After the opening ceremony of the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, the mascot La’eeb won the hearts and sparked many interesting comments from viewers.
During the grand opening ceremony of the 2022 World Cup (WC 2022) on the evening of November 20, one of the most impressive highlights that attracted much attention was the appearance of the official mascot – La’eeb.
Official mascots have always brought joy and excitement to the world’s largest football tournament over the years, and La’eeb continues this tradition in a special way.
With the shape of a white scarf, having eyes, a nose, and the ability to fly, La’eeb reminded many viewers around the world of the image of a “cute ghost” with comments such as: “Real-life ghost version,” “Legendary ghost,” “So cute,” “Isn’t that Casper (the friendly ghost from a famous Hollywood movie)?”…
La’eeb mascot appears at the WC 2022 opening ceremony. (Photo: Twitter).
Many people liken the La’eeb mascot (right) to Casper the ghost from movies. (Photo: Twitter).
The association with the WC 2022 mascot did not surprise the organizers. Mr. Khalid Ali Al Mawlawi, Deputy Director of Marketing, Communications, and Experience for WC 2022, stated: “La’eeb comes from a parallel mascot world – a place that cannot be described. We encourage everyone to imagine what this mascot resembles. I am sure that fans all over the world will love this mischievous and cheerful mascot. La’eeb will play an important role as we want to attract both older and younger football fans to experience the World Cup in Qatar.”
In Arabic, La’eeb means “super player with superior skills.” “La’eeb is a product of your imagination. If you want a player to be like anyone, this mascot will be that player,” the FIFA website states.
According to FastCompanyMe, culturally, La’eeb resembles the Keffiyeh, a traditional headscarf worn by Arab men. It also differs from many past mascots as it does not have the typical cultural elements of the Middle East, such as camels or falcons. “La’eeb is more creative and not cliché compared to some previous mascots,” commented Mahmood Amr, a senior student at the University of Sharjah (UAE).
La’eeb embodies characteristics of Arab countries. (Photo: FIFA)
“La’eeb makes a familiar impression on many people in the Middle East because it has traditional elements of Arab countries, not just Qatar. It’s great to see a mascot that looks like an Arab person,” shared Rabi Ezz-Eldine, a football fan from Lebanon.
“My first impression is the friendliness of this mascot. The 2022 World Cup takes place in a region that not only benefits tourism but also cultural exchange. The mascot with Arab elements enhances that. However, I still find this mascot somewhat resembles Casper the ghost from the movies,” said Amani Qaddoumi, an Arab designer.
According to FastCompanyMe, besides being the first flying mascot of the World Cup, La’eeb also marks a significant milestone as the first representative of Middle Eastern culture to join the FIFA World Cup mascot legacy.
The World Cup – FIFA WC started in 1930, but the first mascot did not appear until 1966. At that World Cup held in England, the mascot was Willie – a lion wearing a T-shirt printed with the English flag. Since then, mascots have become an indispensable symbol of each World Cup. Including WC 2022, there have been 14 mascots featured in the World Cup mascot heritage.
