Pop Mart's designer toy with its toothy grin made a surprise appearance during the World Cup opening ceremony. Within hours, Chinese social media exploded with chatter, and one of the most popular quips was that while Team China failed to reach the World Cup, Labubu had made it onto soccer's biggest stage.

A fuzzy Pop Mart character, Labubu, made history as the first Chinese-original toy IP featured at a FIFA World Cup opening event, captivating fans worldwide.

Pop Mart's designer toy with its toothy grin made a surprise appearance during the World Cup opening ceremony. Within hours, Chinese social media exploded with chatter, and one of…