FIFA wants to reach young audiences with its 2026 World Cup mascots

FIFA last week unveiled three animated mascots for the 2026 World Cup in the U.S., Canada and Mexico — a bald eagle, a moose and a jaguar.

Why it matters: With the World Cup set to make landfall in Kansas City in less than a year, FIFA is ramping up its efforts to build excitement among fans and interest among younger audiences.

Context: FIFA has long created mascots meant to capture its host country's culture and iconography, with the oldest dating back to 1966, ESPN reports.

Yes, but: They aren't always met with overwhelming enthusiasm.

• Qatar's mascot in 2022, an anthropomorphized Arab headdress called a keffiyeh, was likened to a ghost on X.

The intrigue: The mascots will appear in a new "FIFA Heroes" video game set to debut next year, as well as "FIFA Super League Soccer" on popular gaming platform Roblox.

• It's the global soccer organization's first time integrating these colorful characters into video games in an attempt to connect with young fans, according to FIFA.

What they're saying: "I can already picture them on children's shirts, high-fiving football legends and … starring in video games played by millions worldwide," FIFA president Gianni Infantino said in the statement.

Travis' thought bubble: I like the name Clutch for the eagle (the others are Maple and Zayu), but aren't these animals a little on the nose — or, rather, the beak?

We want to know: If Kansas City had its own World Cup mascot, what would it be and what would you name it?

• Respond with your answer by emailing [email protected].