No sporting event unites the planet like the football World Cup. In the week before the tournament, everyone ceases to think about anything else. And nothing seems to get the avid football fan more in the mood for the extravaganza than 90-second bursts of corporate shillery. Yes, believe it or not, the football commercial has become something of an art form. And in every tournament, there is one ad that stands out more than all the others.
Here are our favourites from this year and the World Cups gone by.
2014: McDonalds’, Munchkins
Mickey D's proves that not every World Cup advert needs to be loaded with the biggest stars in the world. All it needs is some serious skills and a great backing track. Bonus: one blog says that the track used is Oh My Jingo, by renaissance man Hugh Laurie.
2010: Nike, Write the Future
Now this is what you'd expect from a football ad: blood, sweat, thunder, the biggest stars in the world, screaming fans, tremendous tackles, Homer has a Ronald'oh! moment...and, of course, a hopelessly deluded England and Wayne Rooney imagining they actually have a shot at winning.
2006: Pepsifest
It seemed like 2006 was the summer of fun in Germany. A British journalist termed it the year they re-applied for admission to the human race. And Team Pepsi – Beckham, Ronaldinho, Roberto Carlos and even Frank Lampard – take on a strange lederhosen-wearing orchestra of sorts, who, standing all the while in perfect formation, proceed to score without letting the ball touch the ground, even as Roberto Carlos chats up the blondest girl in the place.
2002: The Cage
Terry Gilliam directing, Eric Cantona as ringmaster and Elvis Presley demanding a little less conversation. What could go wrong? Twenty four of the best players in the world getting together for a Mortal Kombat-esque tournament. The only off-note was putting Nakata alongside Henry and Totti. I hope you're happy, Japanese sneaker buyers. I hope you're happy.
1998: Missing a Flight
This was the first of the great football ads that the post-Doordarshan generation got to see, and to be honest, we're not sure we've recovered. Simple, hilarious, and ay dios mio that was a brilliant Brazil team. We'll let their feet do the talking.
Watch these videos as a single playlist on our YouTube channel.
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Here are our favourites from this year and the World Cups gone by.
2014: McDonalds’, Munchkins
Mickey D's proves that not every World Cup advert needs to be loaded with the biggest stars in the world. All it needs is some serious skills and a great backing track. Bonus: one blog says that the track used is Oh My Jingo, by renaissance man Hugh Laurie.
2010: Nike, Write the Future
Now this is what you'd expect from a football ad: blood, sweat, thunder, the biggest stars in the world, screaming fans, tremendous tackles, Homer has a Ronald'oh! moment...and, of course, a hopelessly deluded England and Wayne Rooney imagining they actually have a shot at winning.
2006: Pepsifest
It seemed like 2006 was the summer of fun in Germany. A British journalist termed it the year they re-applied for admission to the human race. And Team Pepsi – Beckham, Ronaldinho, Roberto Carlos and even Frank Lampard – take on a strange lederhosen-wearing orchestra of sorts, who, standing all the while in perfect formation, proceed to score without letting the ball touch the ground, even as Roberto Carlos chats up the blondest girl in the place.
2002: The Cage
Terry Gilliam directing, Eric Cantona as ringmaster and Elvis Presley demanding a little less conversation. What could go wrong? Twenty four of the best players in the world getting together for a Mortal Kombat-esque tournament. The only off-note was putting Nakata alongside Henry and Totti. I hope you're happy, Japanese sneaker buyers. I hope you're happy.
1998: Missing a Flight
This was the first of the great football ads that the post-Doordarshan generation got to see, and to be honest, we're not sure we've recovered. Simple, hilarious, and ay dios mio that was a brilliant Brazil team. We'll let their feet do the talking.
Watch these videos as a single playlist on our YouTube channel.