 spectators in a state that doesn’t have a team in the country’s top soccer division. People protested in the Arena Pantanal as Jerome Valcke, the Secretary General of FIFA, was inspecting it.  The protestors, mainly teachers and postal workers, held banners that read “Go home!” and “World Cup for whom?” Valcke has said that the protestors should take the long-term benefits into consideration, as the stadium will draw attention to the beauty of the Pantanal Conservation Area. FIFA has demanded that all venues be finished by December 20, 2013.

Brazil had to cancel the Soccerex global football forum in Rio due to a feared public backlash against the government’s excessive spending on sports related events. Demonstrations have ended in violence as the police have responded by arresting protestors and throwing tear gas.

There has also been violence among the protestors due to banks being ransacked by youth gangs known as the Black Blocs. The gang dresses in black and has been seen lighting police cars on fire around Rio.

Authorities stress that they have responded to the majority of the demands of the protestors and have promised to spend more on health and education funds. The amount of protests has shrunken considerably since June. Ricardo Trade, the CEO of the World Cup local organization committee, stated that, “A recent poll showed that more than seventy percent of Brazilians back the World Cup and think it is good Brazil is hosting it.” He insisted that, “By the end of January, we shall have done all the tests in four main items: pitch, lighting, seating and roofing. We have total confidence in the twelve host cities.” Molly Harper ’15 says, “Brazil is an awesome place, but if they don’t have the resources, then perhaps it should be held somewhere else.”

However, there will be more problems to come when the 2014 World Cup kicks off on June 12 in São Paulo and when the 2016 Summer Olympic starts up in Rio. Public transportation between venues for Rio 2016 is already a nightmare, and some think that there are too many shantytown dwellers living close to the Olympic Park. Authorities hope that by 2016, the majority of the unsettlement will be over and will have been replaced by the “feel good” factor that the Olympics brings to the host country.