VaynerMedia and Budweiser Take Fans to the Qatar World Cup

VaynerMedia and Budweiser Take Fans to the Qatar World Cup
Published: October 17, 2022

VaynerMedia, a creative agency based in New York, and Budweiser, an Anheuser-Busch InBev (AB InBev) product, partnered up to deliver an ad experience few others can match for the Qatar World Cup.

The partnership resulted in the “The World Is Yours to Take” campaign, a brilliant celebration of the love for soccer and beer.

Budweiser's Great Brand Initiative

The latest FIFA World Cup campaign marks one of Budweiser’s greatest brand strategies to date, having launched in 70 countries and featuring some of the most successful soccer players.

Enter Lionel Messi, Neymar Jr. and Raheem Sterling, as they take a determined walk through the player tunnel, leading fans from the world over onto the field.

As the disorderly procession of people from all walks of life, brought together by their love of soccer, follow in the footsteps of soccer’s greatest, they crack open bottles of Budweiser in celebration of the biggest soccer event.

Lil Baby’s “The World Is Yours to Take” plays in the background as the crowd progresses through the tunnel.

It is the official Budweiser Anthem for FIFA World Cup 2022, just as Budweiser is the official beer of the tournament.

Qatar as the Host Country

However, this was a cause for concern, as Qatar regulates alcoholic beverages quite heavily.

For that reason, AB InBev decided to focus on the brand’s non-alcoholic beer instead, both in the video’s tagline and in the stadium.

That’s right — Budweiser Zero will be the official drink at the Qatar World Cup stadium.

According to Todd Allen, global vice president of marketing at Budweiser, soccer fans shouldn’t lose sight of what matters, and that’s the cup.

“The FIFA World Cup is one of the biggest sporting events in the world and a really unique opportunity to bring all of the football fans around the world together once every four years.”

Despite the overwhelming interest in Qatar World Cup tickets and all the love of soccer fans can muster, the entire event has been marred with allegations of poor working conditions at Qatar World Cup stadium building site, corruption and the infringement of civil rights.

On a More Positive Note

Even in light of all these glaring issues, Allen reminds everyone that soccer can be a venue for positive change in the world.

“Every host market provides unique opportunities and challenges and regardless of the location, we kick off planning two years ahead of the tournament to provide the best possible experience for fans attending the tournament in person,” said Allen. “And working with the largest sporting event, the FIFA World Cup, really allows us to meaningfully connect and impact our customers. We believe that sport and football can really be a beacon of positive change in the world and we’re proud to celebrate the sport and the players and most importantly the fans.”

Qatar World Cup and Budweiser Campaign: Tickets on a Can

In true Budweiser spirit, the beer company is releasing a line of limited-edition cans with QR codes on them, giving soccer fans a chance to win Qatar World Cup tickets, signed memorabilia, access to Budweiser-hosted watch parties, and more. 

“The World Is Yours to Take” really hammers home Budweiser’s vision of soccer and the place of honor the World Cup has in fans’ lives. 

Subscribe to Spotlight Newsletter
Subscribe to our newsletter to get the latest industry news