VOLAR: the hero we didn't ask for, but the one we desperately need
Answering all your questions about Concacaf's new mascot!
Earlier this week, the world changed forever. For many of us, there are events so profound that we measure our lives before and after them. If I had to guess, Volar’s introduction to the world could be this event for an unfathomable number of people. If you haven’t heard, our beloved region has a new mascot. For me, a mascot doesn’t encapsulate all that he is, so I’ll probably use the word hero.
In the official announcement from the confederation, we learned a bit about our newest champion. The official Marvel comic (which should be required reading for those of us in Concacaf) reveals more about his origin story, purpose, and mission. Today’s post will be a guide for you hopefully answer all the questions I assume you have about Volar.
The basic interrogatives
Before diving into the more nuanced queries, we need to start with the basics - you know, the “W” questions we all learned in school:
Who? The confederation explains, “Volar is a symbol of unity and passion for Concacaf, embodying the deep connection between our 41 Member Associations and the ocean that links them…Volar is the ultimate guardian of Concacaf’s heart, championing our fans, cultures, and the unifying power of football, both on and off the pitch.”
What? According to Concacaf, Volar is “a seabird guided by the spirit of the ocean on a mystic mission.” After diving into the comic and scouring the globe for other source material, it is clear that Volar is not just a seabird. He is an anthropomorphic creature with the ability to fly, speak multiple languages, swim, run, and most importantly, bend 30-yard free kicks around walls with incredible pace.
When? While we just became aware of Volar’s existence a few days ago, it’s much harder to determine when Volar first took flight and when he became the hero of our region. In the comic origin story, it is clear that he has had encounters with humans in at least 11 member nations and has visited a large majority of the other nations in Concacaf. Based on my extensive knowledge of Caribbean seabirds and other experts I have spoken with, Volar is likely in his early 30s (in anthropomorphic seabird years). Because this is the first we are hearing of him, he has likely only been active in his role for the last month or so. I guess I missed the LinkedIn announcement on that.
Where? It’s hard to pinpoint exactly where Volar is from. Because he has been chosen as the Guardian of Concacaf by the water that binds the region together, it’s safe to say he doesn’t hail from any one nation (to avoid conflict). Therefore, he was likely spawned on an unclaimed island in the Caribbean or in neutral airspace above. Where is he now? Likely preparing for a hard-fought Sunday-league game in St. Kitts & Nevis.
Why? This question borders on insulting. The better question is, why not Volar?
Bonus: How? According to the official comic, Volar was just a normal seabird who dove into the Caribbean Sea chasing a fish and stumbled across a whirlpool. He dove into it out of curiosity, saw the wonders of the Concacaf region and the beautiful game, and shot out of it fully transformed into the juggernaut that he is today.
Now that the introduction has been made, it’s time to dive into the findings of my extensive research to get into the information you won’t find via a simple Google search. This content is really for the Concacaf sickos - if you have made it this far, I assume you include yourself in that!
Why is he named Volar?
According to Concacaf, “The Spanish name Volar means "to fly" in English, “voler” in French, and “vliegen” in Dutch. His name captures our collective ambition to reach new heights.” This is a great explanation of what his name means, but it does not tell us WHY that’s his name. I needed to know more.
After poring over thousands of seabird census records, I have narrowed it down to the three most likely scenarios:
Volar’s parents hail from one of the beaches of a Spanish-speaking nation of Concacaf (50% chance).
Volar’s mother was native to the Northern Coast of Honduras, while his father was a well-traveled bird that served as an ambassador across the region. In wanting to honor the family and traditions of the mother, he was given a Spanish name (40% chance).
Volar’s parents were birds that had traveled to touristy Mexican beaches a few times in their lives (but never left the resort). They took 5+ years of Spanish in school that has equipped them to fumble through an order of food in a restaurant, and they always like to tell other birds, “I understand a lot of Spanish but don’t speak it”. They were hipsters and wanted their son to have a Spanish name so they would have a cool story to tell (10% chance).
Is Volar a polyglot?
It’s clear from the comic that Volar converses well in English and French. Depending on the answer to the previous question, he could be fluent in Spanish, but at the very least, he is conversational enough to get around Latin America, per the comic. Because he is the heart and soul of the confederation, we can assume that his Dutch is good enough to get by. If he isn’t fluent, he will be in no time!
Is Volar related to Capitán from the 2024 Copa America?
