The World Cup is days away, but is Brazil ready? It certainly doesn't look like it.
With the planet's most watched sporting event kicking off on Thursday, protests and city-wide strikes threaten to disrupt Brazil's final preparations.
Additionally, there are serious concerns that some of the venues will not even be ready, while other infrastructure projects are also massively behind schedule.
Brazil has had seven years and spent over £7bn to plan for the World Cup, but, as the images below show, with the opening of the 4-week extravaganza just days away, the country still isn't ready.
Is Brazil ready to host a World Cup?
(01 of17)
Open Image ModalThe Tancredo Neves International Airport in Confins (MG), is the gateway to thousands of Brazilians and foreign tourists for the next five weeks... Or at least it will be if it's finished.
(02 of17)
Open Image ModalWhen the pictures were taken, still less than half of the proposed works for the World Cup have been completed. (credit:LINCON ZARBIETTI/O TEMPO/ESTADÃO CONTEÚDO)
(03 of17)
Open Image ModalBrazilian authorities insist they're ready, but passengers may find themselves in for a rough landing. (credit:LINCON ZARBIETTI/O TEMPO/ESTADÃO CONTEÚDO)
(04 of17)
Open Image ModalExperts blame poor planning and excessive government control for the airport problems (credit:Instagram/@lunagontijoresende)
(05 of17)
Open Image ModalPresident Dilma Rousseff has dismissed complaints that Brazil isn't ready. (credit:LINCON ZARBIETTI/O TEMPO/ESTADÃO CONTEÚDO)
(06 of17)
Open Image Modal"We aren't building airports just for the World Cup, just for FIFA," President Dilma Rousseff recently said. "We are building for Brazilians." (credit:Instagram/@flabarros_1975)
(07 of17)
Open Image ModalThe Tancredo Neves International Airport, however, looks far from ready. (credit:Instagram/@mthzbarbosa)
(08 of17)
Open Image ModalArriving tourists will be sharing the airport with dozens of workers. (credit:Instagram/@gvizane)
(09 of17)
Open Image ModalThis, meanwhile, is the state of a stadium building site. Work is continuing at the Arena da Baixada in Curitiba, Brazil. (credit:AP)
(10 of17)
Open Image ModalOn the eve of the first training session of Uruguay's national football team, employees of a cleaning company pose for a picture at the Arena do Jacare in Sete Lagoas. (credit:Getty Images)
(11 of17)
Open Image ModalBrazilian Army soldiers take part in a simulated explosion of a radioactive device at Mane Garrincha National Stadium during a safety drill at Mane Garrincha National stadium in Brasilia on June 9. (credit:Getty Images)
(12 of17)
Open Image ModalThis May 9, 2014 shows that work continues at the Arena da Baixada in Curitiba, Brazil. (credit:AP)
(13 of17)
Open Image ModalWorkers fix a banner before the 2014 soccer World Cup at the Arena da Baixada stadium in Curitiba, Brazil,
(14 of17)
Open Image ModalA graffiti depicting Tatubola, the mascot of the World Cup, on a wall of the Maracana metro station, as restoration works take place. (credit:Getty Images)
(15 of17)
Open Image ModalMen at work in the unfinished Arena Corinthians stadium, in Sao Paulo (credit:EPA)
(16 of17)
Open Image ModalA worker puts cement on the floor of the unfinished Arena Corinthians stadium, in Sao Paulo (credit:EPA)
(17 of17)
Open Image ModalA man paints the floor of a decoration on June 8, 2014 in Itaquera neighborhood, on the east side of Sao Paulo, Brazil, near the Arena Sao Paulo stadium, where the opening match of the FIFA World Cup 2014 will take place. (credit:Getty Images)
The pictures reflect a dark tale of two World Cups — one on a field and one playing out on this country's streets.
Anti-World Cup sentiment in Brazil has been bubbling for some time and the country's fervent love of football is conflicting with public anger over charges of wasteful spending, corruption, traffic jams, strikes and a litany of other complaints.
Arguably, it speaks volumes that the people of Brazil, perhaps the greatest footballing nation in the world, do not want the World Cup.
"F*** FIFA" appears to be the general message many are trying to get across in artistic protest, with residents turning to street graffiti in an attempt to get their voices heard.
