List of FIFA World Cup official mascots
Updated: 11/6/2025, 1:54:37 AM Wikipedia source
The FIFA World Cup official mascots are a series of characters representing each FIFA World Cup event. The trend began with Willie in 1966 FIFA World Cup, one of the first mascots to be associated with a major sporting competition. The mascot designs represent a characteristic or symbol of the host country, such as flora, fauna, or costume. The design is frequently one or more anthropomorphic characters targeted at children and coinciding with cartoon shows and merchandise. The FIFA Women's World Cup events have had official mascots since the 1991 event in China.
Tables
· Men's World Cup
Willie
Willie
Event
1966
Hostcountry
England
Mascot name
Willie
Description
An anthropomorphic lion, a typical symbol of the United Kingdom, wearing a Union Flag jersey with the words "WORLD CUP". Designed by freelance children's book illustrator Reg Hoye.
Juanito
Juanito
Event
1970
Hostcountry
Mexico
Mascot name
Juanito
Description
A boy wearing Mexico's kit and a sombrero (with the words "MEXICO 70"). His name is the diminutive of "Juan", a common name in Spanish.
Tip and Tap
Tip and Tap
Event
1974
Hostcountry
West Germany
Mascot name
Tip and Tap
Description
Two boys wearing Germany kits, with the letters WM (Weltmeisterschaft, World Cup) and number 74.
Gauchito
Gauchito
Event
1978
Hostcountry
Argentina
Mascot name
Gauchito
Description
A boy wearing Argentina's kit. His hat (with the words ARGENTINA '78), neckerchief and whip are typical of gauchos.
Naranjito
Naranjito
Event
1982
Hostcountry
Spain
Mascot name
Naranjito
Description
An anthropomorphic orange, a typical fruit in Spain, wearing the kit of the host's national team. Its name comes from naranja, Spanish for orange, and the diminutive suffix "-ito".
Pique
Pique
Event
1986
Hostcountry
Mexico
Mascot name
Pique
Description
An anthropomorphic jalapeño pepper, characteristic of Mexican cuisine, with a moustache and wearing a sombrero. Its name comes from picante, Spanish for spicy peppers and sauces.
Ciao
Ciao
Event
1990
Hostcountry
Italy
Mascot name
Ciao
Description
A stick figure player with a football head and an Italian tricolore body. Its name is an Italian greeting. It is the only World Cup mascot without a face.
Striker
Striker
Event
1994
Hostcountry
United States
Mascot name
Striker
Description
An anthropomorphic dog, a common US pet animal, wearing a red, white and blue soccer uniform with the words "USA 94".
Footix
Footix
Event
1998
Hostcountry
France
Mascot name
Footix
Description
An anthropomorphic cockerel, which is one of the national symbols of France. He has the words "FRANCE 98" on his chest, and his body is mostly blue with a red head and tail, like the host's national team shirt. The mascot for the 2019 Women's World Cup, also hosted by France, is a young female chicken named "Ettie", portrayed as the daughter of Footix.
Ato, Kaz and Nik
Ato, Kaz and Nik
Event
2002
Hostcountry
South KoreaJapan
Mascot name
Ato, Kaz and Nik
Description
Orange, purple, and blue (respectively) futuristic, computer-generated creatures. Collectively members of a team of "Atmosball" (a fictional football-like sport), Ato is the coach while Kaz and Nik are players. The three individual names were selected from shortlists by users on the Internet and at McDonald's outlets in the host countries.
Goleo VI and Pille
Goleo VI and Pille
Event
2006
Hostcountry
Germany
Mascot name
Goleo VI and Pille
Description
An anthropomorphic lion wearing a Germany shirt with the number 06 with a talking football named Pille. Goleo is a portmanteau of the words "goal" and "Leo", the Latin word for lion. In Germany, "Pille" is a colloquial term for a football.
