Meet the 2026 World Cup Mascots

On June 11, 48 teams from around the world will kick off the world’s largest soccer tournament right here in North America. (It’s the first time North American countries have hosted the four-year event in 32 years!)

The United States, Mexico, and Canada are teaming up to co-host all the action. To represent the spirit of each country, there are three official World Cup mascots ready to cheer on the teams. Let’s meet them!

CLUTCH THE BALD EAGLE

Home country: United States
Born: Ready to fly
Position: Midfielder
Hobbies: Sports, hanging with friends
Known for: Curiosity and optimism
Real deal: Unlike the very social Clutch, real bald eagles are mostly solitary (though they do often mate for life).

ZAYU THE JAGUAR

Home country: Mexico
Born: In the jungle
Position: Striker
Hobbies: Dancing, eating
Known for: Bringing people together
Real deal: Sort of like how soccer players can run more than 6 miles during a match, real jaguars can travel more than 6 miles a day while hunting.

MAPLE THE MOOSE

Home country: Canada
Born: To roam
Position: Goalkeeper
Hobbies: Music, art, travel
Known for: Strength and leadership
Real deal: Real moose like music too — sort of. Bulls (males) bellow, croak and bark, and cows (females) make long moans that end in a “moo-agh” cough to call their young.

World Cup Mascot Fun Facts

The first official mascot was World Cup Willie, a red-headed lion created for the 1966 tournament in England.

Ato, Kaz and Nik were the first computer-generated mascots. From a futuristic place called Atmozone, the trio appeared for the 2002 World Cup co-hosted by Korea and Japan.

Striker the dog was the mascot in 1994, the last time the United States hosted.

Illustrations courtesy of FIFA.