Cole Palmer, Estêvão, and Didier Drogba star in Nike’s latest World Cup ad-extravaganza

Neither Cole Palmer nor the injured Estêvão will get to actually play in the World Cup, and Didier Drogba’s long retired, but they are still some of the biggest names associated with Nike, so they all get cameos at least in the latest ad-extravaganza from the company ahead of the World Cup, which starts … next week already!

Nike were late entrants, relatively, to the world’s game, but their quadrennial World Cup ads have become legendary, starting with 1998’s Mas Que Nada-soundtracked Brazil-at-the-airport scene, or, still my personal favorite, 2002’s “Secret Tournament”. (The Athletic have a very nice oral history of that amazing three-minute video, which you should read if you have access.) 2014 was another memorable year, with David Luiz and Eden Hazard among the cavalcade of big names all on the same pitch (or at least appearing to be on the same pitch), but these things are always bigger than just an ad campaign. 2010’s stands out as perhaps the most self-aware one, along such lines.

Anyway, 2026’s effort doesn’t really break any new ground — except maybe in length, clocking in at a whopping six minutes — but it does have a few funny moments, including Channing Tatum cosplaying as Erling Haaland. Estêvão’s only in it for a couple touches while Palmer shows up alongside his buddy Central Cee in what is a rather ironic sequence given that he wasn’t even selected to go. Drogba checks in as a pundit, though I’m not aware of him being one this time around for any outlet. (César Azpilicueta and Olivier Giroud will be part of the BBC’s coverage though.)

Enjoy: