Russia chooses wolf 2018 world cup mascot
I think there may be some confusion here!
Actually, the official mascot for the 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia was Zabivaka, a young wolf with a smile and a football. The name "Zabivaka" is a combination of the Russian words "забивать" (zabivat'), which means "to score", and "а-ка" (a-ka), which is a suffix used to create a playful and friendly name.
Zabivaka was chosen through a public vote in 2016, and was designed to represent the energy, passion, and playfulness of the Russian people. The mascot was used to promote the World Cup and was featured in various marketing campaigns, merchandise, and events leading up to the tournament.
So, to clarify, Russia did not choose a wolf as its mascot for the 2018 World Cup, but rather a wolf-like character named Zabivaka!