Sports Hyundai Motor Connects with Next Generation of Football Fans through ‘Hyundai NEXT Cup Tour’ on ‘Top Eleven’
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Hyundai Motor Connects with Next Generation of Football Fans through ‘Hyundai NEXT Cup Tour’ on ‘Top Eleven’
SEOUL, April 23, 2026 – Hyundai Motor Company today announced the launch of the ‘Hyundai NEXT Cup Tour,’ a new in-game event in ‘Top Eleven: Be a Football Manager’, one of the world’s most popular mobile football management games.
Running from April 23–May 2, the event coincides with Top Eleven’s 16th Anniversary season, leveraging a period of peak player engagement. As football fandom continues to evolve, Hyundai Motor has been exploring new ways to connect with fans across different environments and moments — from shared live experiences to more personal, digital-first forms of engagement. Rather than simply branching into new genres, the initiative broadens the football experience beyond physical venues — creating a vibrant space for fans to connect with the sport anytime, anywhere.
For more than 25 years, football has been a powerful platform for Hyundai to connect with people worldwide. With the ‘Hyundai NEXT Cup Tour’ in Top Eleven, we are opening a new chapter by translating the energy and strategy of the game into an interactive experience. This collaboration feels native to digital-first audiences and reflects how the next generation engages with the sport they love.
Executive Vice President and Global Chief Marketing Officer at Hyundai Motor Company
Hyundai Motor has, for years, been at the intersection of football and some of the world’s most celebrated brands, so welcoming them to the Top Eleven touchline is an exciting milestone. As the game approaches its 16th anniversary of delighting football fans worldwide, bringing this event to life at such a thrilling moment for football, together with Hyundai Motor, reflects Top Eleven’s commitment to continuously finding new ways to deliver unique, evergreen football stories for fans.
Executive Vice President at Nordeus
‘Hyundai NEXT Cup Tour’ invites Top Eleven players to manage their club through a series of 10 sequential missions across the world. The virtual tour begins in Indonesia and travels through 10 of Hyundai Motor’s key global markets, culminating in the United States, mirroring the brand’s story of global growth. This structure allows the brand to deliver high-impact engagement that connects with the game’s core loop of strategy, progression and decision-making.
Rather than a one-way advertising exposure, the event seamlessly integrates Hyundai Motor’s flagship vehicle models into the player’s strategic journey. Each of the 10 tour stops features a locally representative model, with the vehicle’s unique selling proposition reinterpreted as an in-game football activity.
For example, IONIQ 5’s ultra-fast charging is framed as keeping a team’s condition high during a packed schedule, while INSTER’s blend of speed and compactness positions it well for reacting at a moment’s notice with velocity and agility. Players who progress through the in-game missions can earn exclusive, limited-edition Hyundai-branded in-game items, including a team jersey and an emblem.
This initiative reflects Hyundai Motor’s commitment to evolving its brand experience for digital natives, carrying the energy, unity and inspiration of sport into the next generation of gaming experiences.
Appendix. ‘Hyundai NEXT Cup’ Global Tour Event Details
| Country | Vehicle | Key USP | In-Game Narrative |
|---|---|---|---|
| Indonesia | STARGAZER Cartenz | Smart Cruise Control | Being in control is important on both the road and the touchline. STARGAZER’s Smart Cruise Control has you feeling like you’ve got a midfield maestro commanding every aspect of the pace. |
| India | VENUE | Connected Cockpit (ccNC) and Level 2 ADAS | Navigating a match requires smart preparation. Just as a manager analyzes data, VENUE’s advanced cockpit technology supports the driver with the intelligence needed to stay in control. |
| Turkey | IONIQ 6 | Electric Aerodynamics | IONIQ 6’s electric aerodynamics mean you’ll move on the streets like a super-powered winger — low resistance, high efficiency and unbeatable range, leaving you with opportunities to score. |
| Italy | INSTER | Compact and Fast | INSTER’s blend of speed and compactness positions it well for the modern driver — ready to react at a moment’s notice with agility and velocity, just like a team playing in tight spaces. |
| Germany | IONIQ 9 | Outstanding Space | Tactical awareness and good movement lead to every manager’s dream: Space. Like IONIQ 9, space is the name of the game for getting into positions that will lead to goals with your squad. |
| UK | IONIQ 5 | Ultra-Fast Charging | To compete for the Quadruple, keeping the team in good condition is of the utmost importance. IONIQ 5’s ultra-fast charging keeps you similarly ready to have your batteries charged for what’s ahead. |
| France | KONA Electric | Urban-Optimized Driving Dynamics | KONA Electric is like a perfect tiki-taka plan through the modern city — ready to respond to whatever comes your way with precise maneuverability. |
| Spain | TUCSON Hybrid | Hybrid Powertrain | It’s important to be flexible and ready to adapt your tactics. Going in with a balanced approach, like TUCSON Hybrid, means you’ll be prepared to put your best strategies forward. |
| Brazil | CRETA | Panoramic Cluster Panel | The best football combines creativity and innovation. With CRETA’s Panoramic Cluster Panel, you feel the full allure of command and control while navigating the open road towards your next great win. |
| USA | SANTA FE | Versatile Cargo Space | To achieve victory, it takes the whole squad. SANTA FE’’s versatile cargo space means every key player is along for the ride on your way to glory — together and ready with eyes on the prize. |
Seoyong Choi
seoyong.choi@hyundai.com
Global PR Strategy & Planning · Hyundai Motor Company
Disclaimer: Hyundai Motor Company believes the information contained herein to be accurate at the time of release. However, the company may upload new or updated information if required and assumes that it is not liable for the accuracy of any information interpreted and used by the reader.
About Hyundai Motor Company
Established in 1967, Hyundai Motor Company is present in over 200 countries with more than 120,000 employees dedicated to tackling real-world mobility challenges around the globe. Based on the brand vision ‘Progress for Humanity,’ Hyundai Motor is accelerating its transformation into a Smart Mobility Solution Provider. The company invests in advanced technologies such as robotics and Advanced Air Mobility (AAM) to bring about revolutionary mobility solutions, while pursuing open innovation to introduce future mobility services. In pursuit of sustainable future for the world, Hyundai will continue its efforts to introduce zero emission vehicles equipped with industry-leading hydrogen fuel cell and EV technologies.
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