All mascots in World Cup history A tradition started in 1966

Giving colour to the World Cup throughout history have not only been the fans who have filled the stadiums and streets of the various host countries, but also the mascots: the true hallmark of each event. A light-hearted way of presenting oneself to the world through an animal, a symbol, an imaginary character that best represents the nation hosting the World Cup. However, it was not always like this. In the first World Cup, in fact, there was no mascot, which then made its appearance in the 1966 edition in England with the Lion Willie. And from that moment on, it became an eagerly awaited and never again forgotten and neglected custom. 

This was also the case in Qatar, which for this 2022 edition presented La'eeb, a character resembling a classic white keffiyeh and whose name has the meaning of super-skilled footballer in it. His appearance, however, is indescribable, with Qatar's Deputy Director General of Marketing, Khalid Ali Al Mawlawi, inviting everyone to personally imagine what he might look like. Thus is the cute La'eeb the heir to the mascots born from 1966 to the present day.

Willie the Lion of England 1966

Brazil also chose a typical animal as the mascot of the 2014 World Cup. It was a three-banded armadillo, a breed endemic to north-eastern Brazil, called Fuleco from the union of the words 'futebol' and 'ecology'. The animal did not bring great luck to Brazil's hosts, who exited the World Cup in the semifinals with a resounding 7-1 defeat against Germany, who would later lift the trophy to the sky. 

The Wolf of Russia 2018

Serving as mascot at the Russia 2018 World Cup is the wolf Zabivaka, whose name literally means 'the one who scores' in Russian. In addition to a suit in the colours of the host country's flag, he also wears sports glasses; a gadget he believes gives him special powers on the pitch. Before becoming the official mascot of that World Cup, however, Zabivaka had to defeat a Siberian tiger and a cat in a poll. It was precisely the glasses that designer Ekaterina Bocharova wanted. A useful object for the wolf as he needed to protect his eyes given his very fast run.