With the FIFA World Cup 2026 set to be the biggest tournament in football history, collectors are already turning their attention to one of the event’s most appealing areas of memorabilia: the official mascots and the growing range of related collectibles.
Hosted jointly by the United States, Canada and Mexico, the 2026 tournament has introduced an unusual and highly collectable concept. Rather than a single mascot, FIFA has unveiled three official mascots, each representing one of the host nations. This marks only the second time in World Cup history that multiple mascots have been used for a tournament.
The trio consists of Maple™ the Moose for Canada, Zayu™ the Jaguar for Mexico and Clutch™ the Bald Eagle for the United States. Each character has been designed to reflect national symbols and cultural identity while celebrating the shared spirit of the tournament across North America.
Mascots have been an important part of World Cup collecting since the introduction of Willie, the lion mascot of the 1966 World Cup in England. Since then, characters such as Naranjito (Spain 1982), Footix (France 1998), Zakumi (South Africa 2010) and Zabivaka (Russia 2018) have become popular subjects for toys, badges, stickers, pins and promotional merchandise.
For collectors, the three mascot format immediately creates additional opportunities. Instead of focusing on a single character, collectors can pursue complete mascot sets, country specific items or individual mascot collections linked to their favourite host nation.
The official FIFA Store has already launched an extensive range of mascot merchandise, providing an early indication of what may become some of the most sought after souvenirs of the tournament.
Among the flagship releases is the FIFA World Cup 2026™ Mascot Set, featuring all three characters together. This is likely to become one of the key display pieces for collectors who want a complete representation of the tournament’s mascot programme. Individual figurines are also available, including a detailed Zayu™ figurine aimed at the higher end of the souvenir market.
Plush toys are another major category. Collectors can choose from individual 10-inch plush versions of Maple, Zayu and Clutch or purchase a multipack featuring all three mascots. Plush mascots have traditionally proved popular with both football fans and general character collectors, often becoming nostalgic reminders of major sporting events.
A particularly interesting development is the introduction of officially licensed Squishmallows versions of the mascots. The hugely successful Squishmallows brand has become a collecting phenomenon in its own right, and the crossover with FIFA could attract buyers beyond the traditional football memorabilia market. Limited production runs and retailer exclusives often generate strong secondary market interest in Squishmallows releases, making these versions worth watching.
The merchandise range also includes mascot keychains, caps and clothing. T-shirts featuring individual mascots are available for both adults and children, while unisex designs offer another avenue for collectors who enjoy wearable memorabilia. Official mascot apparel carries the tournament branding and may become increasingly desirable once the World Cup concludes.
As with previous tournaments, collectors should also keep an eye on promotional merchandise that may appear closer to the event. Historically, World Cup mascots have featured on fast food promotions, sticker albums, soft toy giveaways, commemorative pins, licensed figures and retailer exclusives. Some of the most collectable mascot items from earlier tournaments were never sold directly by FIFA but were produced as part of sponsorship campaigns and limited promotions.
The scale of World Cup 2026 is likely to generate an enormous volume of merchandise. The tournament will feature 48 teams and be staged across 16 host cities, making it the largest World Cup ever held. That global exposure is expected to drive demand for official souvenirs and mascot products throughout the tournament and beyond.
For collectors, the safest strategy is often to acquire official mascot items early while they remain readily available at retail prices. Several products in the FIFA store have already sold out, suggesting strong demand for some lines. As the tournament approaches and public interest intensifies, certain mascot collectibles could become harder to obtain.
Whether you collect football memorabilia, plush toys, promotional items or simply enjoy the history of World Cup mascots, Maple, Zayu and Clutch look set to become some of the defining collectable characters of the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