Zakumi
Zakumi
Event
2010
Hostcountry
South Africa
Mascot name
Zakumi
Description
An anthropomorphic leopard, a common animal found in South Africa, with green hair wearing a shirt saying South Africa 2010. Zakumi's green and gold colors represent South African national sports' team's colors. His name comes from "ZA", for South Africa, and "Kumi", a word that means "ten" in various African languages.
Fuleco
Fuleco
Event
2014
Hostcountry
Brazil
Mascot name
Fuleco
Description
An anthropomorphic Brazilian three-banded armadillo wearing a white T-shirt reading "Brasil 2014" and a green Bermuda. He has a blue carapace which is patterned after a traditional football. The selection of Fuleco brings attention to the country's great biodiversity, as the Brazilian three-banded armadillo is endemic to Brazil and is classified as a vulnerable species. The name Fuleco is a portmanteau of the words "futebol" ("football") and "ecologia" ("ecology").
Zabivaka
Zabivaka
Event
2018
Hostcountry
Russia
Mascot name
Zabivaka
Description
An anthropomorphic wolf with a name that translates from Russian as The Goalscorer. Zabivaka wears red shorts and a blue and white T-shirt emblazoned with the words "Russia 2018". The color combination is that of the Russian team, with the mascot being selected via internet voting.
La'eeb
La'eeb
Event
2022
Hostcountry
Qatar
Mascot name
La'eeb
Description
A white floating anthropomorphic ghutrah with eyes, eyebrows and an open mouth. Its name is La’eeb, which is an Arabic word meaning "super-skilled player".
Maple, Zayu and Clutch
Maple, Zayu and Clutch
Event
2026
Hostcountry
CanadaMexicoUnited States
Mascot name
Maple, Zayu and Clutch
Description
Maple, an anthropomorphic Canadian moose, appears in red and represents creativity and resilience. He is a goalkeeper and draws inspiration from the maple leaf, Canada's national symbol. Zayu, an anthropomorphic Mexican jaguar, wears the traditional green and acts as a forward. Inspired by the importance of the animal to ancient civilizations, it symbolizes strength, agility, and cultural pride. Clutch, an anthropomorphic American bald eagle, wears the blue uniform of the American team and symbolizes courage, leadership, and unity, acting as a midfielder.
| Event | Hostcountry | Mascot name | Description | Refs. |
| 1966 | England | Willie | An anthropomorphic lion, a typical symbol of the United Kingdom, wearing a Union Flag jersey with the words "WORLD CUP". Designed by freelance children's book illustrator Reg Hoye. | |
| 1970 | Mexico | Juanito | A boy wearing Mexico's kit and a sombrero (with the words "MEXICO 70"). His name is the diminutive of "Juan", a common name in Spanish. | |
| 1974 | West Germany | Tip and Tap | Two boys wearing Germany kits, with the letters WM (Weltmeisterschaft, World Cup) and number 74. | |
| 1978 | Argentina | Gauchito | A boy wearing Argentina's kit. His hat (with the words ARGENTINA '78), neckerchief and whip are typical of gauchos. | |
| 1982 | Spain | Naranjito | An anthropomorphic orange, a typical fruit in Spain, wearing the kit of the host's national team. Its name comes from naranja, Spanish for orange, and the diminutive suffix "-ito". | |
| 1986 | Mexico | Pique | An anthropomorphic jalapeño pepper, characteristic of Mexican cuisine, with a moustache and wearing a sombrero. Its name comes from picante, Spanish for spicy peppers and sauces. | |
| 1990 | Italy | Ciao | A stick figure player with a football head and an Italian tricolore body. Its name is an Italian greeting. It is the only World Cup mascot without a face. | |
| 1994 | United States | Striker | An anthropomorphic dog, a common US pet animal, wearing a red, white and blue soccer uniform with the words "USA 94". | |
