Timothée Chalamet and David Beckham front adidas world cup campaign with football legends

Timothée Chalamet and David Beckham lead adidas’ new World Cup campaign alongside football icons

Adidas has launched its latest FIFA World Cup campaign with a cinematic five-minute short titled Backyard Legends, fronted by actor timothée chalamet and featuring a star-studded lineup spanning football, music, and entertainment.

With the FIFA Men’s World Cup set to begin in just over a month across the united states, canada and Mexico, the campaign positions itself as a nostalgic celebration of football’s grassroots culture rather than just elite competition.

Chalamet takes centre stage in the film as he organises a neighbourhood street match against a local crew who, according to the storyline, have not lost in 30 years. “It’s not a winning streak – it’s a legend,” he says in the short.

The cast brings together some of the biggest names in sport, including Lionel Messi, David Beckham, and Zinedine Zidane, alongside current stars such as Jude Bellingham, Lamine Yamal, and Trinity Rodman. Rapper Bad Bunny also appears in the campaign.

Developed by Lola USA and produced by Smuggler, the film is directed by Mark Molloy and leans heavily into the idea of football as a shared cultural experience shaped in backyards, streets, and informal games long before the professional stage.

Adidas says the campaign is designed to reflect “the universal spirit of football” and will be supported by further activations across host cities in North America in the coming weeks as the tournament approaches.

As a long-standing FIFA partner and official World Cup sponsor, adidas is using the campaign to highlight both its sporting legacy and its cultural reach.

The film also stands out for its use of visual effects, including digitally de-aged versions of Beckham, zidane and Alessandro Del Piero, reinforcing its nostalgic tone while reimagining iconic moments from football’s past.