Zabivaka

{{Short description|Mascot for the 2018 FIFA World Cup}} {{Infobox character | name = Zabivaka | image = Zabivaka (mascot).jpg | caption = Official artwork | first_major = 2018 FIFA World Cup | creator = Ekaterina Bocharova | portrayer = Rafe Young | species = Eurasian wolf | nationality = Russian }} '''Zabivaka''' ({{langx|ru|Забива́ка}})<ref>{{cite news|title=In brief|work=Stamp and Coin Mart|publisher=Warners Group Publications|date=February 2018|page=11}}</ref> was the official mascot of the 2018 FIFA World Cup, which was held in Russia. The name is a blend of the Russian words забивать ("to strike") and собака ("dog").

Designed by student designer Ekaterina Bocharova, aged 22, the mascot was selected by internet voting in Russia, beating out a tiger and a cat.<ref name=fifa/>

In pre-World Cup events, the mascot was played by English YouTuber and actor Rafe Young.<ref>Archived at [https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211211/QSC9t8UmdRo Ghostarchive]{{cbignore}} and the [https://web.archive.org/web/20200608114735/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QSC9t8UmdRo&gl=US&hl=en Wayback Machine]{{cbignore}}: {{cite AV media|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QSC9t8UmdRo|title=When I Was The 2018 World Cup Mascot!|website=YouTube}}{{cbignore}}</ref>

==Design== The mascot was unveiled on 21 October 2016. It represents an anthropomorphic Eurasian wolf (''Canis lupus lupus'') with brown and white fur, wearing a T-shirt emblazoned with the words "RUSSIA 2018" and orange goggles — according to the designer, these are not ski goggles, but sports goggles like those used in cycling: "Zabivaka is so fast on the field that he needs eye protection".<ref name="beyond">{{Cite web |last=Sinelschikova |first=Yekaterina |date=2016-10-28 |title=Russians deride choice of confusing 2018 World Cup mascot Zabivaka |url=https://www.rbth.com/sport/2016/10/28/russians-deride-choice-of-confusing-2018-world-cup-mascot-zabivaka_643235 |access-date=2025-03-02 |website=Russia Beyond |language=en-US}}</ref>

The combination of white, blue and red T-shirt and shorts are the national colours of the Russian team.

==Competition== The competition results were announced on 22 October 2016, in the ''Evening Urgant'' on the Channel One Russia. The Wolf, named Zabivaka, scored 53% of the votes, ahead of the Tiger (27%) and the Cat (20%). More than one million people participated in the voting, which took place during September 2016 at FIFA.com, as well as before an during the live show of the ''Evening Urgant'', where the results of the competition were announced.<ref name=fifa>{{cite press release|url=https://www.fifa.com/worldcup/news/y=2016/m=10/news=wolf-chosen-2018-fifa-world-cup-official-mascot-and-named-zabivaka-2845435.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161022165539/http://www.fifa.com/worldcup/news/y=2016/m=10/news=wolf-chosen-2018-fifa-world-cup-official-mascot-and-named-zabivaka-2845435.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=October 22, 2016|title=Wolf chosen as 2018 FIFA World Cup Official Mascot and named Zabivaka|publisher=FIFA|date=21 October 2016|access-date=21 October 2016}}</ref>

The name was suggested at the show by the chairman of the World Cup 2018 Organising Committee Vitali Mutko. FIFA paid Bocharova $500.<ref>[https://www.newsru.com/sport/24oct2016/sold.html] "Создатель талисмана ЧМ-2018, волка Забиваки, получила за свою работу 500 долларов "</ref> == Gallery == <gallery> File:PAN-TUN (33).jpg|Zabivaka mascot during 2018 FIFA World Cup match between Panama and Tunisia. File:Zabivaka-Maskottchen. 2H1A1590WI.jpg|Zabivaka statue in Saint Petersburg during 2018 FIFA World Cup in June 2018. File:Stamp-russia2017-newyear-2018fifa-block.png|Zabivaka pictures on a russian set of postage stamps. </gallery>

==References== {{Reflist}}

==External links== {{Commons category}} *[https://web.archive.org/web/20160926064610/http://mascot.fifa.com/en/#winner_announce FIFA's official webpage on Zabivaka]

{{S-start}} {{Succession box|title=''FIFA World Cup mascot''<br />Zabivaka|before=Fuleco|after=La’eeb|years=''FIFA 2018''}} {{S-end}}

Category:2018 FIFA World Cup Category:Fictional wolves Category:Anthropomorphic wolves Category:Russian mascots Category:FIFA World Cup mascots Category:Mascots introduced in 2016