![Muluk the puma moves a ball placed between South Korean and Czech Republic jerseys toward the South Korean side. Local media reported that Muluk had predicted a South Korean victory over the Czech Republic. [AFP-Yonhap]](https://wimg.heraldcorp.com/news/cms/2026/06/11/news-p.v1.20260611.75e753ab7d14464c950bcc56ec009ebc_P1.jpg)
A puma at a Mexican zoo has predicted that South Korea will defeat the Czech Republic in the 2026 FIFA World Cup group stage, drawing fresh attention to the tradition of animal oracle events ahead of major tournaments.
Mexican outlet Daily Mexico reported Tuesday that the Guadalajara Zoo recently held an event using animals' food-selection behavior to forecast World Cup match results, with the puma Muluk picking South Korea to beat the Czech Republic.
In the exercise, Muluk moved a ball placed between South Korean and Czech Republic jerseys toward the South Korean side.
The zoo also enlisted animals to predict results for matches involving host nation Mexico.
For the South Korea-Mexico matchup, a group of capybaras ate from both sides' food offerings without favoring either, which the zoo interpreted as a draw.
Guadalajara Zoo director Danae Vasquez said the event was not meant as serious analysis. "We organized it to give visitors a fun, unique experience and to make the World Cup festival even more enjoyable," she said.
Animal prediction events are not new to World Cup season.
At the 2010 FIFA World Cup in South Africa, a German octopus named Paul became a global sensation after correctly forecasting a string of match results.
South Korea, coached by Hong Myung-bo, opens its Group A campaign against the Czech Republic at 11 a.m. Korean Standard Time on Friday. The team then faces Mexico at 10 a.m. on June 19, followed by South Africa at 10 a.m. on June 25.
yeonjoo7@heraldcorp.com
