Mexico's Luckiest World Cup Fan Has Feathers, a Jersey and His Name Is Merlin
In the midst of the World Cup fever, it looks like everyone is getting in on the fun-and we aren't just talking about humans. As is typical with one of the biggest sporting events in the world, the 2026 FIFA World Cup is bringing together fans of all ages, races, and species. One of the most remarkable fans of the tournament hails from Mexico City, one of the three host nations.
Merlin, a 2-year-old duck, has become one of the biggest stars of the tournament and a good luck charm for the Mexican National Team, who seek to make history on home soil. On social media, Merlin quickly went viral by donning his own Mexico jersey before the inaugural match between Mexico and South Africa at Mexico City Stadium on June 11. Since then, this duck's stardom has had him flying to new horizons and with a fame that could easily rival some of the tournament's biggest stars.
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"This Duck Is a True Mexican Patriot"
Walking down the streets of Mexico City with his family, Merlin the duck is a notable figure around the city. Joining his human as they sell water throughout the streets from a cart and cooler, Merlin isn't new to crowded spaces.
However, it wasn't until Merlin popped up on social media donning his own Mexico jersey before the inaugural match at the Mexico City Stadium that Merlin's stardom finally took off. As his human, Carla Gómez explains, the purpose was never for Merlin to go viral; simply, the family didn't feel comfortable leaving him at home alone, so they opted to bring him along as they earned a living.
With the influx of tourists and soccer fans visiting the area, Merlin's patriotic spirit quickly went viral, resulting in the famed duck making television appearances and being noticed by the Mexican National Football Team itself. Beyond the television appearances, Merlin has also become a popular figure among Mexican society, with many referring to him as their new good luck charm and icon.
"This duck is a true Mexican patriot," commented one user.
Another commenter added, "I'm going to need 3 season of Merlin the Mexican Duck Show."
"Everyone in Mexico are hard workers even their pets," joked another viewer.
Now that Mexico has clinched the top spot in Group A and qualified for the next round, we can surely expect to see Merlin working overtime to share his good luck with the team.
Related: This World Cup-Inspired Soccer Ball Dog Toy Is on Sale for $12 at Amazon
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This story was originally published June 19, 2026 at 12:17 PM.