Labubu figures from Pop Mart's The Monsters franchise make a high-profile appearance at the opening ceremony of the 2026 FIFA World Cup on Thursday. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn] Even without a home team to cheer for at the quadrennial soccer showpiece, China's presence at the 2026 FIFA World Cup is being felt both on and off the pitch, underlined by fervent fan following, tech and infrastructure support, and robust sponsorship investment.