3 FIFA Mascots Make Debut in Philadelphia

Three North American mascots for the 2026 FIFA World Cup debuted in Philadelphia: Maple the Moose (Canada), Zayu the Jaguar (Mexico), and Clutch the Bald Eagle (United States). They represent the host nations of North America, with Philadelphia among the 16 host cities selected to host FIFA World Cup activities across the three countries.

The mascots helped kick off volunteer tryouts in Philadelphia, energizing the crowd as organizers began selecting 3,500 volunteers from more than 26,000 applicants for the World Cup, according to CBS News Philadelphia.

"Once I heard that Philadelphia was one of the hosting cities for FIFA, I thought, 'Yeah, I need to come out here and reignite my interest and get back to soccer,'" said Kelsey Wang, a volunteer hopeful, in a statement shared with CBS News Philadelphia. "People in Philly are very excited about sports. People are excited about the Phillies and Eagles. I think it's going to be wild. People will be so excited for soccer."

Volunteer tryouts are expected to continue into December.

According to CBS News Philadelphia, the mascots have symbolism behind their selection: Maple the Moose for Canada is meant to personify the true north's spirit and creativity. Zayu the Jaguar represents Mexico's strength and agility. Clutch the Bald Eagle represents the enduring symbol of the United States.