The excitement is building as Seychelles unveiled the official mascot for the FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup 2025 last Friday on one of its most popular beaches on the main island, Mahé.
TiKay takes his name from the French word for small, “petit”, and the short form of the Seychellois Creole word for scales. The beach soccer-loving tortoise has quite the backstory.
Born amongst the dunes of the Seychelles’ powdery white sands, he embodies the spectacular beaches, local culture, and biodiversity of the host nation and its pristine surrounding waters.
Charismatic, spirited and energetic, the Official Mascot radiates the family-friendly vibes and excitement that have become synonymous with the FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup™. These characteristics, identified during a team brainstorming session, helped the Tourism Seychelles team develop the key elements that led to the creation of the name.
TiKay made his big debut at a beach soccer clinic held at Beau Vallon, specifically organised by the Seychelles Local Organising Committee of the FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup 2025™ to inspire and engage local youngsters in the exciting world of the sport.
As the star of the event—alongside the President of Seychelles, Mr. Wavel Ramkalawan— TiKay took the spotlight, championing the values of fair play, environmental consciousness, and national pride, leaving a lasting impression on the young participants and the community at large.
The event brought together more than 40 children, coaches, and members of the Seychelles beach soccer national team, along with several distinguished guests, including the Minister for Youth, Sports, and Family, Mrs. Marie-Céline Zialor; the Principal Secretary for Youth and Sports Development, Mr. Ralph Jean-Louis; and the Principal Secretary for Tourism, Mrs. Sherin Francis.
Following the ceremony, Mrs. Francis shared her enthusiasm, “We couldn’t be more excited to share this moment of pride with the world. TiKay is a real Seychellois, exuding our warmth and joie de vivre. He undoubtedly embodies the tournament’s spirit as well as Seychelles’ colourful cultural heritage. I am confident that he will win the hearts of both spectators and players as we prepare to host this renowned tournament. The reveal marks a significant milestone in our journey as we continue to create excitement for the World Cup and promote our beautiful islands as a world-class destination.”
The FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup was first held in 2005 and took place every two years between 2009 and 2021, with the forthcoming edition to be the 13th instalment. The maiden FIFA competition to be held in the Seychelles, the event will take place from 1 to 11 May in Victoria, on the island of Mahé.
With this unique and exciting symbol, Seychelles is ready to welcome the world and showcase its passion for sports, tourism, and the beach soccer community.
