Zabivaka, a wolf wearing ski goggles, has been selected as the mascot for the 2018 Men’s World Cup. 53% of Russians selected the wolf over the opposing candidates, a cat wearing goalkeeping gloves and a tiger wearing a spacesuit.

The wolf was designed by university student Ekaterina BOCHAROVA. Upon winning the vote, the wolf was given the name Zabivaka, roughly meaning “goalscorer”, and was introduced to the public during a Russian chat show.

Zabivaka follows in the footsteps of Fuleco, the armadillo who represented Brazil 2014, and Zakumi, the leopard who represented South Africa 2010. This is the fourteenth Men’s World Cup to have one or more official mascots, dating back to World Cup Willie, a lion who represented England 1966.