Feathered World Cup ambassador: Mexico’s World Cup duck Merlin visits President Sheinbaum

“Merlin is the patron of our business,” said its owner, Karla Ivette Gómez, who sells drinks as a street vendor on the streets of Mexico City’s historic center. “He makes sure we work properly.” Merlin gets special food for ducks and a taco with meat filling every Sunday, the 48-year-old single mother of two sons continued.

Merlin became famous at the start of the World Cup when he waddled through the streets of the capital in Mexican dress with matching socks. Its owners now want to register the Merlin duck as a protected trademark.