Budweiser Forms 'BUDWEISER FC' to Promote World Cup from a Cultural Perspective

Anheuser-Busch InBev Japan, the official beer sponsor of the FIFA World Cup 2026™, is launching various initiatives to promote the event together with soccer fans during the World Cup period. As part of these efforts, they have formed a special team called BUDWEISER FC, consisting of four specialists who love football and excel in their respective fields.

From left: Junna, Eishi, hoh, Kazane, Michael

BUDWEISER FC is a team of members who engage in various fields such as fashion, art, culture, and community, with football as their axis. During the tournament period, each member will express the culture surrounding football and the excitement of the World Cup through their unique perspectives and expressions.

■ BUDWEISER FC Members

・Ausgang (Junna・Eishi)

Expressing the history and culture of the World Cup through vintage football shirts

A pop-up shop will be held on June 27th and 28th at OPENBASE SHIBUYA (next to Tokyu Hands). The shop will feature representative team uniforms from countries that have participated in the World Cup over the past 40 years.

Purchasers will also receive Budweiser or Budweiser Zero, as well as an original World Cup uniform, on a first-come, first-served basis.

＜Profile＞
Ausgang is a vintage football shirt shop located in Tokyo's Geidai University. The owner personally purchases items from overseas and carefully selects uniforms from around the world. The shop aims to create a space where everyone, from beginners to core fans, can enjoy the fun of wearing football shirts and the culture and stories behind them.

Instagram: ＠ausgang51

・hoh

Expressing memorable moments of the World Cup through embroidery art

Embroidery artist hoh, who loves soccer dearly, will express moments that moved her heart during the World Cup in the form of embroidery works. The creation process and completed works will be announced through her personal SNS. Additionally, a work featuring Ueda will also be created, and it is planned to be presented to the player himself after the tournament ends.

＜Profile＞
Embroidery artist/Photographer/DJ

Started embroidery to avoid drowsiness until early morning matches in Barcelona. Since then, has been creating embroidery of football players both domestically and internationally, and held his first solo exhibition in 2022. In recent years, has exhibited embroidery at the Football Film Festival and the "Minatori Festival" where Marinos supporters gather. Also, as a photographer, has been shooting dancers, models, and WE League players outside the pitch since 2018, and has been serving as a DJ for supporter events and K-POP-focused events since 2024.

Instagram: @miho_h.90

・Kazane

Creating participatory excitement through freestyle football

A trick challenge project is planned to start around the end of June. Challenge tasks will be announced on SNS for fans and viewers, and Kazane will select three winners (or three groups) from the submissions.

The winners will receive a Budweiser original uniform signed by Kazane.

＜Profile＞
A freestyle footballer from Shiga Prefecture who has won international and Japanese competitions. His self-shot and edited videos posted on SNS have a total of over 100 million views. He leads the largest domestic team "AirTechnician" and also participates in "MonsterBalaz". In addition to producing music videos and commercials as a video director, he also serves as a creative director for fashion brand projects.

Instagram: @kazaneat

・COGNOMEN (Michael)

Promoting the World Cup enjoyed with friends through football communities

The second installment of "Budweiser Cup with Cognomen," which held its first event on May 26th, is scheduled to take place in Kagurazaka on June 20th.

The play on the day of the event and the enjoyment of the World Cup with Budweiser by community members will be announced on SNS.

■ Budweiser Cup with Cognomen

Date: 6/20 (Sat)

Time: 20:00~22:00

Venue: Ginza de Futsal Kagurazaka Stadium

MAP: https://maps.app.goo.gl/fCZ61V9rFk2DMJ3AA

WEB: https://ginza-de-futsal.com/kagurazaka/

＜Profile＞

COGNOMEN, a fashion brand started by Michael Ren Oe in 2020.

The origin of the brand name "COGNOMEN" is a Latin word meaning "nickname," which is born within a close relationship. In ancient Rome, it was a word that referred to a "nickname," which eventually evolved into a "family name" passed down through generations.

Following the linguistic background, the brand aims to create products with originality that bring nicknames, continuing to exist as a close presence, and to create items that are cherished with a sure family-like affection that will not be let go of.

2020 March Debuted in an exhibition format

2023 February Held a runway show

2023 July Held the second runway show

2024 May Released the brand's first photo collection "OUTRO LADO" shot in Brazil

2024 October Announced collaboration with sports brand "UMBRO"

2024 December Awarded HYPEBEAST NEXT 100

2025 January Photo collection "OUTROLADO" won the silver award at the 66th National Catalog Exhibition

2025 June Announced collaboration with rising ceramic artist Lev Rosenbush

Instagram: ＠cognomen_official

■ Launching Limited Design Packaging to Commemorate the World Cup

As the official beer sponsor of the FIFA World Cup 2026™, we are also offering limited design packaging to color the excitement of the tournament that attracts fans from all over the world. As items that color the venue for watching the tournament, we will deliver a special viewing experience not only to soccer fans but also to everyone who enjoys the World Cup with friends.

Budweiser Official Special Page: https://www.budweiser.jp/fwc26/

■ About Budweiser

Budweiser, which is loved in about 85 countries around the world and is sweeping the world, is a premium lager beer that provides moments and experiences that create freedom and fun with a refined, comfortable throat feel and a smooth taste with sweetness, under the brand tagline "It's not just bitter, beer."