FIFA has officially introduced the mascots for the 2026 World Cup, revealing a colorful trio representing each of the tournament’s three host countries: the United States, Canada, and Mexico. The mascots — Clutch the Bald Eagle, Maple the Moose, and Zayu the Jaguar — were unveiled during a special event in Arlington, Texas, as part of the buildup to the first World Cup co-hosted by three nations.
Each character reflects the culture, spirit, and identity of its respective country while emphasizing unity across North America.
“Clutch, Maple, and Zayu are full of joy, energy, and the spirit of togetherness — just like the FIFA World Cup itself,” said FIFA President Gianni Infantino during the reveal.
Meet the Mascots
- Clutch (United States)
A bald eagle symbolizing the U.S., Clutch is described as a passionate and energetic midfielder who inspires teamwork and optimism. FIFA’s storyline presents him as adventurous and open-minded, with a love for exploring different cultures across the country. - Maple (Canada)
Representing Canada, Maple is a moose — the tournament’s first-ever goalkeeper mascot. According to FIFA, Maple is creative, expressive, and deeply connected to Canadian diversity, traveling coast-to-coast as an artist and cultural ambassador. - Zayu (Mexico)
A jaguar standing in for Mexico, Zayu is characterized as a striker with a bold and inventive playing style. The character also wears the captain’s armband, emphasizing leadership and tradition rooted in Mexican heritage.
photo FIFA
Digital, Gaming, and Merchandising Integration
Beyond traditional roles, the mascots will appear in multiple digital formats. FIFA announced that all three characters will be featured in an upcoming five-a-side video game called FIFA Heroes, developed by ENVER and Solace. The game will be available on mobile and console platforms in 2026.
Additionally, the mascots will appear in Roblox, integrated into the platform’s FIFA Super League Soccer universe with special quests and in-game rewards to attract younger fans.
Merchandise featuring the mascots is already being released, with more expected as the tournament nears. FIFA aims to use the mascots not just for branding but to enhance fan engagement both on the ground and online.
A First for FIFA: Three Mascots, Three Hosts
This is the first time FIFA has created separate mascots for each host nation. The 2026 tournament — hosted by the U.S., Mexico, and Canada — will also be the largest in history, expanding to 48 teams and more than 100 matches.
Mascots have been a fixture of FIFA World Cups since 1966, but never before has a trio been introduced to represent multiple nations under one tournament. This move reflects FIFA’s broader effort to highlight the distinct identities of each host while promoting cross-border unity through sport.
Looking Ahead
The 2026 FIFA World Cup will take place across 16 cities in the three host countries, with the opening match and final expected to draw record global audiences. The mascots will be a central part of FIFA’s marketing campaign leading up to the event, appearing in stadium activations, media promotions, and fan zones.
As the countdown to 2026 continues, Clutch, Maple, and Zayu are set to become familiar faces — not just in stadiums, but across screens and shelves worldwide.
