Merlin, a pet duck from Mexico City, has become one of the more unexpected faces of the 2026 World Cup, drawing crowds and camera phones without ever going near a stadium.
Dressed in a miniature Mexico national team shirt and socks, the duck was filmed walking proudly through the capital as supporters celebrated Mexico’s 2-0 win over South Africa in the tournament opener, Reuters reported.
The scenes unfolded along Reforma Avenue, where fans had gathered after the match. Merlin quickly became part of the celebrations, with videos of the duck among the crowd spreading widely on social media.
Merlin belongs to Carla Gomez, a street vendor who works in Mexico City with her son, Cristian. She told Reuters the family had set out as they would on any ordinary day and had not expected their duck to attract so much attention.
That changed almost immediately. Supporters and passers-by began stopping to take photos, turning Merlin into an unofficial fan favourite in the middle of the World Cup festivities.
He has no official role in the tournament, but Merlin has already claimed a small place in its early story: a feathered mascot who brought a lighter moment to Mexico’s opening celebrations.
