This summer’s World Cup has three mascots instead of the usual one, and each represents a different host nation. Maple the Moose, Zayu the Jaguar and Clutch the Bald Eagle were unveiled by FIFA on 25 September 2025, ahead of the first World Cup co-hosted by three countries.
England will face co-hosts Mexico in the round of 16 in the early hours of Monday, with Round of 16 odds already shifting ahead of a daunting trip to the Azteca.
Who are the three mascots?
Maple the Moose represents Canada and plays in goal. The character travelled across every Canadian province and territory before the tournament, picking up the country’s culture along the way, and FIFA describes Maple as a street style-loving artist and music enthusiast with a knack for making big saves and a personality built on resilience and individuality.
Zayu the Jaguar represents Mexico and plays as a striker. Coming from the jungles of southern Mexico, Zayu brings agility and ingenuity to the pitch, while away from it, the character leans into Mexican culture through dance, food and tradition. FIFA frames Zayu as a symbol of cultural celebration as much as a football character.
Clutch the Bald Eagle represents the United States and plays a midfield role. FIFA calls Clutch fearless on the pitch and a unifying presence off it, with a personality built on curiosity and optimism that the organisation describes as a “social spark”, rallying people together wherever the character turns up.
Why three mascots this time?
The 2026 tournament is the first World Cup hosted jointly by three nations, Canada, Mexico and the United States, and FIFA wanted each host represented individually rather than folded into a single character. It’s also the first World Cup to feature 48 teams, running from 11 June to 19 July.
What’s actually new about these mascots?
Maple, Zayu and Clutch are the first World Cup mascots built to be playable characters rather than purely decorative ones. They’ll feature in FIFA Heroes, a new arcade-style five-a-side football game developed by ENVER in partnership with Solace, launching in 2026 across Android, iOS, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation and Xbox. Players will be able to build squads mixing past and present World Cup mascots alongside football icons and fictional characters from popular film and TV.
The trio also turns up in FIFA Super League Soccer on Roblox, a collaboration with Gamefam that includes mascot-themed quests and rewards tied to each character’s on-pitch role. It’s a notable step up from previous tournaments, where mascots were largely confined to merchandise and matchday appearances rather than interactive games, and their crossover into gaming reflects just how much attention this tournament is generating well beyond the pitch, with interest in football betting rising alongside it too.
Where can fans get hold of mascot merchandise?
Official Maple, Zayu and Clutch shirts and other merchandise are available through FIFAStore.com, and FIFA has said the characters will be a visible presence around stadiums and host cities throughout the tournament, including appearances with players and at fan events.
The bigger picture
FIFA President Gianni Infantino said the mascots are central to the atmosphere being built around the tournament, predicting they’d appear on merchandise shirts and “high-fiving football legends” throughout the summer. Whatever else changes about how World Cups are mascoted in future, 2026 marks the first time fans can actually play as the characters themselves rather than just spot them in the crowd. Anyone following the tournament will likely see plenty more of Maple, Zayu and Clutch before the final whistle in July.