Maple, Zayu, and Clutch are the World Cup mascots for 2026. Photograph: Eloisa Sanchez/Reuters
While tensions between Canada and the United States have escalated in recent years, with Donald Trump threatening to annex its northern neighbor, the two nations found common ground in crime-fighting. This week, Clutch the Bald Eagle and Maple the Moose—mascots for the US and Canada at the upcoming World Cup—assisted Peruvian police in a drug raid.
Officers in Lima dressed as the mascots broke through a gate before arresting a suspect. The operation was orchestrated by Colonel Carlos Fredy Alcántara Obregón, head of the police's Green Squad. He explained to the Associated Press that intelligence indicated the suspect was a devoted football fan immersed in World Cup fever. "So we proceeded to disguise my Green Squad personnel as World Cup mascots in order to approach him without arousing suspicion and make the arrest," he said.
Clutch and Maple proved ideal for the raid, despite being fictional characters without work visas for Peru. According to FIFA, Clutch "leads by action—rallying teammates, lifting spirits and turning every challenge into an opportunity to rise higher," making him suited for high-pressure situations like drug busts. Maple, described as "a street style-loving artist," can blend into Lima's underground scene effortlessly.
The third mascot, Zayu the Jaguar, was unavailable for the raid as he does not work Wednesdays.
