McDonald's US launches World Cup meals with collectible cups
McDonald’s US is tapping into World Cup fever with its range of collectable cups starring competitors, former football icons, and fast-food icon and beloved mascot Grimace.
48 teams are set to battle it out across three countries for the first time in World Cup history from 11 June - with every single player vying for silverware and a lick of the whopping $50 million (£37.17 million) prize pot.
Co-host nation Mexico is set to kick off the proceedings against South Africa, with Canada and the United States taking on Bosnia and Herzegovina and Paraguay on 12 and 13 June, respectively.
US President Donald Trump may make at least one appearance following his involvement in the recent FIFA Club World Cup, while Sir David Beckham, who is set to be honoured with a Hollywood Walk of Fame for his role in ‘elevating soccer’s profile in America’, may also attend the tournament.
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The former England superstar, 51, is also being immortalised alongside USMNT icon Christian Pulisic, South Korea’s Song Heung-Min and other legends such as Frenchman Thierry Henry at McDonald’s this summer.
The World Cup-adjacent launch sees the quartet and other icons of the game, including Spanish youngster Lamine Yamal, being plastered across new collector’s cups in the United States as part of the fast-food titans’ FIFA World Cup 26 Meal.
How to get the McDonald’s World Cup collectables?
To get one of nine collectable McDonald’s tumblers, customers across the nation must first choose between a Big Mac or a 10-piece Chicken Nuggets.
Both of these iconic items are set to come with an exclusive, gold-packaged Big Mac Sauce and one random beaker.
Breakfast customers can also get their hands on one of the celebrity chalices by choosing between a Sausage McMuffin with Egg or a Sausage Biscuit with Egg, both of which come with hash browns.
Football players featuring on the nine cups include:
- Alphonso Davies (Canada)
- Christian Pulisic (US)
- Sir David Beckham (England)
- Grimace
- Lamine Yamal (Spain)
- Ronaldinho Gaucho (Brazil)
- Santiago Gimenez (Mexico)
- Son Heung-Min (South Korea)
- Thierry Henry (France)
When and where does the FIFA World Cup meal launch?
A McDonald’s press release states that the opportunity to grab your favourite player’s cup will commence in the US from 4 June.
But the promotion isn't solely in North America as it is understood that ‘nearly every McDonald’s restaurant worldwide’, including stores in the the UK, will stock the collectables, too.
However, it’s worth checking in with your local eatery before you leave empty-handed.
Squishmallows World Cup Happy Meals are coming
Last month, McDonald’s teased a new World Cup Squishmallow promotion in its Happy Meals.
"Hard to pick a fave in this Squishmallows huddle puddle. FIFA World Cup Happy Meal out June 9,” the business wrote via its official X account.
In the US, the special World Cup-themed Happy Meals meals will feature one of 23 Squishmallows plushies, including the official mascots for FIFA World Cup 26, representing the three host countries.
Each adorable toy will be kitted out in a unique, football-inspired jersey and will be available in all McDonald’s restaurants, subject to availability.
Every Squishmallows Happy Meal purchase comes with a scannable QR code that unlocks a special digital game, as per McDonald’s.
Experts on the new McDonald’s launch
Pulisic, who will not captain his side in the World Cup this year, has spoken out about the McDonald's campaign.
“Growing up, it was our ritual after soccer tournaments to go to our McDonald's near Hershey, PA for Chicken McNuggets and a McFlurry," Pulisic said in a press release, as per USA TODAY.
"To now be featured on a McDonald's collectible cup all these years later is a full-circle moment.”
Morgan Flatley, Global Chief Marketing Officer and Head of New Business Ventures at McDonald’s said: “At McDonald’s, magic happens when families, friends, and fans come together and celebrate with the people they love.
“Partnering with the FIFA World Cup 26 allows us to take that shared joy and bring it to life at a global scale through our food, our experiences, and the ways fans connect with the game,”
“As football icons take the field to unite fans across continents, McDonald’s will be there from the first whistle to the final minute with limited-time meals and keepsakes so fans of all ages can be part of the excitement all tournament long and beyond.”
New McDonald’s ‘dirty’ sodas
The launches come amid a new line of sodas and refreshers, designed to elevate perfect picnic hangs and sun-kissed evenings with friends.
Featuring flavours include:
- Dirty Dr Pepper, enriched with vanilla and topped with a cold foam cloud
- Orange Dream, made with Hi-C and vanilla, topped with smooth cold foam
- Sprite Berry Blast, spiked with a sweet blue raspberry syrup and topped with a creamy cold foam
- Strawberry Watermelon Refresher, built with a sweet lemonade base, freeze-dried strawberries and strawberry and juicy watermelon flavours
- Mango Pineapple Refresher, designed with a lemonade base and mango and pineapple flavours. Finished with strawberry popping boba
- Blackberry Passion Fruit Refresher, pairs a lemonade base with strong blackberry and passion fruit flavours and freeze‑dried dragon fruit.
Our fans have an obsession with beverages — to them, drinks are more than just drinks. And soon, our beverages won't just be a reason you come to McDonald's, they'll be the reason," Alyssa Buetikofer, Chief Marketing and Customer Experience Officer, McDonald's USA, said in a statement at the time the drinks were revealed.
“We've taken the time to get this right, introducing new drinks that are hand-crafted with bold flavours and quality ingredients, our fans can taste in every sip.”
Ella Scott