Each WorldCup has its mascots. Do you know it? It are that funny characters that sometimes become loved by children, and that symbolize the great encounter of people on World Soccer Championship.

First mascots has been created on 1966. First of it was the little lion Willie, created for England World Cup, on 1966. From this year away, all countries that received the World Cup created mascots. See some of them and some stories about the World Cup:

Willie - England 1966

A little Lion that is one of traditional symbols of England. It was on this World Cup that the Cup, was robbed and then found by a dog, called Pickles, on London suburbs.

Juanito - Mexico 1970
A typical mexican kid, with its "sombrero", the big hat.

Tip & Tap - Germany (RFA) 1974
Two little germans, representing the will of victory of the german team.

Gauchito - Argentina 1978
As Juanito, this mascot uses a typical argentinian hat.

Naranjito - Spain 1982
An smiling orange representing Spain. On this Cup brazilian was dramatically eliminated, despite of having one of its best teams of its story: there were big crackers, as Zico, Socrates, Junior…

Pique - Mexico 1986
Another Juanito, but with a bigger mustache…

Ciao - Itália 1990
A strange mascot done of italian flags and a ball head… On this Cup, Cameroun player Roger Milla become the oldest player that made a goal on a World Cup: he was 38 years old.

Striker - EUA 1994
A dog, not a hot-dog.

Footix - França 1998
This woodpecker made french team very lucky. Including a winning against Brazil on the final game: 3 x 0

"Alien" Mascots - Japão & Coréia 2002
The Spheriks represent the "good vibrations" on the Earth, along the Cup Soccer games.

Here in Brazil these new mascots didn't "glue" too much. Our mascot became a very funny turtle, that appears on an advertising playing ball very slowly, until arriving on Tokio…

All images used here doesn't have any commercial intention and are property of Fifa Marketing AG.

Adapted from Recreio

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