McDonald's "World Cup Set" Sells Out Nationwide... "Son Heung-min Cup" Fetching 10 Times the Price in Resale Market

McDonald's, Official World Cup Sponsor

World Cup Set Sales Soar Worldwide

Limited-Edition Cups Featuring Football Stars Sell Out Early

The "World Cup Set," released by McDonald's, the official sponsor of the 2026 FIFA North and Central America World Cup, to celebrate the tournament, has sold out at all locations in Korea. Following the Korean national team’s 2-1 come-from-behind victory over the Czech Republic on June 12, enthusiasm for the World Cup spread, leading to a surge in demand for the limited-edition commemorative cups included in the World Cup Set.

According to coverage by The Asia Business Daily on June 17, the World Cup Set—which includes a Big Mac, medium French fries, and a medium cola—completely sold out just five days after its launch on June 11. All of the limited-edition cups, inspired by global football legends and provided at random with the set, were depleted, resulting in the suspension of World Cup Set sales.

McDonald’s Korea is preparing for a second release of the World Cup Set, but the specific launch date has not been determined.

Earlier, McDonald’s included a limited-edition cup in the World Cup Set featuring the images of eight football stars: retired players David Beckham (England), Thierry Henry (France), and Ronaldinho (Brazil); current stars from the host countries Christian Pulisic (USA), Alphonso Davies (Canada), Santiago Giménez (Mexico); Spain’s Lamine Yamal, who is not from a host country; and Son Heung-min, captain of the Korean national team, as well as the McDonald’s character Grimace.

In particular, the limited-edition cup featuring Son Heung-min became so popular in Mexico that it was in short supply, but it was excluded from the Korean release. Son Heung-min is currently under contract as a brand ambassador for other food service companies in Korea, and during the contract period, companies in the same industry are not permitted to use him as a brand model. Currently, Son Heung-min is the face of brands such as Domino’s Pizza, Lotte Wellfood’s World Cone, HiteJinro’s Terra, and Mega Coffee.

As a result, Son Heung-min cups purchased from McDonald’s overseas are being sold for significantly higher prices than the World Cup Set in Korea. Listings for the Son Heung-min cup priced between 80,000 and 90,000 won have appeared on the Danggeun used goods marketplace. In Korea, the World Cup Set—comprising a Big Mac Set and a limited-edition cup—was sold for 8,900 won, meaning the Son Heung-min cup alone is being sold for a premium nearly ten times higher through secondhand trading.

Used goods listing for a McDonald's 'Son Heung-min Cup' posted on the Danggeun trading platform.

Meanwhile, with Son Heung-min’s advertising contracts with these food and beverage brands expected to end sometime this month, Korean consumers are closely watching to see whether the "Son Heung-min Cup" will be included in the second release of the McDonald’s Korea World Cup Set.

An official from McDonald’s Korea stated, "The World Cup Set has sold out nationwide, but the specific timing of the second release has not been confirmed." The official added, "It is also undecided whether the Son Heung-min Cup will be included in the second release, but it is impossible for it to be available within this month."

Meanwhile, after the Korean national team’s 2-1 come-from-behind victory over the Czech Republic in the North and Central America World Cup match held on the morning of June 12 (Korean Standard Time), the World Cup fever in Korea is intensifying, with a surge in payments at major chicken franchise chains on the day of the match. The Korean national team is set to play against Mexico, the host country of this World Cup, on June 19 in pursuit of additional points.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.