The 2026 and 2027 World Floorball Championships, to be held in Finland, will have their own official mascot. The mascot was designed by author and illustrator Mauri Kunnas, one of Finland’s most internationally renowned and beloved children’s book authors.
Over ten million copies of Kunnas’s books have been sold worldwide, and his detailed illustrations have entertained readers of all ages for decades. Kunnas’s best-known works include the Koiramäki series and the legendary Suuri urheilukirja (The Great Sports Book), published in 1983.
“The fox is a great character. Independent, streetwise and It’s fun to draw. Of course, I also make sure to include proper equipment, the right playing stance – and even sweatbands,” Mauri Kunnas says with a smile.
Kunnas says he was also inspired by the sport’s low barrier to entry and its child-friendly nature.
– I’ve always liked floorball. It’s something that’s suitable for just about every child. It doesn’t require endless investments. It suits Finns, since in a cold country, it’s played indoors, Kunnas explains.
The design of the mascot was a collaborative effort between Kunnas, the World Championship organizing committee, and the Finnish Floorball Federation. Together, they considered the fox’s clothing, equipment, and color scheme, as well as, of course, which animal would be the most fitting mascot.
Juha Ollikainen, visual producer for the Finnish Floorball Federation, says that the collaboration with Kunnas was exceptionally inspiring.
“It was great to get to build a collaboration with Mauri Kunnas. His signature style is unmistakable. We wanted the character to strongly reflect the spirit of floorball and the themes of the World Championships,” says Ollikainen.
The official mascot is part of the tournament’s “Free of Limits” theme, where floorball belongs to everyone.
– We specifically wanted Mauri Kunnas to create an animal character that brings joy and energy to people of all ages. The fox mascot will be a prominent presence, especially among children, young people, and families, but at the same time, it will serve as a recognizable figure for the entire tournament community, explains Kati Voutilainen, the Championships Secretary General.
A naming contest is coming up for the mascot
Throughout the tournament year, the mascot will make appearances at events such as a summer tour, school visits, and it will be visible in Championship communications. It has also been decided that the mascot will continue to bring joy to Finnish floorball events even after the World Championships.
The mascot naming contest will launch soon. Details on the exact timing and instructions will be announced on the World Championship websites and social media channels.
The Men’s World Championships, to be held in Tampere from December 5–13, 2026, will bring together the world’s best floorball nations. The preliminary games will be played at the Hakametsä Ice Hall and the Kauppi Sports Center, and the final matches will culminate at the Nokia Arena. Tickets for the tournament are on sale at lippu.fi.
Video:
Script and production: Juha Ollikainen
Camera and post-production: Akseli Uppala
Interview: Jussi Ojala