Zakumi - World Cup 2010 Mascot
Zakumi, a dread-locked leopard has been unveiled as the official World Cup mascot for the 2010 World Cup in South Africa.
Zakumi, born on June 16, 1994, when new South Africa emerged after the apartheid regime, is a party-loving animal we are told.
The name is supposedly a composition of "Za", the common abbreviation for South Africa and "kumi" meaning "friend" in various African languages.
The mascot was designed by Andries Odendaal in Cape Town.
World Cup Willie was the first World Cup mascot, created for the 1966 World Cup in England.
FIFA World Cup Mascots
1966 (England): World Cup Willie
1970 (Mexico): Juanito
1974 (W.Germany): Tip and Tap
1978 (Argentina): Gauchito
1982 (Spain): Naranjito
1986 (Mexico): Pique
1990 (Italy): Ciao
1994 (USA): Striker
1998 (France): Footix
2002 (Japan & Korea): Ato, Nik and Kaz
2006 (Germany): Goleo
2010 (South Africa): Zakumi
2014 (Brazil): Fuleco
2018 (Russia): Zabivaka
2022 (Qatar): La'eeb
2026 (USA, Canada, Mexico): Maple, Zayu, Clutch
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