Mexico City — President Claudia Sheinbaum announced Friday that she will invite Merlin, the duck who became a viral sensation during the 2026 World Cup celebrations, to appear at her daily morning press conference, known as la mañanera.
Speaking at the conference, Sheinbaum said the duck has become a symbol of Mexican creativity and joy during the World Cup. “I’m going to invite Carla to bring Merlin to the mañanera. It may seem like a small thing, but it speaks to who we are as Mexicans,” she said.
Sheinbaum noted that Merlin’s popularity has crossed borders, with plush ducks wearing soccer jerseys now sold in Canada, reflecting the viral phenomenon’s impact.
Merlin gained fame during celebrations following Mexico’s victory in the World Cup’s opening match. The duck was spotted walking along Paseo de la Reforma with its caretakers, Karla and Christian, proudly wearing a Mexico national team jersey.
Images of the duck quickly spread on social media, where thousands of users adopted it as an unofficial mascot of the tournament, generating memes and posts that made it one of the most talked-about topics of the World Cup.
If the invitation goes ahead, Merlin will become one of the most unusual guests ever to appear at the presidential press conference, cementing its place as one of the most beloved and curious characters of the 2026 World Cup.
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