The World Cup is coming in June and most of the world, and even an increasing number of Americans, will be stopping everything to watch it. Nike has released a new 4 minute mini film about kids playing a pick up game imagining they are international superstars Cristiano Ronaldo and Wayne Rooney and more, including Neymar, Zlatan Ibrahimović (the guy with the ponytail), Gerard Piqué, Gonzalo Higuaín, Mario Götze, Eden Hazard, Thiago Silva, Andrea Pirlo, David Luiz, Andrés Iniesta and Thibaut Courtois. I also spotted Michael Jordan, Kobe Bryant, Jon Jones and Anderson Silva among other sports/Nike luminaries.

Even The Hulk appear at one point, subbing for goalie Tim Howard, who is is the goalie on the US team! Yes, an American footie player made this film and I think we should all be proud of that. (Some say the Hulk is there because one of the players is nicknamed The Hulk, but I think it’s because of Howard’s green kit.) The Hulk still doesn’t have is own movie franchise but he will appear in next year’s Avengers 2.

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The spot—which is pretty amazing all around—was produced by Wieden + Kennedy Portland for Nike.

The World Cup kicks off on June 12 in Brazil. The US team has drawn the group of death—Ghana (who knocked them out of the last two World Cups), Portigal, who boast one of the worlds greatest superstars in Ronaldo, and Germany, who are perennial finalists. BUt easing the sting of what might be a painful World Cup for ths US, at least the games take place in EST so you can watch the games at night and not get up at 8 am last the last few times.

On a personal note: I liked the morning hour World Cups! It was an excuse to get together for brunch with friends sand then go about your day. I’ve never been through a EDT World Cup though so we’ll see.

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