Women's World Cup 2023 mascot: Who is Tazuni and where did the idea come from?

FIFA has unveiled its official mascot for the 2023 Women’s World Cup, set to be held across venues in Australia and New Zealand.

The adorable character, known as Tazuni, will undoubtedly be a huge hit with football’s younger fans.

Here’s everything you need to know about FIFA Women’s World Cup 2023 mascot Tazuni.

Tazuni is based on a species of penguin native to Aotearoa New Zealand and Australia known as the Eudyptula minor, or little penguin.

Her name is a portmanteau of the Tasman Sea, where she was born, and the word ‘unity’, which is a key value of the upcoming tournament.

She is a football-loving teenaged penguin with bright turquoise hair who finds her way onto the big stage.

Tazuni is the third consecutive bird mascot of the Women’s World Cup.

Before her, Shuéme the great white owl was the face of Canada 2015. Ettie the chicken followed suit at France 2019 — she is the daughter of Footix, the cockerel mascot of the 1998 men’s World Cup.

Along with its press release, FIFA has produced a fun short video detailing Tazuni’s journey to the World Cup.

We first catch a glimpse of Tazuni as a baby, lining up with her siblings ready to take their first plunge into the Tasman Sea.

After she makes the jump, her iconic turquoise hair pops out and she races through the water.

Tazuni then discovers a football for the first time after a group of children playing on the beach kick it into the sea. The penguin kicks it back and joins the children on the sand for a kick about.

We then realise Tazuni has a natural talent for playing football and she is soon given the honour of representing Australia and New Zealand at the 2023 World Cup.

The clip ends with Tazuni showing off her skills and tricks in front of a roaring crowd,