LIVE NOW Unveiling the Official Mascot of the 2018 FIFA World Cup Russia

The campaign to select the Official Mascot for the 2018 FIFA World Cup Russia kicked off in April 2015. During the first stage of the campaign, young fans chose ten characters to be considered for the Official Mascot. These characters were brought to life by the efforts of Russian design students in the second stage of the campaign, and three finalists were selected by a specially appointed jury panel. Starting from 23 September 2016 and running for four weeks, Russian fans are being invited to vote for their preferred mascot: the cat, the tiger or the wolf. The winner will be announced on 21 October Official Mascots have come to play an increasingly important role in the FIFA World Cup, representing the fun side of the event. They not only serve to promote the event and entertain crowds at the stadiums, but also become ambassadors for their country and worldwide celebrities. To learn more about the mascot candidates go to You can also follow them on