The name Tazuni™ is a fusion of her home – the Tasman Sea – and ‘unity’, a key value of the event to be co-hosted by Australia and Aotearoa New Zealand in 2023.
Tazuni, a fun, football-loving penguin is the Official Mascot of the Fifa Women’s World Cup Australia & New Zealand 2023™, capturing the spirit of an event that will go Beyond Greatness™.
Based on the ‘Eudyptula minor’ species endemic to Aotearoa New Zealand and Australia, Tazuni is the perfect representative of the host region and will help to bring the excitement of the highly anticipated tournament to a new generation of fans.
Streetwise and confident, Tazuni stands out from the crowd thanks to her signature blue tuft of hair. Her name is a fusion of ‘Tasman Sea’ – which she calls home – and ‘unity’, a key value of the event.
The 15-year-old, who plays in midfield, falls in love with football after joining in with a group of kids playing a game on the beach.
Her footballing dreams come true when one evening she gazes up to see fireworks explode overhead coming from a nearby stadium. The kids from the beach hand over a personalised football kit, and she confidently strides into the stadium to showcase her talents.
Tazuni will become an important symbol for the Fifa Women’s World Cup Australia & New Zealand, appearing on official tournament merchandise and media platforms, as well as in real life in community activities ahead of the event.