The Nike advert for the World Cup is a blockbuster production starring the brand’s biggest football stars.
Nike was one of the last major brands to unveil its World Cup campaign, and it certainly did not disappoint. Nike has gone all out, bringing together, quite literally, all of its biggest stars for its World Cup campaign.
This major production delivers a memorable advert featuring some of the most influential footballers from both past and present generations. It is a celebration of football at its most creative, unpredictable, and spectacular.
Nike – Rip the Script
The Nike advert, titled “Rip the Script”, was developed by Wieden+Kennedy and serves as the brand’s flagship global campaign for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
The film takes place inside a giant Hollywood studio where some of the most iconic footballers from the past and present decide to break free from the script. From that moment on, the advert becomes a celebration of football in its most creative, unpredictable, and spectacular form.
The campaign brings together stars such as Cristiano Ronaldo, Kylian Mbappé, Erling Haaland, and Vinicius Jr., alongside football legends including Ronaldinho, Eric Cantona, Zlatan Ibrahimović, Didier Drogba, and Jorge Campos. Spain is represented by Alexia Putellas and Nico Williams, two of the most influential figures in modern football.
But Nike goes beyond football. The advert also features appearances from personalities such as LeBron James, Travis Scott, Kim Kardashian, Ted Lasso, Channing Tatum, Young Miko, and LISA, reinforcing the idea that football is now part of a much broader cultural ecosystem that connects sport, music, fashion, and entertainment.
The Nike advert serves as the gateway to a larger storytelling universe that the brand plans to expand throughout the World Cup with content, side stories, products, and activations designed to spark conversations among fans and creators.
According to Helena Thornton, Nike’s Vice President of Brand Management: “We know that football’s magical moments happen when players trust their instincts. That is the football we love: fresh, instinctive, unexpected, and creative. We didn’t want to follow the traditional marketing playbook. We wanted to give people something to talk about, something they would want to share, wear, or experience in person. A story they wouldn’t just watch, but one they could truly make their own.”
Enrico Balleri, Vice President and Creative Director of Global Brand Voice at Nike, added: “It was essential for us to work with people who genuinely reflect a real connection to the sport and to explore the more playful side of their characters within the campaign.”
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