Key Takeaways

  • McDonald’s dropped a FIFA World Cup 2026 meal with 9 collectible cups featuring Beckham, Ronaldinho, Pulisic, Yamal, and yes, Grimace.
  • The Happy Meal version comes with one of 23 World Cup Squishmallows and a portion of sales goes to Ronald McDonald House.
  • It’s limited time, the World Cup is on US soil right now, and the McNuggets are always a good excuse to go get one.

Jump to:

The FIFA World Cup 2026 is happening right now on American soil. The US just barely survived the group stage, losing to Turkey 3-2 on a last-second goal but still advancing to the Round of 32. Games are being played across the country. People are watching. And McDonald’s is fully cashing in with their FIFA World Cup 26 Meal, and honestly? It’s a good move.

I went and grabbed one, partly to write about it and partly because McNuggets don’t need much of an excuse.

What You Actually Get

The meal itself is simple. Pick your main: Big Mac or 10-piece Chicken McNuggets. You get medium fries, a drink, and one of nine collectible cups featuring legendary soccer players. There’s also a limited-edition gold-packaged Big Mac Sauce included, which is a nice touch.

If you’re watching early morning games, McDonald’s also has a breakfast version: Sausage McMuffin with Egg or Sausage Egg Biscuit with Hash Browns. The World Cup schedule will have you up at weird hours depending on which games you’re following.

The Collectible Cups Breakdown

This is the part people are actually talking about. The nine cups feature: Christian Pulisic, David Beckham, Ronaldinho Gaucho, Thierry Henry, Son Heung-Min, Lamine Yamal, Alphonso Davies, Santiago Gimenez, and Grimace.

Yes, Grimace. McDonald’s put a purple blob on a collectible soccer cup alongside actual legends of the sport and I respect the confidence. That is a bold creative decision and I’m here for it.

The player lineup is legitimately solid. Beckham and Ronaldinho are nostalgia picks but they’re icons. Pulisic is the right call for the US hosting crowd. Lamine Yamal is 18 years old and already one of the best players alive. Son is globally beloved. The whole roster is worth collecting, which is exactly the problem: you get a random cup with your order.

No choosing. You get what you get. That’s annoying by design, obviously. If you want all nine, McDonald’s would love for you to make nine separate trips. And if you get Grimace when you wanted Ronaldinho, that’s just your life now.

For some context on the FIFA gaming side of things, check out this older post on the most used FIFA 21 Ultimate Team players and notice how many of the McDonald’s cup legends have been digital icons for years too. Some things never change.

The Squishmallows Happy Meal

Starting June 9, Happy Meals came with one of 23 collectible Squishmallows dressed in soccer kits representing the three World Cup 2026 host countries: Canada, Mexico, and the United States. Each one has unique designs and little jersey situations going on.

Every Happy Meal also includes a scannable code that unlocks a digital game at happymeal.com. Kids will play it for 20 minutes. Fine.

The more interesting detail is that these are already selling on eBay at markups. People are buying Happy Meals, keeping the Squishmallows, and flipping them. So if you want a specific one without making 23 McDonald’s runs, secondary market is your friend.

Also worth noting: a portion of every FIFA World Cup 26 Happy Meal sold in the US goes to Ronald McDonald House Charities. An actual good cause attached to a fast food toy promotion. Respect.

Is It Actually Worth It?

For a limited-time fast food collab, this one is above average. The food is McDonald’s, so you know what you’re getting. The cups feature a well-curated player roster. The Squishmallows tie-in makes the Happy Meal version something kids are genuinely excited about.

If you’re watching games right now (the US plays Bosnia and Herzegovina on July 1 in Santa Clara), grabbing one of these meals for matchday is a natural move. It’s the kind of thing that makes a weekday afternoon game feel more like an event.

The random cup draw is the one thing I’d change. Let people pick. That’s it. Otherwise this is one of the better fast food sports collabs in a while. The World Cup being on home turf makes everything hit different this summer.

Also if you’re in a food-obsessed headspace right now, my take on The Bear Season 5 is worth reading. Different kind of food content but same energy.

Bottom line: go get one before the tournament ends. The US still has games left to play and the cups are limited time.

McDonald’s FIFA World Cup 2026 Meal Review

Frequently Asked Questions

What comes in the McDonald’s FIFA World Cup 2026 meal?

You get a Big Mac or 10-piece Chicken McNuggets, medium fries, a medium drink, and one of nine collectible cups featuring soccer legends and Grimace. A limited-edition gold-packaged Big Mac Sauce is also included. There’s also a breakfast version with a Sausage McMuffin with Egg or Sausage Egg Biscuit and Hash Browns.

Who are the players on the McDonald’s World Cup collectible cups?

The nine cups feature Christian Pulisic, David Beckham, Ronaldinho Gaucho, Thierry Henry, Son Heung-Min, Lamine Yamal, Alphonso Davies, Santiago Gimenez, and Grimace. You get a random cup with your order, so there’s no way to pick which player you receive.

Are the Squishmallows Happy Meal toys limited edition?

Yes. There are 23 different Squishmallows available with World Cup Happy Meals, available while supplies last. They’re already showing up on eBay from people looking to complete full sets, so if you want a specific one, the secondary market is probably your best bet.

How long is the McDonald’s FIFA World Cup 2026 meal available?

It’s a limited-time promotion at participating McDonald’s locations. The FIFA World Cup 2026 runs through mid-July 2026, so the promotion is likely to run through the end of the tournament. Check your local McDonald’s for availability.

Can you buy the McDonald’s FIFA World Cup cups on eBay?

Yes, individual cups and full sets of all nine are already being sold on eBay. Prices vary but aren’t wildly expensive yet since the promotion is still active. If you want a specific player cup without the luck of the draw, it’s worth checking.