When the Muppets Designed the Official World Cup Mascot

For the 2006 World Cup, the Muppets came up with the official tournament mascot. It was a complete disaster and even sent a toy manufacturer into bankruptcy. This week, we look back at this unexpected crossover between the globe’s most famous puppets and the World Cup. Plus, we revisit F. Scott Fitzgerald’s playful poke at the beautiful game back in 1914, unpack a startling soccer climate report, and much more.

This week’s stories:

• ✍️ F. Scott Fitzgerald’s Playful Shot at Soccer

• 🤠 Music City Madness

• 🐸 When the Muppets Designed the Official World Cup Mascot

• 🌎 Saving the Game, Saving the Planet

• 🗳️ Poll + Last Week’s Answers

• ➡️ And More

LITERATURE
F. Scott Fitzgerald’s Playful Shot At Soccer

Tomorrow would’ve been F. Scott Fitzgerald’s birthday. The renowned author of The Great Gatsby developed much of his early writing at his university’s humor magazine, the Princeton Tiger.

In one of his earliest known writings for the magazine (Dec. 1914), he wrote:

“There was once a second group student who lived in Holder. He thought that solitude would give him a first group. So he moved to Patton, where he lent an unwilling ear to the following:

1:30-2:30 p.m.—Shrill soprano shrieks of soccer team.

2:30-3:30 p.m.—Session of the gun club…”

Fitzgerald was known to be an avid American football fan and is even rumored to have helped originate the concept of the “two-platoon system,” where different players handle offense and defense.

As a result, it’s not surprising to see him poke fun at soccer players of the time and their “shrill soprano shrieks.” It’s an interesting find, as it gives us a window into how a certain section of the population in the US viewed the beautiful game at the time. Even in 1914, it seems people were mocking it as “soft.” Tsk tsk, what a shame…

SOCCER BUS
Music City Madness

One of the greatest Open Cup nights with the Soccer Bus this year.

Drums, trumpets, guitars, a limbo line with fans, and pure honky-tonk harmony on the pitch.

We leave Nashville happier than ever and strap in for a long drive to Texas over the next week. It should be a fun one in Austin!

In the meantime, check out how it all went down in Nashville right here.

COVER STORY
When the Muppets Designed the Official World Cup Mascot

This week would’ve been Jim Henson’s birthday (1936-1990), the renowned creator of the Muppets.

Henson revolutionized puppetry, entertainment, AND he went to the University of Maryland, which means I used to walk by a statue of him and Kermit the Frog on my way to class every single day.

Yet throughout all that time, I never knew that the company he founded—Muppets Inc. (later renamed The Jim Henson Company)—actually designed the World Cup mascot for the 2006 tournament in Germany.

Initially, I would’ve thought the host country would’ve chosen a local company or artist to design the mascot, but Germany had big plans for this one.

Organizing officials claimed they wanted their mascot made to entertain and move around freely for the first time, unlike static predecessors such as "World Cup Willie" from the 1966 World Cup in England or "Tip and Tap" from 1974 in Germany.

So, bringing in the American masters of puppeteering made perfect sense, and it gave the tournament a unique PR boost on this side of the pond.

Unfortunately, the execution of the mascot design was…underwhelming.

The mascot, Goleo VI, drew criticism for failing to appropriately represent Germany, since a lion felt more fitting for rivals like England or the Netherlands.

Some critics took it a step further by saying the pantless lion looked like the “out-of-wedlock child of Chewbacca and Alf."

A bit harsh in my opinion, but the sales figures surrounding the Goleo merch also painted a bleak picture. It was reported that the German toy company, which allegedly paid $34 million for the rights to the toy Goleo, went bankrupt. It was brutal.

Looking back, though, I must say Goleo isn’t as bad as he was made out to be. Maybe I’m biased because I like the Muppets—and I’ll always defend American forays in the wider soccer world—but I truly see some charm in him.

All of it just has me wondering what the mascot for 2026 will look like… and who will make it.

TUESDAY SPOTLIGHT
Elliot Arthur-Worsop: Saving the Game, Saving the Planet

This passionate football advocate and founder of Football For Future has spent the past six years at the intersection of the world’s game and the fight against climate change.

Last week, Elliot Arthur-Worsop and his team released a beautifully designed, groundbreaking climate report—centered around the 2026 World Cup—that connects football’s global reach with urgent environmental action.

The project offers tangible solutions for everyone—from grassroots clubs to elite organizations—showing how the sport can not only adapt to a warming planet but also inspire the movement to protect it.

Read our full chat with Elliot here!

CLUBELEVEN
The Supporters Section

Let us know your picks, and why you chose them! We’ll highlight your best answers next week.

CLUBELEVEN
Aggregates

A New Stadium in Miami: And it’s not Inter Miami’s. Check out this ambitious project.

Cruzing: The LouCity gaffer broke this incredible record. Huge congrats!

Lend a Hand: Five Stripe Final has been a pillar in providing independent coverage for Atlanta United over the years. Please consider supporting.

The Best PL Bar: Woke up at 7:30am on Saturday to go check out this amazing pub in Cambridge, MA. Will look to explore other ones around the country too!

Baller League USA: It’s official, we’ve got a new competition set to kick off in the US. Learn more about it here. 

GAMES
The Beautiful Board Game

I grew up being obsessed with board games, but I never imagined I’d get to see one centered around soccer.

Well, Matthew Shipley, creator of Best Eleven, is making it a reality. We sat down with him to chat briefly about the game and everything that’s gone into making it.

If you’d like to back the project and grab a copy, you can check it out right here!

CULTURE
Unstoppable Current

Kansas City lifted the 2025 NWSL Shield over the weekend, becoming the fastest team in league history to clinch the title (by percentage of games played - 21/26).

Love seeing records getting broken!

Here’s how it all happened. Congratulations to everyone at the club 🎉

CLUBELEVEN
Your Takes 🗯️ 

Last week, we asked you: Who do you think will win the Open Cup? Here are some of your answers:

• “Minnesota. They’re looking the strongest, plus if they advance to the final they will have home field advantage.” - JD

• “Philadelphia. They’re top of the East so chances are they will probably end up taking the whole thing.” - Ben

In the poll, “Philadelphia” won with about 42% of the vote, while “Austin” and “Philadelphia” followed with 28% each.

The two underdogs (Austin and Nashville) ended up advancing, so it should be a pretty exciting final!

UP NEXT
The Long Road to Austin

8,000 miles down and one last stop to go: Austin, TX.

Tomorrow we start our week-long drive from Nashville to Austin. A bittersweet one for all of us. Still surreal to think how everything has evolved since our very first stop in a gravel parking lot in Asheville, NC—all the way back in March.

Keep up with our travels here. Onwards!!

Enjoying This?

Make sure to forward this email to a friend and help us spread the soccer gospel far and wide! We’ll see you next week with even more untold stories of soccer.

Have a great Tuesday!

Pablo