POP MART’s LABUBU makes a surprise appearance at the 2026 FIFA World Cup opening ceremony

In the early hours of the morning, the opening ceremony of the 2026 FIFA World Cup was held at the iconic Azteca Stadium in Mexico City, captivating hundreds of millions of viewers around the globe. Yet in China, the most talked-about starter of the night was not a player from any national team—it was LABUBU, the original designer toy IP from China. Created by POP MART’s signed artist Kasing Lung, LABUBU appeared on stage in the form of two giant mascots.