ADIDAS HAS LAUNCHED Backyard Legends, a new film for the FIFA World Cup 2026, led by Academy Award-nominated actor Timothée Chalamet alongside Lionel Messi, Bad Bunny, Lamine Yamal, Jude Bellingham, and Trinity Rodman.
The film follows Chalamet as he assembles a team to take on a local crew whose unbeaten streak has lasted generations — even seeing off 90s icons Zinedine Zidane, David Beckham, and Alessandro Del Piero.
Timothée Chalamet said, “I used to dream of playing with these guys – you know, I was playing at Pier 40 as a kid, thinking about Beckham’s free kicks, Del Piero’s goals, and Zidane’s volleys – doing my own versions. I love this game, so it’s unbelievable to be doing this with adidas, captured with the best to ever do it. I’m a traditionalist, I don’t know soccer, I know football, and I can’t wait for this summer’s World Cup.”
Backed by a nostalgic soundtrack and 90s aesthetics — street fashion, analogue technology, and iconic hairstyles — the film combines CGI and visual effects to convey a straightforward message: from cage pitches and parking lots to the World Cup stage, the game belongs to those who play without fear.
Adidas serves as the Official Match Ball provider and kit supplier to 14 federations at FIFA World Cup 2026. The Backyard Legends film is available on the adidas YouTube channel.
