How McDonald's brought the FIFA World Cup experience to life across its Western, Southern & Tabuk Regions

Throughout the FIFA World Cup, McDonald's turned restaurants, shopping malls, and community spaces in Saudi Arabia's Western, Southern, and Tabuk regions into places where fans and families could share in the football excitement. The promotion featured exclusive collectibles, live match broadcasts, interactive games, and family activities to give customers many ways to take part in the tournament beyond just watching the games.

Everything started with the FIFA Meal, which came with special FIFA Collectible Cups showcasing six football stars. Supported by social media and physical events, the campaign prompted customers to collect all six cups, sparking excitement right from the opening stages and encouraging repeat visits during the tournament. General Manager Mohammed Ali Reza explained that the goal was to create a complete tournament-like experience full of excitement and fun.

As the tournament drew nearer, McDonald's transformed five specific outlets into football-themed spaces by installing big screens. These restaurants became places where people could watch the matches together with friends and family in a lively setting. The excitement didn't stop at the screenings. Interactive football games, match prediction activities, Q&A competitions, exclusive collectible sets, content from influencers, and live event coverage created an engaging matchday atmosphere while keeping the conversation going on McDonald's digital platforms.

A standout moment of the campaign was Saudi Arabia's first female-only FIFA World Cup Watch Party held at the South Obhur Branch. The event featured a female-only staff, football-themed decorations, music, interactive games, giveaways, and professional event coverage, providing a special space for female football fans to come together and enjoy the tournament.

Around 150 guests attended, including well-known female football players and leading lifestyle and sports influencers, who gave the event positive feedback. This reflected the company's commitment to creating meaningful experiences that connect with the community, as stated by General Manager Mohammed Ali Reza.

The campaign kept going strong beyond the restaurants through family-focused events at five of the region's biggest shopping centers. Activities like face painting, goal challenge games, interactive football experiences, and giveaways made memorable moments for children and their families, extending the excitement of the FIFA World Cup into community areas.

Over 3,300 children took part in these mall events, while FIFA-themed activities across 21 McDonald's restaurants engaged another 1,990 children, enabling even more families to join in the celebration.

Digital promotion backed up every step of the campaign by advertising the FIFA Meal, Collectible Cups, Happy Meal, match screenings, and key events on McDonald's social media networks. Influencer coverage and live content boosted each experience, extending the campaign's reach far beyond its physical locations. By the end of the campaign, customers were encouraged to compete and remain digitally engaged to finish their FIFA Collectible Cup sets.

By linking each activation—from the FIFA Meal launch, match screenings, community events, family experiences, and online engagement—McDonald's created a campaign that evolved with the tournament, giving customers new reasons to join in, celebrate, and share in the FIFA World Cup excitement.