First FIFA World Cup official mascot
- Who
- World Cup Willie
- What
- First
- Where
- United Kingdom
- When
- 1966
World Cup Willie, a cartoon lion wearing a Union Jack football shirt, was a mascot created for the 1996 World Cup in England. He was the creation of commercial artist Reg Hoye (UK), who based the character on his son Leo. The mascot even had a song written in his honour – “World Cup Willie”, by Lonnie Donegan.