Labubu joins the roar of football, marking China’s first IP at a Fifa World Cup (opens original article in a new tab)

Labubu, a Chinese pop culture character, made its debut at the 2026 FIFA World Cup opening ceremony, marking China's first IP participation in the event. The character, from Pop Mart's The Monsters franchise, appeared in World Cup-related collaborations and visited Mexico for the occasion.

• Labubu, a Chinese IP character, appeared at the 2026 FIFA World Cup opening ceremony as a special guest
• Labubu is the first Chinese original intellectual property to participate in a FIFA World Cup opening celebration
• Labubu's appearance included wearing football jerseys and sharing the World Cup excitement with global spectators
• Labubu's rise coincides with Pop Mart's international expansion, including 64 stores across the Americas by 2025