Whilst many of the World Cup logos and World Cup posters showcase some of best and most iconic examples of great football artwork, the World Cup mascots are mainly designed to appeal to a younger audience, often resembling cuddly toys. There is one exception though - Ciao from Italia 90 was seen at the time as being a bit bonkers but over the years it's become accepted as another wonderful example of Italian football coolness from the 90s.
The first World Cup mascot. He's a lion, a symbol of England, and he likes the World Cup.
Hefty boots. Classic Mexico 70 sombrero. Football shirt shrunk in the wash. What's not to like about Juanito ?
The rosy-cheeked Laurel & Hardy lookalikeys broke ground as the first World Cup mascot duo.
He's a young gaucho. He loves football. He likes neckerchiefs. And he carries a whip.
An orange. In a Spain kit. Surely the most iconic orange-based mascot ever.
Realising that human mascots were no longer in vogue, Mexico now went for a moustachioed jalapeño called Pique.
With it's football head and cubed-tricolore body, Ciao looked like something out of a Picasso XI. Our favourite mascot ever though and the only one that almost became a cultural icon of the actual tournament.
Classic Gallic rooster that ticks all the essential mascot boxes. And not Asterix, but Footix.
Also known as "The Spheriks", part of an "Atmoball" team. The Far East lost the plot here, this was truly dreadful - a real low point in World Cup mascots.
Supposedly a lion, but looking remarkably like a bear. Whatever Goleo was, it had no pants on.
Clever this. ZA=South Africa Abbreviation. Kumi=10 in some African languages.
A footy-mad armadillo. To be honest, maybe Scolari should have picked Fuleco ahead of Fred.
Zabivaka was a spiky-haired wolf that wore Edgar Davids' glasses. His name apparently means "the one who scores".
