Will Ferrell invites fans to join Lay's bandwagon in World Cup campaign — VOTE NOW

Rick Suter, USA TODAYThu, June 25, 2026 at 7:44 PM UTC

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Lay's brought the bandwagon from the potato farm to the pitch of the World Cup this summer, with a familiar face behind the wheel.

The brand's second campaign for the global event, aptly titled "Bandwagon," features Will Ferrell and a creative spin on the pop culture terminology, making it in vogue to flex timely fandom.

Ad Meter Brand Spotlight: Lay's drops epic watch party for 2026 World Cup campaign — VOTE NOW

In the extended cut, the comedic ability of Ferrell—to capture attention in the smallest of windows—is on full display, showing that jumping onto the bandwagon isn't a big deal after all.

"People love to pretend you have to pass some kind of test to enjoy the FIFA World Cup," Will Ferrell said in a statement. "Lay's is basically saying: forget that. Just jump on the Bandwagon, grab some chips, and have fun. No expertise required, just enthusiasm and snacks."

Navigating America's roadways, the journey doesn't stop at sudden sports allegiances either. Lay's also takes creative aim at the naysaying elephant in the room (or in this case, watch party) as the U.S. hosts the World Cup for the first time since 1994, making it abundantly clear that even those who say soccer isn't really their "thang'" might want to hop aboard and snack.

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One Lay's Lei and a Marshawn Lynch cameo later, and the brand is back on the highway, heading to the west coast.

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Two more supporting roles still await, though, with David Beckham making a grand appearance on a crosswalk—if you're thinking "Beatles and Abbey Road," you're probably not alone—for a quick-witted exchange before things go on autopilot…

…where the commercial ends on a very strong "Airplane" vibe.

The snack brand continues to make an impressive marketing run on the biggest stages in sports, from the Super Bowl to the World Cup, blending creative storytelling and direction to make the commercial reveals feel more like mini-movies that prioritize fan engagement as much as product placement.

That seems to be Lay's "thang."

USA TODAY Ad Meter Brand Spotlight: What do you think of Lay's 2nd campaign?

About USA TODAY Ad Meter Brand Spotlight

USA TODAY created the Ad Meter brand spotlight concept in 2024, the first editorial rollout focusing on the global campaigns for the Summer Olympics in Paris, France. The purpose was to add a new and exciting element to the franchise, which began in 1989, and bring more sports business and entertainment insights to the marketing rush during major sporting events.

Unlike the Super Bowl Ad Meter, which focuses on specific commercials, the World Cup spotlight will take a broader, overall view of how brands are impacting the global audience during the five-week run.

This article originally appeared on Ad Meter: Will Ferrell, Marshawn Lynch, David Beckham jump on Lay's 'Bandwagon'

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