Paxo the Rubber Chicken Joins USA's World Cup Journey as Unlikely Mascot

SEATTLE STADIUMVenue·Seattle Stadium — The United States men's national team has welcomed an unusual, yet increasingly prominent, member to its 2026 World Cup contingent: Paxo, a rubber chicken. This quirky mascot, a personal good luck charm for defender Chris RichardsPlayer·Chris Richards, has officially embarked on the USA's tournament journey, adding a unique narrative to their campaign.

Richards first encountered Paxo on the field after Crystal PalaceTeam·Crystal Palace secured the UEFA Conference League title in Leipzig, Germany, last month. The defender, who posed with the trophy and the rubber chicken, quickly embraced the novelty. "I just kind of ran with it and had a few pictures with it in the Conference LeagueCompetition·Conference League trophy," Richards stated, adding, "And so now it's kind of making the U.S. tour as well, right?" Paxo is not new to the spotlight, having previously traveled with Crystal PalaceTeam·Crystal Palace supporters across Europe and even appearing on Cypriot television, according to reports.

While Paxo's presence is a source of amusement for Richards, not all his teammates are yet aware of the avian addition. When asked about the chicken, fellow defender Auston TrustyPlayer·Auston Trusty expressed surprise, remarking, "A chicken? That's the first I've heard of it." Richards, however, hinted at future introductions, stating, "Not yet. We'll see."

Paxo's arrival coincides with a period of significant personal and team success for Richards. The defender, named the US Men's Player of the Year in 2025, overcame an ankle injury sustained on May 17 during a Premier LeagueCompetition·Premier League match against BrentfordTeam·Brentford. This setback forced him to miss the UEFA Conference League final and two World Cup warm-up matches against Senegal and Germany. Despite the injury, Richards made a strong return to the starting lineup for the USA's World Cup opener against Paraguay.

His performances have been nothing short of dominant. Against Paraguay, Richards completed all 83 of his attempted passes, achieving a 100% accuracy rate—a World Cup record since 1966. He followed this with another stellar display against Australia, completing 91 of 95 passes. Overall, Richards has completed 97.8% (175-of-179) of his passes at the World Cup, a statistic that places him second only to Romania's Gheorghe PopescuPlayer·Gheorghe Popescu (122-for-124 in 1994) among players with at least 100 passes since 1966, as reported by OPTA.

Richards' defensive prowess has been instrumental in the USA's strong start to the tournament. The team secured a commanding 4-1 victory over Paraguay and followed it with a 2-0 win against Australia, clinching first place in Group D and advancing to the knockout stage (Round of 32). The clean sheet against Australia was particularly significant, snapping a streak of 10 consecutive games without one for the USA defense. Goalkeeper Matt FreesePlayer·Matt Freese underscored the importance of this achievement, stating, "One clean sheet sounds great. Two, three, four clean sheets sounds a lot better."

Richards' teammates have also lauded his impact. Defender Mark McKenziePlayer·Mark McKenzie noted, "He has a presence on the field," while veteran winger Tim WeahPlayer·Tim Weah described Richards as "one of the most important players on the team." His journey to this pivotal role has been extensive, originating from Birmingham, Alabama, and including stints with Bayern MunichTeam·Bayern Munich and Crystal PalaceTeam·Crystal Palace, after an initial rejection by MLS club FC DallasTeam·FC Dallas at 16. He has since earned 38 caps for the national team, solidifying his position as a key figure in the USA's back line.

The USA's final group stage fixture is scheduled for June 25 against TürkiyeTeam·Türkiye, with Richards and Paxo now firmly part of the team's compelling World Cup narrative.