Pop Mart Teases Labubu FIFA World Cup Collaboration for 2026

Pop Mart officially announced its collaboration with FIFA on March 24, teasing a special collection tied to the 2026 World Cup. The collaboration is branded "THE MONSTERS x FIFA" and features Labubu, the sharp-toothed elf at the center of Pop Mart's The Monsters universe, crossing into the world's biggest sporting event.

The brand signaled the launch is imminent, marking March 27 as a key date under the phrase "coming soon," pointing to a possible presale or early exclusive access window. Though details remain limited, the announcement has been enough to ignite conversation among fans and collectors.

Weeks before the official announcement, around March 13, leaked images of possible designs had already begun circulating, building anticipation across social media and collector communities. Pop Mart's confirmation consolidated that hype, positioning Labubu as one of the most striking proposals at the intersection of pop culture and global sport ahead of the most anticipated football season.

The FIFA collab is just one piece of a larger roadmap for The Monsters in 2026. Plans in the works include a "4.0 series," artist collabs, and a Macy's Parade appearance. A World Cup appearance in June is also on the schedule, lining up with when the tournament kicks off in North America.

The collab comes as Pop Mart pushes aggressively to expand Labubu beyond the blind box format. In the first half of 2025, The Monsters series accounted for 34.7% of Pop Mart's total revenue, making it by far the company's most valuable IP. The brand has leaned into high-profile partnerships before, including a Coca-Cola-themed winter blind box series of eleven Labubus in late 2024 and a 13-figurine line reimagining The Monsters as One Piece characters in early 2025.

A Sony Pictures feature film is also in development, marking what Pop Mart calls a major step in expanding The Monsters beyond collectibles and into mainstream entertainment. Paul King, the filmmaker behind Paddington and Wonka, is attached to produce, direct, and co-write the screenplay alongside Steven Levenson, the award-winning writer known for Dear Evan Hansen.

A YouTube playlist titled "Labubu x FiFa World Cup series" has also appeared, offering early visual content tied to the project. For collectors watching the calendar, March 27 is the date to have marked.