Hundreds of firefighters have taken part in a drill in front of the Brasilia National Stadium, ahead of the capital city's first World Cup match.

Wednesday's drill included dozens of trucks and motorcycles, two rescue helicopters and a robot for dealing with hazardous materials. More than 6,000 military firefighters will protect the capital over the next month, 18-hundred of them specifically for the World Cup.

Protests have rocked cities across the country, ahead of the tournament, which opens in Sao Paulo on Thursday. The fire department says it's prepared for possible attacks on the national stadium. Brazil also plans to deploy 157,000 police and troops to secure borders and maintain order around tournament stadiums.