For the first time, the tournament has three mascots instead of one, unveiled on 25 September 2025: Maple for Canada, Zayu for Mexico and Clutch for the United States.

This guide explains the 2026 trio, traces the full mascot history from 1966, and covers what fans made of the new characters ahead of the opening match on 11 June 2026.

Start with the three new characters, then see how they fit a tradition that goes back six decades.

The 2026 mascot trio

To match a tournament spread across three nations, the organisers chose a trio rather than a single character. Each represents the natural and cultural identity of its home country, and each is cast in a football position. It is only the second time the men's tournament has used more than one mascot, after the 2002 trio in Korea and Japan, and the first time each character maps directly to a separate host nation.

Their design draws on modern animated comic styles, intended to work in stadiums and on digital platforms alike. For the host countries themselves, see Canada, Mexico and the United States at WC 2026.

Maple, Zayu and Clutch in detail

Each character has its own backstory and personality, built out across the marketing materials.

Maple, the moose (Canada)

Maple represents Canada's landscapes, with an urban street-style look that nods to the country's modern, multicultural identity. The character is cast as a creative, resilient goalkeeper, leaning on themes of individual expression and community. The moose is one of Canada's most recognisable animals, and the design pairs that natural symbol with a contemporary, big-city wardrobe to signal a host nation that is both wild and modern.

Zayu, the jaguar (Mexico)

Zayu is a jaguar drawn from the rainforests of southern Mexico, a nod to Mesoamerican history where the animal held protective and spiritual status. On the pitch the character is an agile, technical striker; off it, the lore leans on Mexican culinary and cultural pride. In local tradition the jaguar carries connotations of strength and speed, which the organisers tie to a quick, skilful style of play that mirrors the country's footballing identity.

Clutch, the bald eagle (United States)

Clutch is modelled on the bald eagle, the national bird of the United States, with sleek lines influenced by comic-book animation. The character plays as a high-energy midfielder defined by optimism, curiosity and team-first leadership. As the face of the largest of the three hosts, Clutch is positioned as the connective, driving figure of the group, a role that fits naturally with a midfielder.

How the trio was received

Reaction to the 2025 reveal was divided. Fans broadly embraced the idea of a distinct character for each host nation, which suits the three-country format, and the trio spread quickly across social media through memes, fan art and short clips.

Some critics, however, felt the rounded, cartoon-style shapes looked closer to cereal-box characters or morning cartoons than to classic sporting icons. That split echoes earlier reveals: bold mascot designs have often polarised opinion before later becoming nostalgic favourites.

Footix in 1998 and Zakumi in 2010, for example, were both questioned at launch yet are now remembered fondly. The organisers will hope the same arc plays out for Maple, Zayu and Clutch as the opening match draws closer.

A history of mascots since 1966

Mascots have been part of the tournament since 1966. The table tracks every official men's mascot, its host and its design basis.

The winning tally of design styles has swung from human characters to animals, abstract shapes and now digital trios. More tournament trivia sits on the history and records page.

Notable firsts

A few mascots stand out for breaking new ground.

• Willie (1966): the first official mascot, which effectively launched tournament merchandising.
• Ciao (1990): the first non-animal, non-human design, an abstract tricolour figure that polarised opinion.
• Ato, Kaz and Nik (2002): the first computer-generated trio, from a fictional universe.
• Maple, Zayu and Clutch (2026): the first set built primarily as digital intellectual property.

The 2026 trio therefore continues a line that began with a single fabric-costume lion six decades earlier, while reflecting how far the commercial and digital side of the tournament has travelled in the years since.

Women's tournament mascots

The women's edition has produced its own popular characters in recent years.

• Tazuni (Australia and New Zealand, 2023): a blue-tufted penguin that became a global favourite and reflected the growth of the women's game.
• Ettie (France, 2019): a young French chicken cast in the lore as the daughter of Footix, the 1998 men's mascot.

Both drove strong merchandise sales, underlining how central mascots have become to the wider football calendar. Tazuni in particular became a breakout commercial success, a sign that a well-judged mascot can outlast the tournament that introduced it.

From costumes to digital characters

The role of a mascot has changed sharply over time. Early characters such as Willie in 1966 or Striker in 1994 were built mainly as fabric costumes worn by performers inside stadiums.

The 2026 trio is engineered the other way round: as digital-first intellectual property designed for video games, augmented-reality filters and high-definition social content. Licensing turns these characters into significant revenue, through plush toys, apparel, collectible pins and in-game items, and the three-mascot format multiplies the range of products that can be sold across the host markets.

That shift also changes how the characters behave during the tournament. Where older mascots mostly appeared as costumed performers on the pitch, Maple, Zayu and Clutch are built to live across broadcasts, apps and stadium screens, with animated sequences and social accounts that run for months either side of the event.

Belgian fans can find official items through the tournament's online store and selected sports and toy retailers. To avoid counterfeits, look for official holographic licensing labels and consistent embroidery rather than loose, low-quality printing.

For the music and slogan side of the tournament's identity, see the WC 2026 song and identity page.

Frequently asked questions

Who are the WC 2026 mascots?

There are three: Maple, a moose for Canada; Zayu, a jaguar for Mexico; and Clutch, a bald eagle for the United States. They were unveiled on 25 September 2025.

Why are there three mascots this time?

Because the tournament is hosted across three nations. Rather than one character, the organisers gave each host country its own mascot reflecting its culture and wildlife.

What positions do the mascots play?

Maple is cast as a goalkeeper, Zayu as a striker and Clutch as a midfielder, each matching its character's personality.

Who was the first ever mascot?

The 1966 lion known simply as Willie, worn as England's host mascot. It is widely credited with launching the tournament's merchandising business.

Where can Belgian fans buy official mascot merchandise?

Through the tournament's official online store and selected Belgian sports and toy retailers. Check for official holographic labels to avoid counterfeit items.

Are the mascots costumes or digital characters?

Both, but the emphasis has shifted. Older mascots were mainly fabric costumes worn by performers in stadiums, while Maple, Zayu and Clutch are designed first as digital characters for games, filters and broadcasts. Costumed versions still appear for live events and fan zones.

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Explore more WC 2026 content

• WC 2026 song and identity
• WC history and records
• Mexico at WC 2026
• Canada at WC 2026
• WC 2026 hub

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