North West footballing greats David Beckham and Mo Salah are among the football legends Pepsi MAX has brought together in a brand-new film to celebrate the traditions, rituals and shared passion of fans ahead of a hectic summer of sport.
Following the launch of the Pepsi Football Nation platform, a multi-year global platform designed to bring football culture into everyday life for fans across the globe, the campaign film is inspired by the conversations that keep the spirit of the game alive.
The film opens with Sir David Beckham handing the playbook to the fans, inviting them to dictate the “rules” of the Pepsi Football Nation. Viewers are taken on a high-octane journey through a world where fan debate reigns: from local hangouts to unexpected matchups, Florian Wirtz speed parking with accuracy, to the disbelief of a referee who checks it on VAR, Lauren James teaching a university lecture on breaking the offside trap, and blockbuster movies starring Vini Jr., Alexia Putellas, and Salah.
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Fans throughout unveil the “rules” that are central to the Pepsi Football Nation, brought to life by the Pepsi global roster: Rule #7: Superstitions are Sacred, Rule #33: Who is the “King of Skill”? Rule #84: You Must Wear Your Winning Jersey to Work. Rule #100: Everything Gets Settled on the Pitch.
To celebrate the film, Pepsi MAX is helping fans tackle Rule #1 of the Pepsi Football Nation: “It’s called Football, Not Soccer”. Fans will soon be able to download a helpful free web extension that automatically replaces every mention of the word “soccer” with “football.” Whether reading global news or scrolling through searches, fans can ensure the “beautiful game” is always described correctly – particularly crucial at a time when the World Cup is about to take place in the linguistically challenged USA.
Fan debate also lives in chats, fan pages and blogs, while Pepsi MAX is also bringing the debate to Reddit, the “world’s fastest-growing hub for football discourse.” This activation will allow fans to define their own rules and rituals, empowering the community to dictate how the game is celebrated worldwide.
Eugene Willemsen, chief executive officer, International Beverages at PepsiCo, said: “Football has always gone beyond what happens on the pitch during the 90 minutes. It lives in conversations, rivalries, and traditions that bring fans together every day, across communities, markets, and generations.
“Pepsi Football Nation celebrates that culture and the many ways fans experience the game beyond the match itself. For decades, Pepsi MAX has been at the heart of the game; now, we’re honoring the shared experiences and ‘rules’ that unite fans worldwide.”
The Pepsi Football Nation celebrates the culture of football on and off the pitch. Fans worldwide can watch the full film on Pepsi MAX’s social channels, including: X(Twitter), Instagram, Facebook, TikTok, and YouTube.
Salah said: “Fans are what makes the beautiful game great, so having a world where they write the rules just feels right. Love being part of the Pepsi Football Nation and celebrate football’s rituals.”
