| Keyword |
Description |
| Mascot |
A character that represents a host country at the World Cup |
| Jaguar |
Large spotted American wild cat. |
| Mixtec |
A native group of Mexicans |
Three new friends will cheer at the 2026 FIFA World Cup: Zayu the Jaguar for Mexico, Clutch the Bald Eagle for the United States, and Maple the Moose for Canada. These mascots stand for national pride and the togetherness the tournament brings. The World Cup starts on June 11, 2026, in Mexico City at the Aztec Stadium, now called Estadio Banorte.
Zayu is a smiling jaguar from the jungles of southern Mexico who wears a green jersey with the number 9, and fans are already loving him. His name was inspired by ideas like unity, strength, and joy. The jaguar has been a powerful symbol in Mexico’s history and stories, showing courage and culture and its name means "rain" in the Mixtec language.
Maple is a goalkeeper, Clutch is a midfielder, and Zayu is a forward, so each has an important job on the field. They will also appear as interactive characters in a new FIFA Heroes video game coming next year. It will be the first time World Cup mascots are playable in a video game. Mexico will host games in Mexico City, Monterrey, and Zapopan near Guadalajara.
Bridging words
These words sound similar in English and Spanish: Why not practice them now?
| English |
Spanish |
| Mascots |
Mascotas |
| Idea |
Idea |
| Important |
Importante |
Time to discuss
- Which mascot best represents its country, and why?
- Should mascots be animals, people, or something else?
- Is making mascots playable in video games a good way to share the World Cup with kids?
Let's write
Answer the following questions in one paragraph:
- Write a short story about Zayu’s first day at the stadium.
- Invent a special move for Maple, Clutch, or Zayu and explain how it helps the team.
