Everyone expected the big music stars to be the main attraction at the 2026 World Cup opening. However, the internet ended up talking about something else: two enormous Labubu figures that appeared during the show and quickly became one of the most talked-about moments of the day.
The popular collectible characters, the result of an official collaboration between Pop Mart and FIFA, surprised viewers and unleashed a wave of memes and comments on social media. For some, it was a fun nod to pop culture; for others, a detail no one expected to see at a soccer event of such magnitude.
As expected, the debate did not take long to appear: was it a brilliant idea that connected with younger generations or an unnecessary distraction in a historic ceremony? The truth is that, for a few minutes, the Labubu managed to compete for attention with international artists and with football itself.
And you, did you like seeing these curious characters at the opening, or would you have preferred a more traditional show?
Here is the moment: