Brazilian president Dilma Rousseff has defended the government's spending on facilities for next year's World Cup.

Around a million people have been taking part in protests in the country during the Confederations Cup tournament, which is currently taking place as a rehearsal for the World Cup.

In a statement, the president said: "With regard to the World Cup, I want to clarify that the federal money spent on the stadiums is in the form of financing that will be duly repaid by the companies and governments that are exploiting these stadiums.

"I would never allow these funds to come out of the federal public budget or to damage priority sectors such as health and education. Brazil, the only country to have participated in every World Cup and a five-time world champion, has always been very well received everywhere. We must give our friends the same generous welcome we have received from them, with respect, love and joy.

"This is how we must treat our guests. Football and sport are symbols of peace and peaceful coexistence among peoples. Brazil deserves to, and will, host a great World Cup."

FIFA has denied that it plans to abandon the Confederations Cup as a result of the protests.