When presented with two flags, Merlin walked directly towards the Mexican national flag, greeted by cheers from the crowd. Carla Gomez, the duck's owner, expressed her hope that the prediction would materialize, bringing good fortune to "El Tri", the Mexico national team's nickname.

The group A match between Mexico and South Korea is scheduled for 8h tomorrow, 19/6 (Hanoi time), at Guadalajara Stadium. The host team previously secured a 2-0 victory against South Africa in the opening match on 12/6.

Tourists photographed Merlin as the duck appeared on the streets of Mexico City. *Photo: Reuters*

Merlin has long been a familiar local pet. The duck regularly accompanies Carla Gomez and her son Cristian, selling goods as they traverse notable capital landmarks like Alameda Central Park, the Palace of Fine Arts, and Zocalo Square.

The duck became an online sensation on 12/6 after appearing on Reforma Boulevard wearing a Mexico national team jersey. A video of Merlin waddling on the street garnered millions of views. This unexpected fame led to the Gomez family receiving an invitation from FIFA representatives for a meeting, photo session, and promotional video shoot on 15/6.

The family hopes Merlin will continue to bring luck to the host nation. This marks the third time Mexico has hosted the World Cup, following 1970 and 1986, this time as a co-host alongside Canada and the United States.

Animal predictions for football results are a familiar and entertaining tradition at every World Cup. This trend originated with Paul the octopus in 2010.

Paul the octopus, housed at the Sea Life aquatic exhibition center in Germany, gained global fame by correctly predicting 12 out of 14 matches. He achieved this by selecting food from boxes adorned with the national flags of the winning teams. This impressive accuracy earned Paul the affectionate title of 'the prophet' from international media.

By Anh Minh (Reuters)