FIFA World Cup mascot

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Each Football World Cup usually has its own mascot. World Cup Willie, the mascot for the 1966 competition, was the first World Cup mascot, and one of the first mascots to be associated with a major sporting competition. The mascot design show some representing a characteristic feature (costume, flora, fauna, etc) of the host country.

The World Cup mascot is mostly targeted at children with cartoon shows and other merchandise released to coincide with the competition.

World Cup Mascot(s) Description
England
1966
World Cup Willie A lion, a typical symbol of the United Kingdom, wearing a Union Jack jersey with the words "WORLD CUP".
Mexico
1970
Juanito A boy wearing Mexico's uniform and a sombrero (with the words "MEXICO 70"). His name is the diminutive of "Juan", a common name in Spanish.
West Germany
1974
Tip and Tap Two boys wearing West Germany uniforms, with the letters WM (Weltmeisterschaft, World Cup) and number 74.
Argentina
1978
Gauchito A boy wearing Argentina's uniform. His hat (with the words ARGENTINA '78), neckerchief and whip are typical of gauchos.
Spain
1982
Naranjito An orange, a typical fruit in Spain, wearing the uniform of the host's national team. Its name comes from naranja, Spanish for orange, and the diminutive suffix "-ito".
Mexico
1986
Pique A jalapeño pepper, characteristic of Mexican cuisine, with a moustache and wearing a sombrero. Its name comes from picante, Spanish for spicy peppers and sauces.
Italy
1990
Ciao A stick figure player with a football head and an Italian tricolore body. Its name is an Italian greeting.
United States
1994
Striker A dog, wearing a red, white and blue football uniform with the words "USA 94".
France
1998
Footix A cockerel, one of the national symbols of France, with the words "FRANCE 98" on the chest. Its body is mostly blue, like the host's national team jersey and its name is a portmanteau of "football" and the ending "-ix" from the popular Astérix comic strip.
Korea/Japan
2002
Ato, Kaz and Nik (The Spheriks) Orange, purple and blue (respectively) futuristic, computer-generated creatures. Collectively members of a team of "Atmoball" (a fictional football-like sport), Ato is the coach while Kaz and Nik are players. The three individual names were selected from shortlists by users on the Internet and at McDonald's outlets in the host countries.
Germany
2006
Goleo VI
Sidekick: Pille A lion wearing a Germany jersey with the number 06 and a talking football named Pille. Goleo is a portmanteau of the words "goal" and "leo", the latin word for lion. In Germany, "Pille" is a colloquial term for a soccer ball or football.
South Africa 2010 Unknown.

External links

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Asia: AFC – Asian Cup

Africa: CAF – African Cup of Nations

North America: CONCACAF – Gold Cup

South America: CONMEBOL – Copa América

Oceania: OFC – Nations Cup

Europe: UEFA – European Championship

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World Cup	Mascot(s)	Description
England 1966	World Cup Willie	A lion, a typical symbol of the United Kingdom, wearing a Union Jack jersey with the words "WORLD CUP".
Mexico 1970	Juanito	A boy wearing Mexico's uniform and a sombrero (with the words "MEXICO 70"). His name is the diminutive of "Juan", a common name in Spanish.
West Germany 1974	Tip and Tap	Two boys wearing West Germany uniforms, with the letters WM (Weltmeisterschaft, World Cup) and number 74.
Argentina 1978	Gauchito	A boy wearing Argentina's uniform. His hat (with the words ARGENTINA '78), neckerchief and whip are typical of gauchos.
Spain 1982	Naranjito	An orange, a typical fruit in Spain, wearing the uniform of the host's national team. Its name comes from naranja, Spanish for orange, and the diminutive suffix "-ito".
Mexico 1986	Pique	A jalapeño pepper, characteristic of Mexican cuisine, with a moustache and wearing a sombrero. Its name comes from picante, Spanish for spicy peppers and sauces.
Italy 1990	Ciao	A stick figure player with a football head and an Italian tricolore body. Its name is an Italian greeting.
United States 1994	Striker	A dog, wearing a red, white and blue football uniform with the words "USA 94".
France 1998	Footix	A cockerel, one of the national symbols of France, with the words "FRANCE 98" on the chest. Its body is mostly blue, like the host's national team jersey and its name is a portmanteau of "football" and the ending "-ix" from the popular Astérix comic strip.
Korea/Japan 2002	Ato, Kaz and Nik (The Spheriks)	Orange, purple and blue (respectively) futuristic, computer-generated creatures. Collectively members of a team of "Atmoball" (a fictional football-like sport), Ato is the coach while Kaz and Nik are players. The three individual names were selected from shortlists by users on the Internet and at McDonald's outlets in the host countries.
Germany 2006	Goleo VI Sidekick: Pille	A lion wearing a Germany jersey with the number 06 and a talking football named Pille. Goleo is a portmanteau of the words "goal" and "leo", the latin word for lion. In Germany, "Pille" is a colloquial term for a soccer ball or football.
South Africa 2010	Unknown.