He didn't buy
a ticket. He just
followed the crowd.
On 11 June 2026, Mexico opened their home World Cup with a 2–0 win over South Africa at the legendary Estadio Azteca. More than 80,000 fans poured out of the stadium and into the streets, nearly all of them in Mexico green.
Among them, a white Pekin duck in a full green Mexico jersey waddled down Paseo de la Reforma — trailing a mother and her young son, following the crowd as if he'd bought a ticket himself.
The internet fell in love. They named him Merlin, and crowned him Mexico's most dedicated supporter. Proof that football belongs to everyone — even a duck.


