Ranking Lay's World Cup chip flavours, from worst to best
A food writer tastes through four FIFA-inspired chip varieties from Team Argentina, Canada, France, and England, with suggested drink pairings.
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Lay's released a suite of World Cup-inspired chips celebrating host nations and iconic players. Here's the definitive ranking.
4. Steak and Chimichurri (Team Argentina). The reigning champs' offering swings too hard on the meat side, landing with a slightly artificial aftertaste. Did Messi approve this? Unlikely. Pair with a full-bodied Argentine wine.
3. Bacon Poutine (Team Canada). Bacon and poutine are both Canadian classics, but bacon does not belong near poutine — gravy is already smoky and meaty, and adding pork notes feels like overkill. The bag contained zero cheese curds, which stings. Pair with Canadian beer.
2. Cheese Soufflé (Team France). Perfectly fine. Potatoes and cheese work. But it's neither exceptional nor inclined to offend — deeply un-French. Pair with champagne.
1. Cheese and Onion (Team England). Sharp cheddar with punchy onion notes — the UK version of sour cream and onion executed properly. It's an already-established flavour done well, the kind of chip that makes sense on both sides of the Atlantic. Pair with hard cider.
The ranking speaks to execution more than national pride. Sometimes the simplest idea — good cheese, sharp onion, potato — wins. The flashier plays (meat-heavy Argentina, bacon-poutine fusion) overreach. If you're grabbing a bag, go English.