McDonald’s has rolled out a campaign ahead of FIFA World Cup 2026.

The campaign featuring footballers David Beckham, Thierry Henry, Lamine Yamal, Christian Pulisic, Grimace, Alphonso Davies, Santiago Gimenez, Son Heung-Min, Ronaldinho; promotes FIFA World Cup Meal and a limited-edition collectible cups. The ad opens with a footage of these football stars in action during real matches. As the energy of the game builds, the ad transitions from them playing on the pitch to walking to a McDonald's outlet. Upon arriving at the restaurant, the players step up to the counter and order a McDonald's meals. As they collect their meals, they are also handed one of the brand's newly launched collectible cups, introduced specially for the FIFA season as part of the brand's football-themed promotion.

The film highlights these limited-edition collectible cups, featuring football-inspired designs and celebrating some of the sport's biggest stars. The ad concludes with each footballer proudly holding up a collectible cup featuring their own image.

What we think about it: Effectively leverages the star power of globally recognised footballers to create an immediate connection with the fans. Rather than focusing solely on the product, the ad taps into fans' emotional connection with their favourite players, making the collectible cups feel like exclusive memorabilia rather than promotional merchandise. While the creative execution is relatively straightforward, its broad appeal and clear promotional message make it an effective FIFA-season activation that is likely to resonate with both football enthusiasts and McDonald's customers.