World Cup Willie
The mascot that started it all.
World Cup Willie was the official mascot for the 1966 FIFA World Cup, one of the first mascots to be associated with a major sporting competition.
- Character
- Mascot
- Tournament
- 1966 FIFA World Cup
- Host Nation
- England
- Designer
- Reg Searle
- Species
- Lion
- Status
- Historical Icon
- Significance
- First Official Mascot
In Their Own Story
A young boy in Wembley stands on tiptoes, clutching a paper bag of chips near the turnstile. The roar isn't from the crowd but from the giant lion cutout welcoming fans inside. Willie smiles, the red shirt bright against the grey London sky. For that moment, the war is over, and football rules all.
Did You Know?
- World Cup Willie was one of the first mascots to be associated with a major sporting competition.
- The trend of FIFA World Cup mascots began with Willie in the 1966 FIFA World Cup.
More in culture
Elsewhere in the FIFA World Cup universe
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