Recent polling shows half the population disapproves of Brazil hosting the event at all.
"There is certainly a mood of 'we've already paid for the party so we might as well enjoy it,'" said Juca Kfouri, one of Brazil's best-known sports commentators.
"But there is also the feeling that a lot of people are ashamed. They're ashamed to wear the Brazil jersey or put a Brazilian flag in their window because of the protests, because they don't want to be associated with the exorbitant spending on the Cup."
While Brazilians furiously attempt to finish their new stadiums, the biggest remaining question is whether spectators will even be able to get to the stadium for the opening match in São Paolo this coming Thursday.
Football fans arriving in Sao Paulo were met by chaotic traffic jams and other delays on Monday after police used tear gas to disperse striking metro workers.
The partial strike on the city's metro was set to continue for at least a sixth day after local authorities left a meeting with union leaders Monday evening without an agreement.
But the metro union announced Tuesday it has decided to suspend the subway workers' strike until Wednesday.
The union is due to meet again on Wednesday to decide whether the strike - which has caused huge delays in Brazil's biggest city - would continue.
Is Brazil ready to host a World Cup?
(01 of17)
Open Image ModalThe Tancredo Neves International Airport in Confins (MG), is the gateway to thousands of Brazilians and foreign tourists for the next five weeks... Or at least it will be if it's finished.
(02 of17)
Open Image ModalWhen the pictures were taken, still less than half of the proposed works for the World Cup have been completed. (credit:LINCON ZARBIETTI/O TEMPO/ESTADÃO CONTEÚDO)
(03 of17)
Open Image ModalBrazilian authorities insist they're ready, but passengers may find themselves in for a rough landing. (credit:LINCON ZARBIETTI/O TEMPO/ESTADÃO CONTEÚDO)
(04 of17)
Open Image ModalExperts blame poor planning and excessive government control for the airport problems (credit:Instagram/@lunagontijoresende)
(05 of17)
Open Image ModalPresident Dilma Rousseff has dismissed complaints that Brazil isn't ready. (credit:LINCON ZARBIETTI/O TEMPO/ESTADÃO CONTEÚDO)
(06 of17)
Open Image Modal"We aren't building airports just for the World Cup, just for FIFA," President Dilma Rousseff recently said. "We are building for Brazilians." (credit:Instagram/@flabarros_1975)
(07 of17)
Open Image ModalThe Tancredo Neves International Airport, however, looks far from ready. (credit:Instagram/@mthzbarbosa)
(08 of17)
Open Image ModalArriving tourists will be sharing the airport with dozens of workers. (credit:Instagram/@gvizane)
(09 of17)
Open Image ModalThis, meanwhile, is the state of a stadium building site. Work is continuing at the Arena da Baixada in Curitiba, Brazil. (credit:AP)
(10 of17)
Open Image ModalOn the eve of the first training session of Uruguay's national football team, employees of a cleaning company pose for a picture at the Arena do Jacare in Sete Lagoas. (credit:Getty Images)
(11 of17)
Open Image ModalBrazilian Army soldiers take part in a simulated explosion of a radioactive device at Mane Garrincha National Stadium during a safety drill at Mane Garrincha National stadium in Brasilia on June 9. (credit:Getty Images)
(12 of17)
Open Image ModalThis May 9, 2014 shows that work continues at the Arena da Baixada in Curitiba, Brazil. (credit:AP)
(13 of17)
Open Image ModalWorkers fix a banner before the 2014 soccer World Cup at the Arena da Baixada stadium in Curitiba, Brazil,
(14 of17)
Open Image ModalA graffiti depicting Tatubola, the mascot of the World Cup, on a wall of the Maracana metro station, as restoration works take place. (credit:Getty Images)
(15 of17)
Open Image ModalMen at work in the unfinished Arena Corinthians stadium, in Sao Paulo (credit:EPA)
(16 of17)
Open Image ModalA worker puts cement on the floor of the unfinished Arena Corinthians stadium, in Sao Paulo (credit:EPA)
(17 of17)
Open Image ModalA man paints the floor of a decoration on June 8, 2014 in Itaquera neighborhood, on the east side of Sao Paulo, Brazil, near the Arena Sao Paulo stadium, where the opening match of the FIFA World Cup 2014 will take place. (credit:Getty Images)