The walkout by baggage handlers, check-in staff and cleaners at Galeao and Santos Dumont airports is another blow for organisers in what has been a disrupted build-up to the quadrennial tournament.

Airport staff say want a five per cent pay rise, plus a World Cup bonus, arguing they have been overworked in the build-up to the competition, which kicks off today with Brazil playing Croatia in São Paulo.

Workers have promised to maintain 80 per cent of normal service, but with Rio de Janeiro hosting its first World Cup match on Sunday (June 15), and Santos Dumont a key hub for flights to São Paulo, significant disruption is likely.

Around 2.1 million people passed through the two airports last month, an average of 68,000 people a day

But World Cup organisers have had some positive news, with metro workers in São Paulo voting not to strike today, having threatened to do so.

They are also demanding a pay rise, and only returned to work on Tuesday (June 10) after five days of strikes.

Their threat to restart that strike today, when the city's Arena Corinthians hosts the World Cup's opening game, was set to cause major disruption for fans with tickets to the match.

But further strikes by metro workers in the city have not been ruled out.

Brazil will kick off the World Cup tonight against Croatia, with organisers hoping the rocky build-up will not lead to problems during the month-long competition ©Getty Images



"We get the feeling that maybe we aren't as prepared for a full confrontation with police on the day the World Cup starts," union president Altino Prazeres is reported to have said.

It is understood union members will march today demanding 42 workers fired during the five-day stoppage be reinstated.

In what has been a difficult build-up to the tournament, work is still continuing at some stadiums, with Arena Corinthians not having been tested at full capacity.

Pictures yesterday emerged of the pitch at the Amazonia Arena in Manaus, which hosts Italy versus England on Saturday (June 14), appearing to be in a less than ideal condition.

A groundsman at the stadium reportedly admitted the pitch is in "bad shape".

Organisers will also be hoping protests, many on them anti-World Cup, will not be repeated during the month-long tournament.

The World Cup, the first to be held in Brazil since 1950, will feature 32 teams playing 64 games across 12 venues, with the final at Rio de Janeiro's Maracanã on July 13.

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