Is a global football celebration complete without a mascot? For the 2026 edition, the answer comes in threes.

With the tournament expanding to 48 nations, the event will also feature three mascots for the three co-hosts. Each one embodies its country’s identity while playing its own special role on the pitch.

Canada is represented by a moose, Mexico by a jaguar, and the United States by a bald eagle. Together, Maple, Zayu, and Clutch aim to connect culture, tradition, and sport.

Maple the goalkeeper of Canada

Maple, wearing the number 1 shirt, is a moose symbolizing Canadian heritage. His outfit and name highlight some of the country’s most recognizable elements.

According to the description, Maple roams from coast to coast, uniting communities while reflecting the culture of the nation.

While Canada’s men’s team is better known for attack-minded players such as Alphonso Davies and Jonathan David, Maple’s antlers suggest he can cover plenty of space at the back.

Zayu the forward from Mexico

Mexico’s representative is Zayu, a jaguar in the number 9 jersey. Found mainly in the southern regions, the animal carries deep significance for ancient cultures of the country.

Zayu embodies celebration, from cuisine and dance to tradition, creating bonds that stretch beyond borders. His presence mirrors the country’s passion and pride.

Just like legendary strikers such as Javier Hernández, Cuauhtémoc Blanco, and Raúl Jiménez, Zayu leads the line with flair.

Clutch the playmaker of the United States

Clutch, a bald eagle with the number 10, fills the role of midfield organizer. The character is tied to exploration, adventure, and optimism, soaring across the vast United States while embracing different communities and games.

For American supporters, that shirt is strongly linked with Christian Pulisic, who carries the nation’s hopes heading into 2026. Clutch, too, is cast as the creative force in the middle of the field.

Looking back at past mascots

Mascots became a feature of the men’s World Cup in 1966, when England introduced World Cup Willie, a lion in a Union Jack shirt. Each edition since has created a character inspired by its host nation.

Juanito, a sombrero-wearing boy, was unveiled in Mexico in 1970, while West Germany brought Tip and Tap, two children in uniform, for 1974. Argentina presented Gauchito in 1978, a cartoon gaucho, and Spain followed with Naranjito, a cheerful orange, in 1982.

Mexico hosted again in 1986 with Pique, a jalapeño in traditional attire. Italy introduced the abstract figure Ciao in 1990, and the United States revealed Striker the dog in 1994. France continued in 1998 with Footix, a rooster in national colors.

South Korea and Japan, the first co-hosts, created Ato, Kaz, and Nik in 2002, futuristic figures known as Spheriks. Germany introduced Goleo VI and his talking football Pille in 2006. South Africa had Zakumi the leopard in 2010, and Brazil brought Fuleco the armadillo in 2014.

Russia’s choice in 2018 was Zabivaka the wolf, while Qatar presented La’eeb in 2022, a playful character resembling a traditional headpiece.

The 2026 edition will be larger than anything the competition has seen before.

Previous tournaments from 1998 to 2022 included 32 nations and 64 fixtures in total. This time, the event expands to 48 participants and 104 matches. Merely trimming the field to 32 sides will already require 72 fixtures, which is eight more than the entire schedule of a 32-team format.

Although three countries are co-hosting, the United States will stage far more than any other nation has ever managed in a single competition. It will host 14 more fixtures than the previous record and 26 more than it did when the event came to its soil in 1994.

The first 27 days of action, from the curtain raiser through the last-32 round, will feature 96 contests without a single rest day. Only one day will stage a solitary clash, and two other days will include two fixtures. All the remaining 24 days will deliver between three and six matches.

By the final week of the group stage, the calendar will be jam-packed. From June 24 to 27, 18 games will be played—more than the entire total of the 1934 edition, which only had 17.

The abandoned plan of three-team groups

Originally, FIFA had considered creating 16 trios instead of 12 groups of four.

That plan would have produced 80 fixtures in total, noticeably fewer than 104. It would also have been simpler to follow, with the two best teams moving straight into the round of 32 to face each other in a clear bracket.

However, every team would only have been assured two matches, not three. More importantly, the structure would have been vulnerable to manipulation. With three-team groups, only three fixtures could be played, and no two at the same time. That meant one team would always complete its games earlier, leaving the final fixture open to scenarios where both sides knew exactly what outcome would secure progress.

The risk of collusion across 16 groups proved too significant, and the plan was eventually dropped despite its more compact design.

The adopted system of 12 groups of four

Instead, the competition will use 12 sections of four, echoing the approach of earlier tournaments such as the 1986, 1990, and 1994 World Cups, or more recent 24-team European Championships.

The formula is straightforward: the top two from each group advance, and they are joined by the eight best third-placed nations to complete the last 32.

It is less tidy than the three-team plan, but it ensures fairness and avoids the controversies that might have arisen otherwise.

The expanded knockout rounds

Once the field has been reduced to 32, the knockout journey follows a familiar path. The difference is simply scale.

Group winners will mostly be paired against third-placed finishers, although four of them will meet runners-up. Meanwhile, the remaining runners-up will be matched against each other.

From there, the tournament progresses in the traditional order: round of 16, quarter-finals, semi-finals, and the final.

For the first time, the eventual champion will need to play eight matches rather than seven, adding one extra step on the road to lifting the trophy.