With Christmas campaigns all airing during the FIFA World Cup in November this year, it's somewhat surprising that few brands have alluded to the soccer in their ads (with the exception of Aldi's Kevin the Carrot teaser.). But betting firm Paddy Power has gone all out to blend holiday and soccer traditions in a new spot from Droga5 London. 

In the brand's TV ad featuring former England player Peter Crouch, a Christmas carol organist gets distracted by the beautiful game, a turkey gets stuffed with a lit flare (recalling the fan who infamously did the same at the Euro 2020 final), fans don knitted soccer kit as their holiday sweaters and Christmas lights depict players on the pitch. Rich Hall of Riff Raff directs in hilarious style.

“For the first time in our lives, football fans and brands are faced with the prospect of Christmas colliding with a Winter World Cup," said Michelle Spillane, marketing and brand director for Paddy Power UK & Ireland, in a statement. "It’s unchartered territory for all of us. To Paddy Power, it presented us with double the opportunity to surprise and delight football fans. Our aim was to create an ad campaign that celebrates the beauty in both, that captures the mood of the nation and gets fans excited about the prospect of this unforgettable opportunity to mark where they were in 2022 during this once in a lifetime tournament.”