As the 2022 Qatar World Cup gets underway, football fans around the world are introduced to a "super-skilled player" named La'eeb. He's the official mascot and the inspiration behind the tournament's souvenirs. As our reporter Huang Fei finds out, La'eeb has some roots in southern China.

Mascot La'eeb may be an idea born in the Middle East, but the family of souvenirs grew up here in the Chinese industrial town of Dongguan.

The last batch of these plush hats will arrive in Qatar in a few hours.

Business owner Chen Leigang said his team beat dozens of suppliers worldwide to win the coveted contract.

CHEN LEIGANG Founder and CEO Guangdong Cheche Cultural Development Company "Dongguan has a big advantage as an industrial hub with a complete supply chain. From raw materials to skilled workers and packaging, we were able to deliver a significant amount in just 25 days. We used recyclable materials, in line with the World Cup's low-carbon goals. We also used 3D printing and automated embroidery machines to raise productivity."

Still, the unique design means the majority of the work has to be done by hand.

The company made eight prototypes based on FIFA's original sketch. Project manager Zhou Senya said it took many sleepless nights to get the approval.

ZHOU SENYA Project Manager Guangdong Cheche Cultural Development Company "This was the design we received, it looked like a kite. We thought it had legs, so we came up with this plush toy, which was kind of ugly. Then we realized they wanted something that flows, so we made some changes. Seeing the product at the opening ceremony was incredible, our work has been recognized on a global stage."

Now more than ever, companies need orders like these to stay afloat.

HUANG FEI Dongguan, Guangdong Province "China is the world's largest exporter of toys. 70 percent of them are produced here in Guangdong. But times have been tough for local factories. Raw materials, labor and international freight costs have increased in the last two years, while demand from customers in Europe and America has declined."

CHEN LEIGANG Founder and CEO Guangdong Cheche Cultural Development Company "Due to the pandemic, our clients can't come here, and we can't go meet them. Communication has been difficult. In the meantime, costs of manpower and raw materials have gone up in recent years. With orders falling across the board, the FIFA deal was a huge opportunity for us, it's a lot of money."

Chen is working with several local suppliers and is setting sights on future sporting events, including the AFC Asian Cup and the Asian Games next year.

With La'eeb vaulted into global fame, team Dongguan has already been successful with earning a sizable paycheck and a place in World Cup history. Huang Fei, CGTN, Dongguan in Guangdong Province.