The report says Swimbappe lives in a fish tank outside a downtown office building, where flags are displayed before each prediction. Passers-by gather, count down and watch the oranda goldfish swim left or right to choose between the competing nations.
Glenn reportedly created the idea as a public way to join the football conversation during a major summer for Canada and Toronto. The name is a playful nod to Kylian Mbappé, while other possibilities were considered before Swimbappe emerged as the favourite.
The attraction has apparently drawn office workers, supporters and schoolchildren, turning a simple tank into an impromptu football theatre.
Swimbappe’s latest reported prediction has added extra intrigue. Ahead of Brazil’s upcoming World Cup group game against Haiti, the fish swam towards Haiti’s side of the tank.
It is a choice that ignores conventional football expectations and gives the fixture a light-hearted subplot. Brazil carry the greater historical reputation, but Swimbappe is not interested in rankings, squad depth or tactical match-ups. His method is movement, instinct and whichever side of the tank catches his attention.
For fans passing by, that uncertainty is part of the fun.
Animal predictors have become a familiar World Cup tradition. Paul the Octopus achieved global fame during the 2010 tournament, while ducks and other animals have since joined the prediction parade.
Swimbappe fits neatly into that tradition, offering football a moment of nonsense when the pressure around results can become overwhelming. Whether the pick proves accurate matters less than the spectacle it creates.
As the group stage continues, the next Swimbappe prediction will be watched for more than its footballing value. In Toronto, the goldfish has already become a small but memorable part of the tournament story.