Adidas Launches New Campaign for FIFA World Cup 2026: Global Film Unites World Icons Blending Football and Culture

URL: https://www.adidas.jp/yougotthis

Adidas Japan K.K. (Headquarters: Minato-ku, Tokyo; Representative Director: Kohei Hagio) will launch a global campaign for the FIFA World Cup 2026, to be held this summer, starting May 7, 2026 (Thursday). The campaign is themed around the "free spirit of play" in football.

Adidas has continuously rolled out campaigns under the message "YOU GOT THIS," depicting the infinite possibilities that unfold when athletes are freed from pressure and engage purely with sports.

This campaign, ahead of the FIFA World Cup 2026, the world's largest sporting event, shines a spotlight on the "free spirit of play," which can be considered the origin of football. It celebrates the inherent charm of football—that anyone can enjoy it freely, regardless of location or skill, as long as they have the desire to play—and the joy that springs from it, delivering this message to athletes of all levels.

To kick off this campaign, Adidas is releasing the global film "Backyard Legends." This film brings together icons from the global sports, music, and film industries, transcending genres and borders, including actor Timothy Chalamet, a new addition to the Adidas family, globally popular musician Bad Bunny, and Lionel Messi, who won the MVP award at the previous FIFA World Cup 2022. It depicts the "original landscape of everyday legends" who taught us the pure joy of sports.

Adidas will serve as the official match ball supplier and official kit supplier for 14 participating countries, including Japan, at the FIFA World Cup 2026. In Japan, various events and initiatives will be rolled out under this campaign to coincide with the opening in June, conveying the freedom and joy of football, and the importance of believing in oneself.

About the Global Film "Backyard Legends"

This film stars Academy Award-nominated actor Timothy Chalamet and brings together world-class players such as musician Bad Bunny and footballers Lionel Messi, Lamine Yamal, Jude Bellingham, and Trinity Rodman. They challenge Clive, Lucy, and Isaac, a formidable street crew embodying the free spirit of football. It is said that these three have boasted an undefeated record for decades, with even 90s star players like Zinedine Zidane, David Beckham, and Alessandro Del Piero unable to beat them. Furthermore, top players such as Ousmane Dembélé, Raphinha, Pedri, Florian Wirtz, and Santiago Giménez make special appearances, adding vivid color to the story spun by the invincible trio.

The film was produced by blending elements such as a nostalgic soundtrack, 90s street style, and iconic hairstyles of the era with cutting-edge CGI (Computer-Generated Imagery) and VFX (Visual Effects). At its core is a profoundly simple and universal truth about football: the game has always belonged to those who play freely, and legends are born on any pitch—whether in a parking lot, a corner of a lawn, or on the World Cup stage. It powerfully portrays that the essence of football is the attitude of playing freely.

Brand Campaign Overview

Period: Starts May 7, 2026 (Thursday)

Campaign Film: https://youtu.be/mJJY53qhJe0

Cast: Timothy Chalamet, Bad Bunny, Lionel Messi, Jude Bellingham, Lamine Yamal, Pedri, Ousmane Dembélé, Raphinha, Trinity Rodman, Florian Wirtz, Santiago Giménez

Special Website: https://www.adidas.jp/yougotthis

Cast Comments

Timothy Chalamet

"As a child, I dreamed of playing with these kinds of players. Kicking a ball at Pier 40, I'd imagine Beckham's free kicks, Del Piero's goals, and Zidane's volleys, and try to imitate them in my own way. I'm a huge football fan, and I still can't believe I got to be involved in this Adidas project with some of the greatest players of all time. I truly can't wait for the World Cup this summer."

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