A ranking of Lay’s new FIFA-inspired potato chips
Spoiler alert: Team Canada earns the bronze medal
The World Cup is upon us, which means it’s time for football, fandom and limited-edition branded snacks like a new chip collection courtesy of Lay’s, an official event sponsor.
Related: A ranking of Tim Hortons’ new FIFA-inspired Timbits
The snack company released its suite of World Cup–inspired chips in celebration of the most iconic players and nations. Here, our definitive ranking—complete with suggested drink pairings.
Related: These Toronto bars and restaurants are offering specials during the World Cup
Steak and Chimichurri (Team Argentina)
4 They may be the reigning champs, but on the chip front, Argentina’s offering was too meaty, with a slightly artificial aftertaste. Messi may be pictured on the bag, but did La Pulga actually give this snack his seal of approval? Unlikely.
Pair them with: A full-bodied Argentinian (wine, that is)
Bacon Poutine (Team Canada)
3 While they’re both iconic Canadian delights, bacon does not belong anywhere near poutine, and that is a hill worth dying on. Gravy is already smoky and meaty, so the additional pork notes just feel like overkill. And did anyone else feel the sting of disappointment realizing this bag contained zero cheese curds?
Pair them with: Canadian beer
Cheese Soufflé (Team France)
2 This pairing is perfectly good. (Can you really go wrong with the combination of potatoes and cheese?) But it’s neither exceptional nor inclined to offend—so deeply un-French.
Pair them with: Champagne
Cheese and Onion (Team England)
1 As anyone who has spent time on the other side of the pond is well aware, cheese and onion is an excellent (and already very well-established) chip flavour. It’s sort of like the UK version of sour cream and onion, only sharper and with punchier onion notes. Do members of the Beckham family consume a lot of crisps these days? Probably not. But it’s hard to imagine Becks doing a lot of DIY home reno projects either, and that hasn’t stopped him from doing a FIFA promo with Home Depot.
Pair them with: Some hard cider (and a breath mint)
Courtney Shea is a freelance journalist in Toronto. She started her career as an intern at Toronto Life and continues to contribute frequently to the publication, including her 2022 National Magazine Award–winning feature, “The Death Cheaters,” her regular Q&As and her recent investigation into whether Taylor Swift hung out at a Toronto dive bar (she did not). Courtney was a producer and writer on the 2022 documentary The Talented Mr. Rosenberg, based on her 2014 Toronto Life magazine feature “The Yorkville Swindler.”
