Nike launches star-studded film campaign for 2026 World Cup

Nike has launched a major marketing campaign for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, centering on a star-studded short film designed to frame the tournament as a global cultural event. The six-minute film, titled "Rip the Script," debuted this week as the centerpiece of an expansive promotional push ahead of the tournament's kickoff in North America later this month.

The campaign film features an unprecedented assembly of athletes and celebrities. Current soccer stars Cristiano Ronaldo, Kylian Mbappé, Erling Haaland, and Vinícius Júnior appear alongside basketball icon LeBron James and musicians like Travis Scott. The cast also includes celebrities such as Kim Kardashian, Channing Tatum, and Jason Sudeikis reprising his "Ted Lasso" role, as well as retired soccer legends including Ronaldinho, Zlatan Ibrahimović, Didier Drogba, and Eric Cantona.

Set on a Hollywood studio backlot, the narrative follows the athletes rebelling against a frustrated film director's script to play the game their own way. According to Nike executives, the goal was to move beyond traditional sports advertising. Helena Thornton, Nike's Vice President of Brand Management, described the project as a "blockbuster"...