| 1998 | France | Footix | An anthropomorphic cockerel, which is one of the national symbols of France. He has the words "FRANCE 98" on his chest, and his body is mostly blue with a red head and tail, like the host's national team shirt. The mascot for the 2019 Women's World Cup, also hosted by France, is a young female chicken named "Ettie", portrayed as the daughter of Footix. | |
| 2002 | South KoreaJapan | Ato, Kaz and Nik | Orange, purple, and blue (respectively) futuristic, computer-generated creatures. Collectively members of a team of "Atmosball" (a fictional football-like sport), Ato is the coach while Kaz and Nik are players. The three individual names were selected from shortlists by users on the Internet and at McDonald's outlets in the host countries. | |
| 2006 | Germany | Goleo VI and Pille | An anthropomorphic lion wearing a Germany shirt with the number 06 with a talking football named Pille. Goleo is a portmanteau of the words "goal" and "Leo", the Latin word for lion. In Germany, "Pille" is a colloquial term for a football. | |
| 2010 | South Africa | Zakumi | An anthropomorphic leopard, a common animal found in South Africa, with green hair wearing a shirt saying South Africa 2010. Zakumi's green and gold colors represent South African national sports' team's colors. His name comes from "ZA", for South Africa, and "Kumi", a word that means "ten" in various African languages. | |
| 2014 | Brazil | Fuleco | An anthropomorphic Brazilian three-banded armadillo wearing a white T-shirt reading "Brasil 2014" and a green Bermuda. He has a blue carapace which is patterned after a traditional football. The selection of Fuleco brings attention to the country's great biodiversity, as the Brazilian three-banded armadillo is endemic to Brazil and is classified as a vulnerable species. The name Fuleco is a portmanteau of the words "futebol" ("football") and "ecologia" ("ecology"). | |
| 2018 | Russia | Zabivaka | An anthropomorphic wolf with a name that translates from Russian as The Goalscorer. Zabivaka wears red shorts and a blue and white T-shirt emblazoned with the words "Russia 2018". The color combination is that of the Russian team, with the mascot being selected via internet voting. | |
| 2022 | Qatar | La'eeb | A white floating anthropomorphic ghutrah with eyes, eyebrows and an open mouth. Its name is La’eeb, which is an Arabic word meaning "super-skilled player". | |
| 2026 | CanadaMexicoUnited States | Maple, Zayu and Clutch | Maple, an anthropomorphic Canadian moose, appears in red and represents creativity and resilience. He is a goalkeeper and draws inspiration from the maple leaf, Canada's national symbol. Zayu, an anthropomorphic Mexican jaguar, wears the traditional green and acts as a forward. Inspired by the importance of the animal to ancient civilizations, it symbolizes strength, agility, and cultural pride. Clutch, an anthropomorphic American bald eagle, wears the blue uniform of the American team and symbolizes courage, leadership, and unity, acting as a midfielder. |
· Women's World Cup
Ling Ling
Ling Ling
Event
1991
Host country
China
Mascot name
Ling Ling
Description
A bird-like mascot of an unspecified species.
Fiffi
Fiffi
Event
1995
Host country
Sweden
Mascot name
Fiffi
Description
A viking girl.
Nutmeg
Nutmeg
Event
1999
Host country
United States
Mascot name
Nutmeg
Description
An anthropomorphic fox.
(none)
(none)
Event
2003
Host country
United States
Mascot name
(none)
Description
There was no mascot because of the tournament's sudden moving from China to the US, amidst the 2002–2004 SARS outbreak.
Hua Mulan
Hua Mulan
Event
2007
Host country
China
Mascot name
Hua Mulan
Description
A girl based on the Chinese tale of Hua Mulan (from whom she is descended).
Karla Kick
Karla Kick
Event
2011
Host country
Germany
Mascot name
Karla Kick
Description
An anthropomorphic cat.
Shuéme
Shuéme
Event
2015
Host country
Canada
Mascot name
Shuéme
Description
An anthropomorphic snowy owl; her name derives from chouette, French for "owl".
