Soccer great Franz Beckenbauer and Lennart Johansson, head of European soccer’s governing body Uefa, were on hand for the poster’s unveiling in the southwestern German city of Stuttgart on Thursday.

Designed by Berlin-based artist Gregor C. Blach, the stars motif beat four rivals in a public telephone vote throughout Germany.

Almost 50,000 phone calls and text messages were received during the five-day voting period, raising nearly 16,000 Eur ($20,000) — all the telephone proceeds — for charity.

"It is the first time that the people in the host country have had something to say in the choice of the official poster," said Uefa chief Johansson.

"The German fans have made a good choice. The winning entry will no doubt serve as a splendid calling card for the 2006 FIFA World Cup."

Beckenbauer, president of the German organizing committee, agreed, saying that the poster strikes an emotional chord with fans of the beautiful game.

"The idea itself and the way it has been depicted appealed to us. Portraying the starry sky as a football is a new idea with potent symbolism," he said.

"The poster also attracted me emotionally because, for me, football is all about emotion and passion."