Fuleco

[1] Fuleco was officially launched as part of Brazilian broadcaster TV Globo's weekly Fantástico entertainment show on 25 November 2012.

The mascot, with his message of environmental concerns, ecology and sport, turned out to be very popular with football teams around the world.

[8] The final mascot design was chosen after FIFA and the Local Organizing Committee had analyzed 47 different proposals created by six different Brazilian agencies.

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.

[9] FIFA accepted that it does not have any connection with organisations attempting to help the tatu bola despite expecting to make profits from selling merchandise based on their mascot.