Ettie
Ettie
Event
2019
Host country
France
Mascot name
Ettie
Description
An anthropomorphic chicken; she is the daughter of Footix, the 1998 World Cup mascot.
Tazuni
Tazuni
Event
2023
Host country
AustraliaNew Zealand
Mascot name
Tazuni
Description
An anthropomorphic little penguin; her name is a portmanteau of the Tasman Sea and 'Unity'.
| Event | Host country | Mascot name | Description | Refs. |
| 1991 | China | Ling Ling | A bird-like mascot of an unspecified species. | |
| 1995 | Sweden | Fiffi | A viking girl. | |
| 1999 | United States | Nutmeg | An anthropomorphic fox. | |
| 2003 | United States | (none) | There was no mascot because of the tournament's sudden moving from China to the US, amidst the 2002–2004 SARS outbreak. | |
| 2007 | China | Hua Mulan | A girl based on the Chinese tale of Hua Mulan (from whom she is descended). | |
| 2011 | Germany | Karla Kick | An anthropomorphic cat. | |
| 2015 | Canada | Shuéme | An anthropomorphic snowy owl; her name derives from chouette, French for "owl". | |
| 2019 | France | Ettie | An anthropomorphic chicken; she is the daughter of Footix, the 1998 World Cup mascot. | |
| 2023 | AustraliaNew Zealand | Tazuni | An anthropomorphic little penguin; her name is a portmanteau of the Tasman Sea and 'Unity'. |
References
- BBC Newshttps://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-18430665
- FIFAhttps://web.archive.org/web/20200731052422/https://www.fifa.com/who-we-are/news/the-fifa-world-cuptm-mascots-517089
- fifa.comhttps://www.fifa.com/en/articles/world-cup-mascots-in-history
- "ettie revealed as Official Mascot for FIFA Women's World Cup France 2019"https://www.fifa.com/womensworldcup/news/ettie-revealed-official-mascot-france-2019
- The Seattle Timeshttps://www.seattletimes.com/sports/other-sports/briefs-leopard-named-zakumi-is-2010-world-cup-mascot/
- The Washington Posthttps://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/early-lead/wp/2014/07/07/environmental-conservationists-call-fifa-out-for-misusing-its-fuleco-armadillo-mascot/
- ThePrinthttps://theprint.in/sport/laeeb-unveiled-as-official-mascot-for-fifa-world-cup-qatar-2022/899099/
- minthttps://www.livemint.com/sports/news/indian-company-fractal-picture-behind-fifa-world-cup-qatar-2022-mascot-laeeb-11670573506472.html
- Tribuna.comhttps://tribuna.com/en/blogs/fifa-reveals-first-teasers-of-world-cup-2026-mascots/
- The New York Timeshttps://www.nytimes.com/athletic/6659262/2025/09/25/world-cup-2026-mascots/
- FIFA.comhttps://web.archive.org/web/20150331165652/http://www.fifa.com//womensworldcup/news/y=2015/m=3/news=67-days-to-go-2580057.html
- Transform magazinehttp://www.transformmagazine.net/articles/2015/timeline-womens-world-cup/
- ABC Newshttps://www.abc.net.au/news/2023-08-04/mascots-fifa-womens-world-cup-tazuni/102646534
- www.goal.comhttps://web.archive.org/web/20120714074106/https://www.goal.com/en/news/1863/world-cup-2010/2009/12/27/1710848/world-cup-2010-top-10-world-cup-mascots
- FIFA.comhttps://web.archive.org/web/20180513225443/http://www.fifa.com/womensworldcup/news/y=2010/m=8/news=official-mascot-karla-kick-1283572.html
- Vancouver Sunhttps://vancouversun.com/news/staff-blogs/shueme-the-great-white-owl-unveiled-as-fifa-womens-world-cup-canada-mascot
- FIFA.comhttps://www.fifa.com/fifaplus/en/articles/tazuni-2023-womens-world-cup-official-mascot