Mexico Zoo Animals Predict World Cup Winners Ahead of 2026 Tournament

Animals at Guadalajara Zoo in Mexico have joined the long tradition of animal World Cup prediction, selecting winners for upcoming 2026 FIFA matches. The practice was made globally famous by Paul the Octopus at the 2010 World Cup in South Africa.

• Paul the Octopus correctly predicted 12 out of 14 results at the 2010 tournament.
• Participants at Guadalajara Zoo include elephants, gorillas, a puma, and giraffes.
• The 2026 World Cup is co-hosted by USA, Canada, and Mexico — the first to feature 48 teams.
• Animal predictions are non-scientific but generate significant public engagement worldwide.

A Zoo Full of Football Pundits

Elephants, gorillas, a puma, and giraffes — the residents of Guadalajara Zoo in Mexico have stepped into the spotlight as the 2026 FIFA World Cup kicks off across North America. In a tradition that captures global imagination every four years, zoo animals are once again being invited to cast their "votes" on upcoming matches, choosing between flags or food placed near competing symbols.

The event continues a World Cup custom that goes back decades, with zoos and aquariums around the world participating in light-hearted forecasting events that draw crowds and cameras in equal measure. Guadalajara, one of the three Mexican host cities for the 2026 tournament, has embraced the spectacle with characteristic enthusiasm.

"There is something magical about watching an elephant pause in front of two flags and make a choice. Football brings the whole world together — even the animal kingdom."

The Legacy of Paul the Octopus

No discussion of animal predictions is complete without Paul the Octopus, the common octopus housed at the Sea Life Centre in Oberhausen, Germany, who became a worldwide phenomenon during the 2010 FIFA World Cup in South Africa.

Paul's Remarkable Record

Paul correctly selected the winning team in 12 of 14 match predictions across the 2010 tournament, including Germany's group stage and knockout matches, as well as the final between Spain and the Netherlands. His method was simple: two boxes of food, each marked with a national flag, were placed in his tank. Whichever he opened first was deemed his prediction. The accuracy of his selections — including several upsets — made him an international celebrity.

Paul's 2010 Prediction Record

2026: A Historic Tournament on Home Soil

The 2026 FIFA World Cup is a landmark edition for several reasons. Co-hosted by the United States, Canada, and Mexico, it is the first tournament to feature 48 national teams — up from the previous format of 32 — making it the largest men's World Cup in history.

For Mexico, hosting matches at the Estadio Akron in Guadalajara and the Estadio Azteca in Mexico City represents both a sporting and cultural milestone. The Azteca famously hosted the 1970 and 1986 World Cup finals, and will become the first stadium to host a World Cup final three times.

Why Animal Predictions Capture the World's Attention

Psychologists and media analysts suggest that the appeal of animal forecasters lies in their apparent neutrality — they have no national allegiance, no tactical bias, and no stake in the outcome. There is also an element of playful superstition that football culture has always embraced, from lucky shirts to pre-match rituals.

While no scientific validity is attached to animal selections, the tradition demonstrates the extraordinary reach of the World Cup as a cultural event — one that transcends sport to connect communities, creatures, and continents.

The Tradition Continues

What Comes Next

As the group stage unfolds across 16 cities in North America, Guadalajara Zoo has announced it will continue hosting prediction sessions throughout the tournament. Each session is open to the public and live-streamed on the zoo's social media channels, drawing viewers from dozens of countries.

Whether the elephants and giraffes prove as prophetic as Paul remains to be seen. But in a tournament of this scale — with the world watching — every prediction, however unconventional, adds to the spectacle that makes the FIFA World Cup unlike any other event on earth.