Nike brings together heavy-hitters like sports giants Cristiano Ronaldo and LeBron James.
Image: X
Nike has kicked off its road to the FIFA World Cup 2026 with a star-packed campaign that brings together some of the biggest names in football, music, film and pop culture.
The sportswear giant has unveiled a six-minute short film called “Rip the Script”, and it feels less like a commercial and more like something you would stumble across while scrolling through movie trailers.
Packed with football legends, Hollywood celebrities, musicians and unexpected cameos, the film throws away the traditional sports-ad formula and leans fully into entertainment.
The premise is simple. A film director is trying to keep control of a chaotic production, but football's biggest names have other ideas.
What follows is six minutes of mayhem, humour and plenty of moments designed to get fans replaying scenes to see what they missed the first time around.
One of the biggest reasons the film is already generating buzz is the sheer number of famous faces squeezed into a single production.
Kim Kardashian appears alongside rapper Travis Scott, while Blackpink's Lisa, actor Channing Tatum and comedian Jason Sudeikis also make appearances.
Travis Scott features in the clip.
Image: Instagram
Sudeikis slips back into his beloved Ted Lasso character, a nod that football fans are likely to appreciate.
But make no mistake, football remains the star of the show.
Cristiano Ronaldo, Kylian Mbappé, Erling Haaland, Ronaldinho, Zlatan Ibrahimović and Vini Jr. all feature throughout the film, creating a line-up that reads more like a dream-team squad sheet than an advertising campaign.
Even basketball superstar LeBron James gets in on the action.
Part of the fun of “Rip the Script” is that it never takes itself too seriously.
One scene sees Channing Tatum dressed as an Erling Haaland lookalike, complete with the striker's trademark blonde hairstyle. It is ridiculous, unexpected and exactly the kind of clip social media users love to turn into memes.
Channing Tatum dressed as an Erling Haaland lookalike.
Image: Instagram
There are also several Easter eggs hidden throughout the film.
Fans have already spotted an appearance from Kim Kardashian's son, Saint West, who briefly pops up wearing a football jersey that has sparked plenty of conversation online.
Nike clearly knows the campaign will live far beyond its initial release. Every frame feels designed to be paused, shared and discussed.
Kim Kardashian and her son Saint West make an appearance.
Image: Instagram
The timing of the release is no coincidence.
The FIFA World Cup 2026, which will be hosted by the United States, Mexico and Canada, is expected to be the biggest edition of the tournament yet.
Football's popularity continues to grow across North America, and brands are already looking for ways to capture the attention of both dedicated supporters and casual fans.
That is where “Rip the Script” stands out.
Rather than focusing solely on football highlights, Nike has created something that sits comfortably between sport, music, film and internet culture.
Whether you are a football fanatic, a Travis Scott fan or simply curious to see what happens when Cristiano Ronaldo and Kim Kardashian appear in the same production, the film offers plenty to keep viewers entertained.
And if Nike's goal was to get people talking about the World Cup long before the opening whistle, it may already have scored.