"Let's Make It Iconic"

8 June 2026

50s

Collectible carnival.

When it costs up to £1.000 to complete a Panini sticker album, it's cheaper to watch BBC Sport's colourful World Cup spot instead. Not only do wall stickers, enamel pins, bootleg scarves, bobbleheads, et cetera scratch that memorabilia itch, they're animated by director Nicos Livesey and the team at Blinkink. All viewers need to do is keep up, not stump up.

Even if there's much about the 2026 World Cup that makes us want to turn away, the tournament is still an escape for so many people. That explains why the Beeb uses 'Somewhere Else' by Tomora (Tom Rowlands of the Chemical Brothers and Norwegian singer-songwriter Aurora) to help this mixed media effort feel like a passport to glory.

Some players brought to life by Livesey and company have gone all the way, like Pelé, Andrés Iniesta, and Lionel Messi. The Harry Kanes, Erling Haalands, and Scott McTominays of this world wish to join them, so the broadcaster promises to make these moments as tactile as possible.

UK

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