The World Cup in Brazil ended the way it started, with authorities flexing unprecedented muscle to squelch dissenters, silence journalists, and shield the carefully manicured event from disruption. President Dilma Rousseff promised to host “the Cup of Cups,” and her government spent more than $850 million on security — five times what was spent in South Africa in 2010 — to ensure its month in the spotlight would not be tainted by civil unrest.

All told, the country deployed 100,000 public safety officials and 50,000 military personnel who used drones, mobile integrated surveillance units, facial recognition technology, and good ol’ fashioned riot gear to maintain law and order.

Authorities clamped down in the days before the tournament, arresting several high-profile activists and citizen journalists in surprise raids.

As the opening game played out in Sao Paulo, demonstrators clashed with police in Brazil’s largest cities, but the government redoubled its efforts to avoid more embarrassing scenes.

On the opening day of play in Belo Horizonte, I watched hundreds of police seal off a small anti-World Cup rally in the city’s historic center.

The number of protesters paled in comparison to last year’s Confederations Cup, but many believe the overwhelming police force had a chilling effect on demonstrations.

“There are a lot of people who don’t come out here because they’re afraid,” said Rodrigo Leparoi Chaves, who works at a bakery by day.