Washington – One of the most talked-about moments of the 2026 World Cup opening ceremony in Mexico City on June 11 was the surprise appearance of the Labubu collectible figures.
The globally popular designer toys made a brief on-stage cameo during the star-studded event, appearing alongside major performers including Shakira, J Balvin, and Burna Boy, adding an unexpected pop-culture twist to the ceremony.
The toys have become very recognizable, from unboxing videos on social media to them being sold in malls and on the streets.
The Monsters’ franchise has caught the attention of every little kid, and even famous NBA players; now, football players around the world have seen the face of Labubu.
Pop Mart gained the rights to produce the Labubus into the now successful blind boxes that shook the collectible world.
Thanks to K-pop star Lisa, from BLACKPINK, the blind box characters received even more popularity.
Labubu was the first Chinese original intellectual property to appear at the World Cup opening ceremony ever.
As Pop Mart pursues expansion, showing up at the World Cup displays how popular they have become!
Recently, the Labubu x FIFA collaboration for new collectables has launched.
