Taio’s selection adds a light-hearted layer to a fixture that will be judged by Germany’s performance, not an animal’s appetite. The anteater reportedly took time before making its choice, eventually selecting the container filled with mealworms.
The benchmark in German football remains Paul, the octopus whose eight correct predictions during the 2010 World Cup turned an entertainment stunt into a global phenomenon. A report says no successor has come close to matching that run.
For Taio, the first test comes immediately. A correct draw prediction would not establish a legacy, but it would give the Münster attraction an early boost.
Taio’s role also serves a wider purpose. Born in 2024, he was reportedly the first giant anteater born at the zoo, while the species is considered threatened.
That gives the prediction a conservation angle. The attention surrounding the World Cup can introduce more visitors to the work of breeding and protecting endangered animals, turning a novelty feature into a platform for education.
The zoo has tried similar experiments before. A Siberian tiger named Fedor reportedly predicted only one of Germany’s three group-stage matches correctly in 2018, while a lowland tapir called Theo struggled with most of his selections in 2024.
Whatever Taio predicts, Germany’s players will decide whether the story becomes a punchline or a curious footnote. A draw would make the anteater’s forecast part of the tournament conversation; any other result would quickly return the focus to tactics, finishing and defensive discipline.
The next chapter arrives when Germany face Curaçao on Sunday. Taio’s reputation may begin with a mealworm, but it will only grow if the result gives his forecast unexpected credibility.