World Cup 2026 Mascots: Meet Maple, Zayu & Clutch

The three mascots represent the three host nations: Canada, Mexico, and the United States. Each one is an animal with a story, a favorite position on the pitch, and a distinct personality designed to connect with young fans.

FIFA picked animals that carry meaning in each country's culture and history. Together, Maple, Zayu, and Clutch tell the story of a tournament that spans a whole continent — which is exactly what the 2026 World Cup is all about.

Maple is a moose from Canada and wears the red jersey. On the pitch, he plays as a goalkeeper — tall, alert, and ready to make big saves. Off the pitch, Maple is a street-style artist and music lover who travels across Canada discovering cities, forests, and friends.

For kids, Maple is the perfect character to colour in with reds and oranges, add a hockey-style scarf, or give a guitar. He represents creativity, resilience, and the quieter kind of leadership — showing up, trying, and enjoying the journey.

Zayu is a jaguar from Mexico and wears green. He plays up front as a striker — fast, fearless, and always ready for a spectacular goal. Zayu draws his name and spirit from the jaguar's deep importance in ancient Mexican civilizations, where the animal symbolized strength, unity, and joy.

Zayu loves music, dance, and food, and he brings that vibrancy to every game. Kids love colouring Zayu in bright greens with gold spots — and making him dance across their colouring pages.

Clutch is a bald eagle from the United States and wears blue. He plays in midfield — the hardest-working spot on the pitch, linking defense and attack. His name comes from the American sports term "clutch," meaning someone who performs brilliantly in big moments.

Clutch stands for courage, leadership, and curiosity. He's the friendly one who welcomes everyone to the tournament, whether they're seasoned fans or kids watching their very first match. His look is perfect for red, white, and blue crayons — plus a few gold feathers for drama.

More than just cute characters, Maple, Zayu, and Clutch tell young fans about the 2026 World Cup: three countries, three cultures, one shared tournament. Each mascot is a little ambassador for its nation — its landscapes, its traditions, and its favorite parts of the game.

That's what makes the trio special for families. Each one is an invitation for kids to ask questions: Where is Canada? What does a jaguar eat? Why is the bald eagle the symbol of the USA? The mascots open the door to learning and exploring together.

The mascots are tailor-made for colouring. Their bright, cartoon-style shapes give kids plenty of room to be creative — and they fit naturally into crafts, classroom projects, and bedtime drawings.

Try this at home: print a blank template of each mascot (or have your child draw them) and colour Maple in reds, Zayu in greens, and Clutch in blues. Then add flags, goals, and a tiny football at their feet. Line them up on the fridge for matchday.

If you're looking for a ready-made starting point, the Bally Adventures colouring book includes a world of friendly characters, country flags, and stadiums — perfect company for your kids' own Maple, Zayu, and Clutch drawings.

• It's the first World Cup with three mascots, because it's the first World Cup hosted by three countries.

• Maple is a goalkeeper, Zayu is a striker, and Clutch is a midfielder — the three classic roles on a football pitch.

• Maple's name comes from Canada's most famous tree. The maple leaf is right on the Canadian flag.

• Zayu's name combines ideas of unity, strength, and joy drawn from ancient Mexican heritage.

• Clutch gets his name from American sports — a "clutch player" is the one you trust in the final seconds.

• The mascots will appear as playable characters in the FIFA Heroes video game in 2026.