The mascot of the 2014 World Cup is a yet to-be-named Brazilian endangered armadillo.
Brazilians will choose the mascot's name from three choices — Amijubi, Fuleco and Zuzeco.
The three-banded armadillo, commonly found in northeastern Brazil, rolls up into the shape of a ball when threatened.
"The fact that the three-banded armadillo is a vulnerable species is very fitting," FIFA Secretary General Jerome Valcke said in a statement. "One of the key objectives through the 2014 FIFA World Cup is to use the event as a platform to communicate the importance of the environment and ecology."
TRIVIA TIME. Here are the names of past mascots:
1966-England (Willie the lion)
1974-West Germany (Tip and Tap)
1982-Spain (Naranjito the orange)
1986-Mexico (Pique the chili pepper)
1994-USA (Striker the dog)
1998-France (Footix the rooster)
2002-Japan/South Korea (Ato, Kaz and Nik)
2006-Germany (Goleo VI the lion)
2010-South Africa (Zakumi the leopard)
BRAZIL WATCH. Brazil and Argentina will play a pair of friendlies, the first Wednesday in Goiania and the second two weeks later in Resistencia in northern Argentina, both rare these days because they fall outside the FIFA international calendar. Both teams will rely on domestic-based players. Brazil coach Mano Menezes' callups include young stars Neymar, Leandro Damiao and Lucas, all members of the Brazil Olympic silver-medal team.
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