World Cup Mascots: Maple the Moose, Zayu the Jaguar, and Clutch the Bald Eagle

Is it even a World Cup without a mascot?

Well, how about three?

With the 2026 FIFA World Cup being the biggest edition (48 teams) of the marquee soccer extravaganza, we'll also have a plethora of mascots for next summer's edition. 

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Three co-hosts. Three distinct mascots. Each of these cuddly creatures represent the co-hosts of Canada, Mexico, and the United States, and have their own special attributes on the pitch. 

Maple (Goalkeeper, Canada)

(Courtesy: FIFA)

A moose from our neighbors up north, Maple wears the No. 1 and is in charge of anchoring the net. From the name to his uniform color, Maple embodies some of the country's most recognizable emblems and is "born to roam, journeying across all of Canada’s provinces and territories while connecting with people and embracing the country’s rich culture."

And although Les Rouges are better known for playmakers such as Alphonso Davies and Jonathan David, it won't hurt to have Maple's antlers covering as much of the goal as possible. 

Zayu (Forward, Mexico)

(Courtesy: FIFA)

A jaguar who plays forward, donning the No. 9 in Mexico's iconic green kit. An elusive creature found in southern parts of the country, jaguars are a symbol to many of Mexico's ancient civilizations. Zayu is said to "embrace Mexican culture through dance, food and tradition, uniting people across borders with passion. … a symbol of cultural celebration and connection, carrying the heart of Mexico with pride."

And there's also no shortage of quality forwards for El Tri at the World Cup, including Javier "Chicharito" Hernández, Cuauhtémoc Blanco, and current striker Raúl Jiménez. 

Clutch (Midfielder, United States)

((Courtesy: FIFA))

You need a maestro in the midfield, and Clutch should be up to the task. You need a keen eye and some sharp instincts when wearing the No. 10 shirt, so it's no surprise to have a bald eagle representing the United States.  Clutch is said to have "an unquenchable thirst for adventure, soaring across the United States and embracing every culture, game and moment with boundless curiosity and optimism."

Christian Pulisic usually wears that number for the U.S. men's national team as a winger, so USMNT fans will hope he soars to new heights in 2026.  

Previous men's World Cup mascots

The newly revealed trio will uphold the rich heritage of World Cup mascots. Even though the first World Cup occurred in 1930, it wasn't until the 1966 edition in England that we began to see mascots associated with the tournament. 

1966 – World Cup Willie (England)

A lion wearing a Union Jack jersey, Willie became the first official World Cup mascot and set the trend for future World Cups to incorporate elements of the host nation. And as such, England won its first and only World Cup title on home soil over Germany.  

1970 – Juanito (Mexico)
A young boy in a sombrero and Mexico jersey, Juanito was the first of now three mascots from the country. This World Cup was also the final title for Brazilian legend Pelé, who helped beat Italy to hoist the trophy three times in his legendary career. 

1974 – Tip and Tap (West Germany)
Two boys in soccer kits, Tip and Tap, wore "WM 74." They symbolized teamwork and unity, with the hosts winning its second of four titles in a win over the Netherlands. 

1978 – Gauchito (Argentina)
A cartoon boy dressed as a gaucho, complete with hat, scarf, and whip. Gauchito captured Argentine tradition with the hosts defeating the Netherlands and going on to lift their first ever trophy. 

1982 – Naranjito (Spain)
A smiling orange dressed in Spain’s national kit. Naranjito celebrated Spain’s agriculture and culture for the expanded 24-team World Cup. The tournament also saw Italy claim its third World Cup by beating West Germany. 

1986 – Pique (Mexico)
Mexico were handed hosting duties again, and thus a new mascot – a jalapeño pepper with a mustache, sombrero, and soccer. The tournament saw one of the memorable individual performances at a World Cup as Diego Maradona and Argentina beat West Germany for a second title. 

1990 – Ciao (Italy)
An abstract stick-figure made of colored blocks with a soccer ball head. Ciao was meant to embody Italian design flair and modernity, with the final seeing the reverse of the previous edition – West Germany got its revenge on Maradona's Argentina. 

1994 – Striker (USA)
A dog wearing red, white, and blue soccer gear and still a favorite among U.S. fans. The tournament still set records in terms of crowd attendance, and saw Brazil finally win its first post-Pelé title with a penalty-shootout win over Italy at the Rose Bowl.  

1998 – Footix (France)
A bold blue cockerel, France’s national symbol, holding a soccer and an in the rouge-blanc-bleu colors of the flag. This tournament also featured an expanded field (32 teams), with the hosts marching to the title. 

2002 – Ato, Kaz, and Nik (South Korea/Japan)
The first World Cup to have co-hosts, with three futuristic "Spheriks" serving as mascots. The mascots symbolized innovation and unity between the two teams, which was the first time that Asian countries hosted the World Cup. Brazil won its fifth trophy over Germany, which remains the record. 

2006 – Goleo VI (Germany)
A lion wearing Germany’s jersey, paired with his talking soccer ball sidekick "Pille." Italy hoisted its fourth trophy by beating France in a final most remembered by Zinedine Zidane's red card for head-butting Marco Materazzi.

2010 – Zakumi (South Africa)
A green-haired leopard in gear. Zakumi embodied African wildlife, youth, and vibrancy. His name combined "ZA" (South Africa) with "kumi" (ten), marking the year. The first tournament to be held in Africa, Spain claimed its only men's title in defeating the Netherlands. 

2014 – Fuleco (Brazil)
A three-banded armadillo, symbolizing environmental awareness and Brazilian biodiversity. Fuleco’s name fused "futebol" and "ecologia," while the final saw Germany win its fourth title by beating Lionel Messi and Argentina. 

2018 – Zabivaka (Russia)
A wolf wearing sporty goggles, Zabivaka means "the scorer" in Russian. He represented confidence and speed, which we saw plenty on the pitch as Kylian Mbappé and France defeated Croatia in the final. 

2022 – La’eeb (Qatar)
A playful ghost-like character shaped like a traditional ghutrah headdress. La’eeb symbolized Arab culture as Qatar hosted the first World Cup held in the Middle East. The final was one of the most memorable as Messi and Argentina defeated France in a penalty shootout. 

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