Adidas’ blockbuster World Cup ad is truly big screen-worthy
Adidas’ Timothée Chalamet-fronted World Cup 2026 campaign has won praise from agencies including Mischief, who say it feels more like a mini cultural event than a brand film.
Clearly packing an eye-watering budget, Adidas’ five-minute epic sees the ‘Marty Supreme’ star (acting not unlike the titular character) narrate the rise of a legendary local football team.
The plot includes Bad Bunny and Messi watching from the sidelines as Lamine Yamal, Jude Bellingham, Trinity Rodman, Santiago Giménez, Florian Wirtz and Ousmane Dembélé enter the story like the new generation claiming the pitch. (We told you it was big budget).
The action folds football mythology into a tale of inheritance and challenge: the current stars confront the legend of a team that once upset 90s’ icons Beckham, Zidane and Del Piero, with the defeat documented through flashbacks.
It is truly epic.
It’s already, unsurprisingly, won industry praise.
“We’ve reached a point in football culture where pre-tournament ads from Adidas and Nike (yes, we know they’re not a sponsor) are almost as highly anticipated as kick-off itself,” says Vishal Rana, director at Mischief.
“And Adidas didn’t disappoint. This is a love letter to football’s ability to tell stories; full of drama, inspiration and cliff-hangers. It’s packed with knowing nods to the game’s lore: Zinedine Zidane’s volley, David Beckham’s ever-changing hair (thanks, AI), the El Clásico, Oscar-worthy performances from Jude and Lamine by the way. Even Adidas’ long-standing relationship with the tournament gets its moment via the iconic Adidas Fevernova ball from 2002.
“It’s a poetic blend of sport and pop culture. Bringing in Timothée Chalamet as narrator doesn’t feel like celebrity badging; it's intentional, a nod to his connection to the game. And the story he tells goes beyond just an ad narrative; “winner stays on” is played out in schools, parks and backyards around the world, making it instantly relatable to anyone who’s ever kicked a ball.
“And that’s before we even get to the superstar roster. Cameos from global icons including Lionel Messi and Bad Bunny underline Adidas’ cultural reach as much as its footballing credentials. Adidas have set the standard. We’re suitably hyped for the World Cup, over to you Nike.”
Niall McKee, marketing director, Bath Rugby, added: “When you sit down and watch an 'advert' with your lunch break, you know it's something special. Narrative-based storytelling, incredible production values and yes - a smidge of talent helps... And I don't even follow football.”
Joe Muddiman, head of video at Imagesound Studios, added: “There's just something honest and endearing about seeing stars in the kind of 'street' environments viewers are more used to competing in. Although older viewers might think it borrows too much from Nike's 2002 'The Cage'... this is a fantastic mini movie that blows through its runtime with all the mini memes (Bellingham and Yamal's 'look') and cameos."
Our take
The term ‘cinematic’ barely does this one justice as the ad truly befits a viewing on the big screen.
Chalamet carries the performance off, successfully bridging the worlds of fashion, sport, film and apocryphal tales. The car-based storytelling narrative, meanwhile, acts as a handy device to include players old and new - oh, and Bad Bunny.
There’s been a fair few long-winded ads of late, but this one earns its run time. The mini-drama structure and impressive camerawork establish atmosphere and rhythm, while the cut scenes quickly build character.
The inclusion of household names from inside and outside the Beautiful Game, meanwhile, helps the ad feel at home on sports sites, in a fashion feeds, or, well, in the cinema.
Credits
Production company: SMUGGLER
Director: Mark Molloy
Executive producers: Patrick Milling-Smith, Brian Carmody, Jaclyn Larson
Managing director / Executive Producer: Sue Yeon Ahn
Director of photography: Harry Wheeler
Producer: Ben Croker
Production design: Andy Kelly, Francois Audouy
Agency: LOLA USA, Omnicom Production
Post Production/VFX: UNTOLD
Music & Sound Design: 750mph
Colour: Company 3
Edit House: Work Editorial
Featured talent: Timothée Chalamet, Bad Bunny, Lionel Messi, Lamine Yamal, Jude Bellingham, Trinity Rodman, Santiago Giménez, Florian Wirtz and Ousmane Dembélé.
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