Posters have been released for each of the cities in Brazil which will host World Cup games in 2014.



Each poster features something which ties in with the history or the nature of the city it is for.



Meanwhile Brazilians have selected the name 'Fuleco' for the three-banded armadillo mascot for the competition after a three-month voting process that was branded undemocratic by fans.

Belo Horizonte



Belo Horizonte is a city that brings people together and is known and loved for its generous hospitality, passion for football, rich culture and the sleek curves of its Brazilian modernist architecture set against the backdrop of the mountains of Minas Gerais.



One of Belo Horizonte’s most well-known landmarks is the Church of São Francisco de Assis, considered to be the masterpiece of Pampulha, a district in Belo Horizonte which is home to the Mineirão stadium, one of Brazil’s football icons.



Our poster depicts the silhouette of the Church of São Francisco de Assis, which is brought to life by the overlapping pentagons which define the ball’s shape. It portrays the balance of nature and art and the celebratory welcome that athletes and football lovers all over the world will receive when they come to Belo Horizonte.

Brasilia



The background image represents the Cathedral of Brasília, an architectural icon known throughout the world, with the immense blue sky, “the sea of Brasilia”, above it.



The yellow on the right represents the sun rising in the east, while the orange on the left represents its setting in the west.



Brasilia has one of the largest expanses of green area in the world – almost five times the standard recommended by the World Health Organization – in the form of a vast city park, portrayed here through every possible shade of green.



The football player in the foreground is composed of various colours and thus represents all of the ethnicities that make up Brazilian society as well as the coming together of players from all over the world. The even distribution of the background colours recall the green, yellow, blue and white of our beloved Brazilian flag.

Cuiaba



Cuiaba, the capital of the state of Mato Grosso, is located in the exact centre of South America and can therefore be considered the heart of South America. Rich in history, culture, art and gastronomy, Cuiaba is also known for its heat, which is not limited to its climate – the warm and welcoming nature of its people make it unique.



The Cuiaba poster uses bright colours to depict the joy the event brings and the gaiety of the Cuiabanos (as the locals are called), and features football through the image of the ball at the player’s foot. The ball’s movement and shapes surrounding it recall the coming together of people and their enthusiasm for the sport, especially of the 'Pantaneira' fans. Cuiaba is the gateway for the biggest floodable plain in the world – the Pantanal Matogrossense – and home to the tuiuiu bird, which is the symbol of the Pantanal region and one of the poster’s highlights. The centre of the ball features a silhouette of the state of Mato Grosso – a subtle reminder that its capital, Cuiabá, is prepared to host the largest event in its history.

Curitiba



The poster chosen by the inhabitants to represent Curitiba for the 2014 FIFA World Cup™ features the image of a Brazilian pine tree (Araucaria). Known in Brazil as “Pinheiro do Paraná” (Paraná pine tree), this type of tree covered much of the land around Curitiba before the city’s foundation in the 17th century.



As the tree is also connected to the city’s name (Curitiba, a name of indigenous origin, means “a lot of pine”), it holds a special place in people’s hearts.



Known in Brazil and throughout the world for its excellent public transport, sustainable development and strong culture of innovation, Curitiba is home to a mix of people from all over the world who choose to live here in peaceful and culturally diverse harmony.



The Brazilian pine rises high into the sky, stretching out its cones like cups. It’s as if the whole city is raising a glass in a toast to football. Let’s welcome the FIFA World Cup™!

Fortaleza



The daily sunshine and beauty of its coastline make Fortaleza a very special place. Characterised by human warmth and respect for nature, the capital of the state of Ceara, located in north-east Brazil, is the perfect setting for a festival as big as the 2014 FIFA World Cup Brazil™. Its passion for football is conveyed through the poster’s main features, such as the modern Castelao Arena, a huge football in the sky made up of images of the city’s major landmarks, and the popular sport of beach soccer which is played all along the Brazilian coast.



The textures and strokes used recall a modern city, yet a city that does not forget its traditions, making Fortaleza one of the most visited places in Brazil. The joy of hosting the 2014 FIFA World Cup Brazil™ is accompanied by a burst of euphoria, culture and beauty that spreads from the stands of the Castelão Arena throughout Fortaleza in a mix of vibrant colours moving like ocean waves and rays of sunshine, lighting up the city known as “The Land of Light”.

