What is the official mascot for the Qatar 2022 World Cup?
From World Cup Willie in 1966 to Zabivaka at Russia in 2018, every World Cup tournament needs a good mascot.
There are so many marketing elements that a World Cup needs apart from the action on the pitch and a mascot is an integral part of the event. Over the years, the likes of Footix (France 1998), Naranjito (Spain 1982) and Zabivaka (Russia 2018) adorn t-shirts, notepads and lunch boxes and briefly become part of our vernacular as the FIFA finance department rub their hands in glee as the merchandise sales bearing the mascot help inflate their bulging coffers.
Who is La’eeb?
The Official Mascot for the Qatar 2022 World Cup has been revealed and he is a super-skilled football player called La’eeb, in the form of a traditional keffiyeh headdress, but with eyebrows, eyes and mouth, and a lively, sparkling personality.
The name, La’eeb, means super-skilled player in Arabic, and according to FIFA, he encourages everyone to believe in themselves, because “Now is All” and in so doing he will bring the joy of football to everyone.
According to Khalid Ali Al Mawlawi, Deputy Director General, Marketing, Communications and Tournament Experience, Supreme Committee for Delivery & Legacy, La’eeb, “comes from the mascot-verse – a place that is indescribable. We encourage everyone to imagine what it looks like.”
He adds: “La’eeb will be known for his youthful spirit; spreading joy and confidence everywhere he goes. La’eeb comes from a parallel world where tournament mascots live. It is a world where ideas and creativity form the basis of characters that live in the minds of everyone”.