Jaguar World Cup Mascot Sparks Controversy in Mexico

Quintana Roo, Mexico — The founder of the organization Sélvame del Tren has stated that the selection of the jaguar as the mascot for the 2026 FIFA World Cup is incongruous, given the lack of care for the species in the region.

For Sélvame del Tren, the choice of a jaguar as the mascot is incongruous because its natural habitat in the Yucatán Peninsula has not been respected due to federal projects. Although the sporting event is non-governmental, José Urbina Bravo, founder of Sélvame del Tren, maintained that the selection of the jaguar highlights the incongruity regarding the reality of the feline, whose habitat has been obstructed in this region by the path of the Maya Train.

"It seems to me a great opportunity to bring real knowledge to the population about what the animal represents, what the function of the jaguar, this Zayu, is in our environment, but it does not stop being cynical to destroy its environment, use it to promote yourself, and latch onto the communities of the jaguar when in reality they are willing to scare it off with clubs," Urbina Bravo stated.

For the World Cup, the most significant sporting event to be held in Mexico in recent years, the figure of the jaguar has been chosen as the official mascot, with the name Zayu.

The official website of the Fédération Internationale de Football Association (FIFA) announces that the name of the mascot is related to the species in southeastern Mexico, precisely this zone where an important number of specimens remain, but which have been impacted by federal works and also by unstoppable real estate development.

"It lives in the jungles of southern Mexico and embodies the valuable heritage and dynamism of the country. Zayu, whose name means 'unity,' 'strength,' and 'joy,' is a forward who transforms on the pitch, where he intimidates defenders with his exceptional agility and speed. (…) he is a symbol of celebration and meeting of cultures who carries the soul of Mexico wherever he goes," explains FIFA, which last week presented the World Cup mascots, along with a moose and an eagle for Canada and the United States, the co-hosts of the sporting event.

Urbina Bravo recalled that the Maya Train has refused to remove its fencing to allow the passage of this species and the conservation of others in the region.