While China’s football fans feel much disappointed that the national team isn’t at the 2026 FIFA World Cup, the tournament is still packed with Chinese influence, with “Made in China” products visible almost everywhere on and off the pitch.

In addition to helping upgrade local infrastructure, Chinese companies are also widening their footprint at the World Cup by leveraging technological strengths to make the tournament smarter and more efficient.

Two Labubu characters in football jerseys from Pop Mart’s The Monsters franchise, appeared at the tournament’s opening ceremony as a special guest, becoming the first Chinese original intellectual property to feature in a World Cup opening celebration.