McDonald’s opened its first international restaurant outside the United States in 1967.
The location was in Richmond, British Columbia, Canada. This expansion marked the beginning of McDonald’s development from a rapidly growing American chain into a worldwide brand.
Canada was a natural early destination because of its geographic proximity and strong commercial ties with the United States. McDonald’s later expanded into many other countries, adapting parts of its menus and marketing while retaining recognizable branding such as the Golden Arches.
The year is sometimes confused with 1971, when McDonald’s opened in Japan and several other international markets became important to the company’s growth. It is also distinct from the opening of the first franchised McDonald’s restaurant in Des Plaines, Illinois, in 1955. International expansion began more than a decade after that American franchise milestone.