September 26 – After months of speculation, FIFA has released the 2026 World Cup mascots, and you might need a zoo to contain them. With the tournament to be hosted jointly by Mexico, the United States, and Canada, the three characters revealed are designed to embody the spirit of each nation. Zayu, the Jaguar, for Mexico. Clutch, the Bald Eagle representing the United States. And Maple the Moose for Canada.
“The 26 team has just got bigger – and more fun! Maple, Zayu and Clutch are full of joy, energy and the spirit of togetherness, just like the FIFA World Cup itself,” said FIFA President Gianni Infantino.
“The three mascots are central to the incredible, entertaining atmosphere we’re creating for this game-changing tournament. They’ll win hearts and spark celebrations across North America and around the world. I can already picture them on children’s shirts, high-fiving football legends and – in another first for this tournament – starring in video games played by millions worldwide.”
Maple, Zayu and Clutch will become the first FIFA competition mascots to be playable, in a new FIFA-licensed title, FIFA Heroes, launching next year. The game under the FIFAe umbrella, is developed and published by ENVER in partnership with Solace, and is an arcade-style, fast-paced five-a-side football title with fantasy flair. Players can build squads including past World Cup mascots.
Mascots have long been a part of the festival of football. Think of Willie the Lion from 1966, or Naranjito in Spain ’82, a smiling orange. More recently, Brazil’s Fuleco the Armadillo proved that the designers at FIFA have a mixed track record in creating a mascot that truly embodies a country’s love of the ‘beautiful game.’
These playful images do give the tournament a face, though. They bridge generations, provide the kids with something to collect, while older fans will tell you about how much better the previous incarnations were. Additionally, they reflect the identity of the hosts, reminding the world that football is about culture, unity, and memory.
For the first time, the mascots have been assigned positions. Maple the Moose is a goalkeeper, Clutch the Bald Eagle is a midfielder, while Zayu provides the goals as the striker. With no defender, Maple the Moose might have a lot of work to do!
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