Sports

Where Next Starts Now:
Tomorrow’s Icons Taking the Pitch for the FIFA World Cup™

4 minute read

June 01, 2026

Football has always been defined by moments that shape its future as much as its history. As a long-standing partner of the FIFA World Cup™, Hyundai brings into focus the exact moment where rising young talents and our advancing innovation, ‘Atlas,’ share the same stage, together pointing toward what lies ahead.

Our Manifesto for What Comes Next

Every four years, the world tunes in — not just for the final score, but for what comes next: From the next breakout star to an unforgettable goal that will go down in football history. That spirit of anticipation is what makes the FIFA World Cup™ more than a tournament. It is where the next generation comes into view, as rising football talent steps forward to create its own moment, pushing boundaries and redefining what is possible with every match.

Our film builds a strong parallel between their journey and Hyundai’s own vision of what comes next. As a new generation of players shapes the game on the pitch, Hyundai brings its own next to the world stage through advanced mobility and robotics innovation — transforming the FIFA World Cup™ into a global stage where innovation can be seen, felt, and experienced by millions.

Five football players in diverse national team jerseys stand side by side on a stadium field as a crowd of spectators fills the stands behind them.

Football’s Next, Up Close

This film captures the drive of five young standouts representing the next generation of football. These rising talents are not defined by potential alone. Already stepping up in both youth and professional levels, they are proving themselves on every pitch, bringing their vision of the ultimate stage to life.

Read on to discover how these football talents aren’t waiting for their moment, but are already living it.

Da’vian Kimbrough

Mexico | Forward, Sacramento Republic FC

Da’vian Kimbrough stepped onto the professional stage at a remarkably young age, becoming the youngest professional athlete in American team sports history. As he continues to develop with Sacramento Republic FC, he represents a new generation of talent rising through the professional game.

A young male football player in a green jersey looks back over his shoulder, stadium floodlights glowing behind him.

Bruno Cabral

Argentina | Center Forward, River Plate

Bruno Cabral emerged as one of the standout talents in the 2025 CONMEBOL Liga Evolución Sub15 Masculina, finishing as the tournament’s top scorer. Also named the competition’s best player, he reflects the confidence and attacking promise of a next generation of football.

A young male football player in a light blue and white striped jersey gazes upward, surrounded by stadium crowds.

Stella Spitzer

USA | Forward, Carolina Ascent FC

Stella Spitzer is breaking barriers in U.S. women’s soccer, becoming the youngest player to sign a professional contract in USL Super League history. Her journey reflects a mindset that does not wait for opportunity, but actively creates it.

A young female football player in a navy blue jersey smiles at the camera while leaning against an open car trunk outdoors.

Kauan Basile

Brazil | Forward, Santos FC

Kauan Basile has built his reputation through standout performances at youth level, setting the all-time single-edition scoring record in the Campeonato Paulista Sub-11 in 2023. He reflects the energy and promise of young talent rising through the game.

A young male football player in a yellow and blue jersey looks upward with a illuminated stadium crowd in the background.

Khalil Mitchell

England | Midfielder, Chelsea FC Academy

A promising talent from Chelsea FC Academy, Khalil Mitchell earned MVP honors at the East Mallorca Cup in 2023. His performances point to the confidence and quality that continue to define the next generation of the game.

A young male football player in a white jersey with red collar stands composed in front of a tunnel, with a teammate partially visible behind him.

Together as the next generation of the game, these players capture the very spirit of ‘Next Starts Now’ For them, the World Cup stage isn't a distant destination, but a future they are already bringing forward on the pitch.

Hyundai’s Innovation Takes Center Stage

Just as these players are pushing the boundaries of football, Hyundai is redefining movement through mobility and robotics. Under its vision of Progress for Humanity, Hyundai continues to expand what is possible, shaping how people and technology interact.

A humanoid robot stands on a stadium field holding a football in its hands, with a packed crowd and Hyundai branded signage in the background.

This commitment to the future is vividly captured on the filed as Atlas, Boston Dynamics’ humanoid robot, joins the players.
Alongside the official FIFA World Cup™ match ball, Atlas stands as a symbol of Hyundai’s advancements in robotics. Together, Atlas and the young players convey a shared message: the future of the game and the future of movement are already taking shape today.

Ultimately, this convergence of human talent and cutting-edge technology reinforces Hyundai’s contribution to progress across mobility and robotics.

The future is already here

‘Next Starts Now’ is more than a campaign—it is a perspective that proves tomorrow is built on the bold actions we take today. Through the stories of emerging football talent and Hyundai’s innovations, the campaign delivers a simple message: The future is already here.

At the FIFA World Cup 2026™, Hyundai invites the world to experience it.

Follow @hyundai on Instagram for our journey with the Next Starts Now campaign.

Where Next Starts Now: Tomorrow’s Icons Taking the Pitch for the FIFA World Cup™