The FIFA World Cup 2026 will be hosted across three nations — the United States, Canada, and Mexico — and each country brings its own mascot to represent their corner of the tournament. An eagle, a moose, and a jaguar will serve as the official symbols of the competition this summer.

These three creatures join a long and colourful lineage of World Cup mascots that stretches back decades, with each tournament producing a character designed to capture the spirit of the host nation and the excitement of the global game.

A tradition as old as the modern World Cup

World Cup mascots have been a fixture of the tournament since the 1966 edition in England, where World Cup Willie — a lion dressed in a Union Jack kit — became the first official mascot in the competition's history. Since then, each edition has introduced a new character that reflects local culture, wildlife, or folklore.

From Striker the dog in the United States in 1994 to Zakumi the leopard in South Africa in 2010, the mascots have ranged from animals to entirely invented cartoon figures, each leaving a different impression on fans around the world.

Three hosts, three mascots for 2026

For FIFA World Cup 2026, the three co-host nations have each introduced a mascot rooted in their national identity. The eagle represents the United States, a nod to the bald eagle that has long served as a national symbol. Canada is represented by a moose, one of the country's most recognisable animals, while Mexico's jaguar draws on the rich pre-Columbian traditions of Mesoamerican culture.

Together, the trio will appear throughout the tournament, which is set to be the largest World Cup in history, featuring 48 teams competing across venues in all three host nations.

Whether fans can name every mascot from tournaments gone by is another matter entirely — a challenge that spans more than half a century of World Cup history.