Hyundai gives young fans a ride to football history

1
The final bus designs combine children’s artwork with FIFA World Cup 2026 branding elements

Hyundai Motor Company has revealed the Official National Team Bus designs for the FIFA World Cup 2026™, featuring artwork created by children through its global Be There With Hyundai initiative. Developed in collaboration with FIFA, the project turns the tournament’s team transport vehicles into a platform for youth creativity and fan engagement across the host countries.

The initiative invited children aged five to 12 to submit artwork celebrating football and national pride, with 48 winning designs selected to represent each qualified national team participating in the tournament.

Children’s artwork featured on team buses

Launched in December 2025, the Be There With Hyundai contest asked young fans to illustrate “The Greatest Cheer” by capturing moments of support for their favourite national teams and expressing what the FIFA World Cup™ means to them.

The final bus designs combine children’s artwork with FIFA World Cup 2026™ branding elements, including the tournament’s visual identity, colour palette and Unity pattern inspired by the host nations: the United States, Canada and Mexico.

Hyundai said the buses are intended to reflect the global nature of the tournament while celebrating creativity, connection and football culture across participating countries.

Sungwon Jee, Executive Vice President and Global Chief Marketing Officer, Hyundai Motor Company: "Through 'Be There With Hyundai,' we've created a platform where children's voices and creative dreams reach the world's biggest stage. As part of our World Cup campaign 'Next Starts Now', this initiative is designed to turn the next generation's dreams into reality by giving them a meaningful place in the tournament itself. This journey from inspiration to reality reinforces Hyundai Motor's belief that the next generation is essential to building a better, more connected future for all."

Winners receive FIFA World Cup experience

Each winning participant will receive tickets to a FIFA World Cup 2026™ Group Stage match alongside one accompanying guardian. The prize package also includes round-trip airfare and accommodation.

Nick Brown, Director of Commercial Partnerships, FIFA: "Seeing their artwork displayed on the National Team Buses is more than a creative achievement - it's a moment of belief and inspiration for these children and their families, and a reflection of what football can represent for people around the world. This initiative celebrates the power of football to connect generations and cultures, while reminding the next generation of athletes and fans that their voices, ideas and creativity have a place on the world stage."

Campaign expands fan engagement during tournament

During the tournament, fans will be encouraged to photograph the buses across host cities and stadiums and share images on social media using the hashtag #BeThereWithHyundai for the opportunity to win Hyundai prizes.

The campaign is also supported by a promotional video featuring footballer Son Heung-min, Hyundai’s global ambassador, aimed at increasing awareness of the initiative ahead of the tournament.

Long-running FIFA partnership

Be There With Hyundai has served as Hyundai Motor’s flagship FIFA fan engagement programme since the 2006 FIFA World Cup Germany. The initiative has evolved over multiple tournaments, moving from slogan contests between 2006 and 2018 to sustainability-focused activities during the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022™.

The 2026 edition marks the first time the programme has centred on a global children’s drawing competition, aligning with Hyundai’s broader Next Starts Now campaign focused on youth participation and future-focused storytelling.

www.hyundai.com

Follow Marketing Report on LinkedIn

Subscribe to the Marketing Report Newsletter

Send us your press releases, columns, interviews…

Join Marketing Report in our LinkedIn Groups

Click here to read article

Related Articles