Panda cub to succeed Paul the octopus as World Cup 2014 soothsayer

With the FIFA World Cup 2014 right around the corner, there is much speculation on which animal would replace Paul the Octopus.

Reports suggest that a panda cub has been invited by the Chengdu Research Base in Sichuan province of China to become its unofficial nominee to succeed Paul.

The panda will either climb trees carrying the flags of different teams or choose between two pieces of food, much like Paul the Octopus once did, News.com.au reports.

Paul the octopus died several months after the tournament and hence began the hunt for its replacement.

The report adds that while the soothsaying cephalopod correctly predicted the results of every match Germany played at the last FIFA World Cup, along with the result of the final, he developed a cult following in the process.