GUADALAJARA, Mexico — With just days to go before the highly anticipated kickoff of the 2026 FIFA World Cup, the football world’s attention has shifted to a quirky spectacle in Mexico. Officials at the famous Guadalajara Zoo—located in one of the tournament’s host cities—organized a fascinating match-prediction event featuring elephants, gorillas, a puma, and giraffes, drawing massive crowds of eager spectators.
Each animal was presented with a choice between two competing nations. For the tournament’s opening match between host nation Mexico and South Africa, the elephants confidently predicted a home victory. Trudging across a makeshift miniature football pitch, the majestic creatures chose to munch on the fresh grass laid out on the side marked with the Mexican flag, completely ignoring the South African side.
Meanwhile, the zoo’s gorillas forecast a major upset, tipping Uruguay to defeat football giants Spain. The primates made their choice by interacting with jersey-shaped piñatas, with one of them decisively picking the Uruguayan kit.
The other animal residents delivered equally intriguing and unexpected forecasts. A puma named ‘Muluk’ confidently chose South Korea to triumph over the Czech Republic. In another surprising pick, a group of six giraffes collectively backed the Democratic Republic of Congo to secure a victory against Colombia.
Zoo keepers explained that these activities serve as vital environmental enrichment, stimulating the animals’ intelligence and senses while offering unique, lighthearted entertainment to fans growing excited ahead of the global sports bonanza.
Using wildlife as tournament oracles has a storied history in football culture. During the 2010 FIFA World Cup hosted by South Africa, ‘Paul the Octopus’ achieved global fame from his tank in Germany by correctly predicting several high-stakes matches, including Spain’s ultimate final victory over the Netherlands. The lively activities at the Guadalajara Zoo have warmly revived those fond memories for football fans worldwide.
