audio, stills, text and or video: Go to zReportage.com to see more - While Brazil is a hotbed for all things soccer, opposition to hosting the World Cup has mounted and organizers have been faced with riots amid the event's $14 billion price tag. Since Sao Paulo's Itaquer‹o stadium was built, residents living in its vicinity, have been forced to pay higher rents or move out. The Homeless Workers Movement took action on behalf of almost 5,000 homeless people living near the $350-million stadium, and created a tent city near the stadium. Residents call it the ''People's Cup'' and they fly the red MTST flag to protest billions of dollars spent on the World Cup stadiums, rather than housing for needy families. In 2009 the government promised to build 1 million affordable housing units for low-income families before 2016. Cost overruns halted the program in 2011. This week the Brazilian government has agreed to the Homeless Workers Movement demands for low-cost housing, and is promising to build 2,000 houses on land invaded last month by some 5,000 people just 2 miles from the stadium where the tournament's opening match will be played. The movement had pledged to stage massive demonstrations during the World Cup if its demands were not met.
© Taba Benedicto/NurPhoto/zReportage.com via ZUMA Press
May 14, 2014 - Sao Paolo, Brazil - Boys run through a camp called the 'People's Cup,'' a group of homeless people that occupy land over 2 miles from Itaquera Arena. The camp is composed mostly of residents unable to pay rent in the region.
© Taba Benedicto/NurPhoto/zReportage.com via ZUMA Press
May 14, 2014 - Sao Paolo, Brazil - Opposition to hosting the World Cup has mounted and organizers have been faced with riots amid the event's $14 billion price tag.
© Taba Benedicto/NurPhoto/zReportage.com via ZUMA Press
May 14, 2014 - Sao Paolo, Brazil - Since Sao Paulo's Itaquerao stadium was built, residents living in its vicinity, have been forced to pay higher rents or move out.
© Taba Benedicto/NurPhoto/zReportage.com via ZUMA Press
May 14, 2014 - Sao Paolo, Brazil - The Homeless Workers Movement took action on behalf of almost 5,000 homeless people living near the $350-million stadium, and created a tent city near the stadium.
© Taba Benedicto/NurPhoto/zReportage.com via ZUMA Press
May 14, 2014 - Sao Paolo, Brazil - Residents call it the ''People's Cup'' and they fly the red MTST flag to protest billions of dollars spent on the World Cup stadiums, rather than housing for needy families.
© Taba Benedicto/NurPhoto/zReportage.com via ZUMA Press
May 14, 2014 - Sao Paolo, Brazil - In 2009 the government promised to build 1 million affordable housing units for low-income families before 2016. Cost overruns halted the program in 2011.
© Taba Benedicto/NurPhoto/zReportage.com via ZUMA Press
May 14, 2014 - Sao Paolo, Brazil - The Brazilian government has agreed to the Homeless Workers Movement demands for low-cost housing, and is promising to build 2,000 houses on land invaded last month by some 5,000 people just 2 miles from the stadium where the tournament's opening match will be played.
© Taba Benedicto/NurPhoto/zReportage.com via ZUMA Press
May 14, 2014 - Sao Paolo, Brazil - The movement has pledged to stage massive demonstrations during the World Cup if its demands were not met.
© Taba Benedicto/NurPhoto/zReportage.com via ZUMA Press
May 14, 2014 - Sao Paolo, Brazil - Brazil is a hotbed for all things soccer but opposition to hosting the World Cup has mounted.
© Taba Benedicto/NurPhoto/zReportage.com via ZUMA Press
