Fuleco

{{Infobox character | name = Fuleco | image = Fuleco.png | caption = Official artwork | first_major = 2014 FIFA World Cup | gender = Male | species = Brazilian three-banded armadillo | nationality = Brazilian }} '''Fuleco''' ({{IPA|pt|fuˈlɛku|lang}}) was the official mascot of the 2014 FIFA World Cup, hosted in Brazil. Fuleco is a Brazilian three-banded armadillo, a species of armadillo which is native to Brazil and categorized as a vulnerable species on the IUCN Red List. Fuleco was officially launched as part of Brazilian broadcaster TV Globo's weekly ''Fantástico'' entertainment show on 25 November 2012.

His name is a portmanteau of the Portuguese words '''''fu'''tebo'''l''''' ("football") and '''''eco'''logia'' ("ecology"). The mascot, with his message of environmental concerns, ecology and sport, turned out to be very popular with football teams around the world.<ref name=autogenerated4>[https://web.archive.org/web/20121129025958/http://www.fifa.com/worldcup/news/newsid=1944138/index.html Fuleco wins name game] FIFA.com. Retrieved 12 January 2013</ref><ref name=autogenerated3>[https://web.archive.org/web/20120918005149/http://www.fifa.com/worldcup/media/newsid=1701431/index.html Armadillo alert: Official Mascot introduced to the world] FIFA.com. Retrieved 12 January 2013</ref><ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20121025002611/http://www.fifa.com/worldcup/news/newsid=1787479/index.html Armadillo a big hit with the kids] FIFA.com. Retrieved 12 January 2013</ref><ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20121026043906/http://www.fifa.com/worldcup/news/newsid=1786353/index.html Excitement surrounds Armadillo visit to Mineirão] FIFA.com. Retrieved 12 January 2013</ref><ref name=autogenerated1>[https://web.archive.org/web/20121213041842/http://www.fifa.com/worldcup/news/newsid=1967449/index.html Fuleco establishing himself as a Brazilian football great] FIFA.com. Retrieved 12 January 2013</ref><ref>[http://copadomundo.uol.com.br/noticias/redacao/2012/11/25/escolhido-nome-do-mascote-da-copa-de-2014.htm Fuleco é escolhido como nome da mascote da Copa de 2014] Uol Copa 2014 (''In Portuguese''). Retrieved 12 January 2012</ref>

==Creation and design== Fuleco's birthday coincides with New Year's Day.<ref name=autogenerated1 /> He is a Brazilian three-banded armadillo, which is an endangered species, and plays a major part in the environmental drive.

Over 90% of Brazilians believe Brazil 2014 should be environmentally friendly.<ref name=autogenerated4 /> The name Fuleco was chosen over the names Amijubi (''Amizade'' – "Friendship" and ''Júbilo'' – "Joy") and Zuzeco (''Azul'' – "Blue" and ''Ecologia'' – "Ecology") by more than 1.7 million football fans. Fuleco won with 48% of the vote.<ref name=autogenerated2>[https://web.archive.org/web/20121213041842/http://www.fifa.com/worldcup/news/newsid=1967449/index.html Fuleco establishing himself as a Brazilian football great] FIFA.com. Retrieved 12 January 2012</ref>

The final mascot design was chosen after FIFA and the Local Organizing Committee had analyzed 47 different proposals created by six different Brazilian agencies. The designs were further analyzed through extensive research carried out amongst its primary target audience, Brazilian children between the ages of five and twelve, with the favourite being the armadillo, created by 100%Design.<ref name=autogenerated3 /> Fuleco is seen as a cheerful and appealing personality.

Independent research carried out on behalf of FIFA stated that 89% of Brazilians questioned said they had seen the mascot, and it gained favourable scores as a likeable character.<ref name=autogenerated4/>

==Controversy== [[File:914784-protesto copa rio de janeiro-2219.jpg|thumb|right|Brazilian protestors demonstrating against the World Cup portray Fuleco as a symbol of greed.]] Environmental group the Caatinga Association, an organization whose campaigning helped FIFA choose the armadillo as its mascot, claimed that FIFA has not given any money to support the endangered species.<ref name="Washington Post">{{cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/early-lead/wp/2014/07/07/environmental-conservationists-call-fifa-out-for-misusing-its-fuleco-armadillo-mascot/|title=Environmental conservationists call FIFA out for misusing its 'Fuleco' armadillo mascot|date=7 July 2014|accessdate=10 July 2014|first=Marissa|last=Payne|newspaper=The Washington Post}}</ref> FIFA acknowledged that it does not have any connection with organisations attempting to help the species despite expecting to make profits from selling merchandise based on their mascot.<ref name="Washington Post"/>

==References== {{Reflist}}

==External links== {{Commons category}} *[https://web.archive.org/web/20140405043729/http://mascot.fifa.com/ FIFA's official webpage on Fuleco]

{{S-start}} {{Succession box|title=''FIFA World Cup mascot''<br />Fuleco|before=Zakumi|after=Zabivaka|years=''FIFA 2014''}} {{S-end}}

Category:2014 FIFA World Cup Category:Fictional armadillos Category:Anthropomorphic mammals Category:Brazilian mascots Category:FIFA World Cup mascots Category:Mascots introduced in 2012