Come on, we’re not going to lie to each other, the principle of a mascot is a bit strange. Especially when you think there’s someone in there paid to say hello to the kids. But they are supposed to symbolize the competition and the happiness that we have to live this moment together then… Let that not prevent us from being lucid: they are often uglier than the others. At the beginning, it is still done by imagining that children will buy them in plush to dream in their beds. These designers therefore have no children.
1. The Spheriks “Kaz, Nik and Ato” (Japan and Korea 2002)
The 3 members of an imaginary team (if that’s how the Japanese see football, we’re surprised they don’t win anything). A tasty mix between haribo candies already sucked and we don’t really know what. A great success. Oh yes. No I’m kidding.
2. Goleo VI (Germany 2006)
Straight out of “Monster and Company” the big lion of 2 meters which scared the little Germans. Left and the dubious look, necessarily in our Top 3.
3. Footix (France 1998)
As ugly as Jules, his friend at the time, mascot of the France team the same year. We all still have nightmares.
4. Tip and Tap (Germany 1974)
Never forget that except for one letter, we had “Tick and Tac”. Which ultimately wouldn’t have been worse.
5. Juanito (Mexico 1970)
Mexican, so a bit fat and with a Sombrero. Is it still a cliché when it’s the organizing country that auto-cliches?
6. Spades (Mexico 1986)
16 years later, the little Mexican, replaced by a pepper, disappeared, probably while trying to cross the American border on a full moon night. Fortunately, the sombrero remains.
7. “Armadillo-Boule” (Brazil 2014)
The armadillo, which traditionally walks around in tropical America, has been on the verge of extinction for years. For the needs of the World Cup in Brazil, he therefore changes into a footballer Pokémon, no doubt in order to retrain himself properly and find his place in this cruel modern world which rejects him and to which he can no longer adapt… Good courage to him.
8. World Cup Willie (England 1966)
From a distance like that, we imagine the old stuffed toy that has stayed too long in an old trunk and smells of mothballs. Up close, it’s ultimately a bit the same.
9. Gauchito (Argentina 1978)
Little Argentinian man obviously not clumsy with a ball. A little classic. What is this fad in the world of mascots to put children everywhere?
10. Zabivaka (Russia -2018)
A wolf with glasses. Yeah, with glasses, important detail. Why ? Nobody knows. Which means in Russian “the one who marks”. And not the one who will go to war in Ukraine, be careful.
11. Zakumi (South Africa 2010)
A little designer leopard. The most modern, since it is one of the most recent, logical. Just a pity that he carries a ball from 10 years ago.
12. Ciao (Italy 1990)
Doing different, in principle, is good. Except sometimes.
13. Striker (USA 1994)
” Wait a minute… What if we made a dog? – A dog ? Yeah, a dog playing soccer. – Not stupid, banco “. Marketing is simple.
14. Naranjito (Spain 1982)
An orange with a jersey, seen like that, not super exciting. But it’s the same orange that we saw playing football in “Sport Billy” in the 80s, so respect. Childhood remains.
15. La’eeb (Qatar -2022)
We don’t know yet if it’s a ghost or just a small person with a Keffiyeh, traditional Arab headdress, held by the agal. It means ‘very talented player’ in Arabic. We like it
