Zabivaka
Zabivaka
Mascot for the 2018 FIFA World Cup
Zabivaka (Russian: Забива́ка)[1] was the official mascot of the 2018 FIFA World Cup, which was held in Russia. The name is a blend of the Russian words собака ("dog") and забивать ("to strike").
Designed by student designer Ekaterina Bocharova, aged 22, the mascot was selected by internet voting in Russia, beating out a tiger and a cat.[2]
In pre-World Cup events, the mascot was played by English YouTuber and actor Rafe Young.[3]