Manaus



The poster of Host City Manaus depicts a unique feature: here, in the heart of the world´s largest rainforest, we are all fans of nature. We cheer for great players, for memorable matches, for breathtaking goals. And we also come together to cheer for nature itself. After all, we are all in the same team.

Natal



The green of the forests, the yellow of the hot sands, and the blue of the crystal sea: if Brazil is a symbol of our planet’s natural wealth, Natal is the definitive example of all that makes our country amazing. Located on the most easterly tip of South America, whose biggest cultural icon is the multifaceted folklorist Luis da Camara Cascudo, Natal is a city of abundance whose generous people who are keen to give, to share, to host, to embrace and to celebrate.



The silhouette of a man with outstretched arms on the poster surrounded by the colours of our flags symbolise our country’s welcoming of the biggest football event on the planet and the opportunities of economic growth, employment and cultural exchange that usually go hand in hand with the FIFA World Cup™.

Porto Alegre



Porto Alegre, the capital city of Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil’s southernmost state, boasts stunning scenes from nature such as the sunset over Lake Guaíba, one of the most beautiful in the world. For this reason the poster features the picturesque Usina do Gasômetro, a city landmark which doubles as the best spot from which to watch the sunset.



The central image of the footballer kicking the ball and the explosion of this movement point not only to the greatness of the FIFA World Cup™ but also to the whole legacy generated by it, such as cultural enrichment, technological and structural development, and economic wealth, which are represented by the coloured stripes highlighting the movement of the foot. The people on the left of the poster stand for the enthusiasm and the passion that Porto-alegrenses, as the locals are known, have for football.

Recife



Recife’s Host City poster portrays the essence of a coastal city full of movement, art and joy. Frevo, a style of both music and dance, is Recife’s most authentic and characteristic cultural display. It first appeared in the city some 100 years ago and is today included on the list of Brazilian intangible cultural heritage.



With colourful umbrellas, dancers perform an elaborate choreography that seems to fill the world with delight. The image shows a frevo dancer whose movements resemble the acrobatics of skilled football players – a combination which is in fact the key note of the poster. The cloud of dynamic movement created by the dancer shows the city’s many colours, highlighting its distinctive landscape of bridges, rivers, boats and rich architecture as well as revellers fully enjoying carnival.

Rio de Janeiro



The silhouette of the carefree footballer balancing a football on his neck forms a heart which symbolises the people’s deep love of football in Rio de Janeiro. Football is at the centre of their world, an idea which is conveyed by the depth achieved through the various layers. Each layer in turn stands for one aspect of Rio de Janeiro: the beach, the mountains, the Sugarloaf, the sea and the sky.



The colours and vibrancy of the layers portray the energy and pace that are typical of Rio de Janeiro and football. Upon closer inspection, behind the individual layers you will find a smile, an invitation to share in the city’s joie de vivre, the thrill of those who cheer with all their heart, and the satisfaction you get from a kick-about at the end of the day. You cannot avoid feeling the positive vibes and the beat of the music all around you. Those who meet a true Carioca (native of Rio) soon realise that’s what Rio de Janeiro is really made of.

Salvador



Salvador is a city with a wealth of cultural and architectural heritage. One of the most outstanding attractions in this historically rich city is the Elevador Lacerda, the first public elevator in the world. It’s a real magnet for visitors, who admire its beauty, and an important asset to the city’s inhabitants for its functionality. There is a breathtaking view from the top of its towers of the city’s other tourist attractions, with the spectacular view of Baía de Todos os Santos (All Saints Bay) as a backdrop.



This imposing monument is also a shortcut that connects the historical lower city on the seafront to the modern, expanding upper city. All those who are transported by the elevator, whether tourists or locals, breathe life into the city´s economy and fill the city with a passion for football.



The poster shows a ball crossing the goal line and hitting the net, which is the final and most important goal of a football match. This could be in the stadium, with proper goalposts, or on any small football field, on the beach, or even in the streets, with imaginary goalposts made out of stones or shoes. It could be with a penalty kick, a bicycle kick, or even a scissors kick, but for a football match to be complete it needs to have a goal, and that’s how this poster turned out: it has history, it has beauty and it has a GOAL!

Sao Paulo



São Paulo’s poster for the 2014 FIFA World Cup™ portrays a bustling metropolis where thousands of people live, celebrate and breathe football together. Football is in the city’s blood, in its streets, its countless buildings, and in the air. The city has an infectious energy that connects everybody and makes the people of São Paulo, Brazil’s largest city, the world’s greatest fans.