The twelve posters of the World Cup 2014 host cities in Brazil.
Belo Horizonte
“The 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
“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
“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.
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 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 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
“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
“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.”
Salvador
“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!”
São 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.”
Information taken from FIFA.com