Some of you may recall the mascot from last year’s Copa America - Capitán, the “eagle”. He represented various cultures around the Americas and was present at the tournament (although the real-life version was a bit unsettling; let’s hope they don’t make the same mistake with Volar)
Contrary to the chatter I’ve seen on the internet, they are NOT related. I know many were hoping that they were brothers or even distant primos, but the data I have seen doesn’t support it. While they aren’t related, I assume that they could become great allies of one another. In hindsight, Capitán didn’t resonate with the region or the fans and quickly went into hiding at the conclusion of the tournament. This is a great opportunity for Volar to take him under his wing and bring him back into the fold.
Is Volar left-wing or right-wing dominant?
This has been another heated argument online. Given that Volar is a superhero, I assume he is somewhat ambidextrous, but there is still the issue of his asymmetrical wings (since there are 41 feathers - one for every member nation). I spent a few hours before sunrise reviewing the various images of Volar and have determined he has at least 22 feathers on his left wing (leaving a maximum of 19 on his right wing).
This still doesn’t answer the question, though. Does he have more feathers on his left wing because it’s weaker and needs more support and stabilization, OR is it because it’s the stronger wing? My educated guess is that he is slightly left-wing dominant but not in the way that Messi is left-foot dominant. If Greenland is admitted to the confederation, I assume Volar will sprout another feather on his right wing to help even it all out.
Is Volar campaigning to be the 2026 World Cup Mascot?
We should certainly hope so! There was one supposed leak from 2022 of the mascots (which I don’t put much stock in) that featured Uncle Sam, a moose, and a cactus wearing a sombrero…problematic and disappointing on various levels. If the mascot is only going to incorporate the host nations (US, Mexico, and Canada), I think that is a big miss. Considering that Concacaf will have between 6 and 8 teams competing, the organizers need to think bigger.
While Volar would be an excellent choice, I doubt he will be selected. Based on what I’ve gathered of his character, he won’t bend to the wishes of FIFA and doesn’t want to be used as a prop for the tournament. Whoever or whatever the official mascot ends up being, it would be a good idea for them to glean wisdom from Volar. He understands the beautiful game in this incredible region better than most and seems more than willing to lend a helping hand to anyone in need.
What are Marvel’s plans with Volar?
It’s not lost on anyone that the Marvel/Disney partnership has fallen on hard times. After Avengers: Endgame, the content produced has been met with mixed reviews. As soon as Volar was announced and the comic was dispersed, rumors began to swirl about his potential appearance in a Marvel project. There are a few directions Marvel could go with this:
A standalone feature film, Volar: The Fight for Unity
A Disney+ Series, Volar: The Making of Concacaf’s King
An entirely new cinematic universe focused on the beautiful game
If it were up to me (still hoping Feige and the Russo brothers will bring me in as an advisor), I would opt for a Disney+ series. The story of Volar will not fit into a 2-hour film; it just can’t. His origin story, accepting of his mission, and carrying it out needs to be told over a long-form limited series (preferably 8+ episodes). One major mistake Marvel made with The Eternals was trying to fit too much content into one film…it didn’t give the viewers enough time to care about the characters.
I would hate to see the same mistake happen with Volar. While he is Concacaf’s champion, he can be an inspiration to the entire world. Through a limited series, those outside of the region can get to know the beautiful nations he protects and be immersed in their unique cultures. What do you think?
Is Volar the hero needed to unify a divided region?
There’s no getting around it - we live in very tumultuous times. In the Concacaf region specifically, we have tensions and trade wars between the largest countries, ongoing disputes on borders and immigration between nations, and political division within countries. Can Volar do anything about this or help in any way?
As much as I have enjoyed poking fun at our confederation’s new mascot and teasing out some of the lore, I know this is a difficult season. I know the issues I mentioned are very real and very personal to so many of you reading (including for me and my family). It may seem like I have my head in the sand, but in a small way, I do think Volar can help us right now.
Soccer has always meant so much to so many in this region. Sometimes, it is just an escape from reality - a few hours playing or watching where we can enjoy the game. At other times, the beautiful game has brought people together across lines that usually divide us (age, gender, ethnicity, religion, political parties, etc). That is one of my favorite things about futbol, the way it unifies.
Can this game solve trade wars? Probably not. Can it reform immigration law? No. Can it erase ethnocentrism? Again, no. What can it do? I think it has a unique way of bringing people together from all over our region (and the world), and it allows us to be part of something bigger than ourselves. When we come together, it allows us to be more human and see the humanity in others.
If Volar can play a small part in that, he might just be a hero we can all rally around!
