Football, It’s in our DNA.

Client UEFA
Art Director Jonas Carvell
Animation Steve Wassas, Luis Pedro & Ron Morisson
Retouch ActTwo

We received an RFP to create a bid film for the UK & IRE UEFA 2028 bid that would be presented to the UEFA panel at the football governing body in Geneva who vote on who the tournament was to be awarded to. Inspired by SONY Bravia’s iconic bouncing balls TVC in San Fransisco, I developed an incredibly fun, powerful, and compelling way to represent the essence of each nation - their unique DNA, their experiences, and their cultural heritages. These balls symbolise the myriad of individuals, personalities, quirks, humours, traditions, experiences, landscapes, and iconic elements that define each country. And as the balls travel through the story, playfully interacting with people, objects, and landmarks throughout the journey, they embody the energy, fun, spirit, and character of what makes each nation great. And we watch them interact with other balls and nations, see the dynamic interconnectedness and unity that emerges when we come together. And these balls, through their playful and dynamic presence, show the truly powerful energy spirit, love, and magic that happens when our five glorious nations come together as one.

The film

We open on a scene of undulating tranquil sea, where a single green ball bobs up the surface. (Theme tune from Titanic plays in the background) Looking small, vulnerable and out of place. Bobbing up and down it reaches the shore, The Giants Causeway. 

It shakes off it’s wet surface with a shudder and begins bouncing up the steps of the iconic British landmark. It bounces into a field lost and confused until, on the horizon he sees another object bouncing towards him. 

(Side angle) We see the two green balls boucing towards each other. They form a team of bouncing balls. Into the nearest town, down the high street where they pass a traditional pub from which more green balls pop out from and join them. The balls start to form a swarm grouping together bouncing into the city of Belfast and Dublin, through stadiums continuing until they reach the Port of Dublin. 

They board the ferry to Scotland giddy and shaking with excitement, arriving in a lush green land with undulating mountains and historic scenery. As the green balls excitedly explore the land, to their bewilderment they see ANOTHER group of balls, THIS TIME THEY’RE BLOODY BLUE! 

The balls embrace one another and form and even bigger swarm of duo coloured mass, bursting through the city of Edinburgh and Glasgow with crowds of bystanders in awe of the colourful display streaming past them. 

They board a red coach with destination CARDIFF written on it. As they board the coach, they stop suddenly, ITS FULL OF RED BALLS who all shriek “woooooow” (like minions) the party of colour kicks off on the bus, the driver swimming in balls can barely see where he’s going.

The swarm of tri coloured balls pour out of the coach at the  into a thick cloud of smoke on the streets of cardiff where they all stop suddenly in horror, we don’t see what they’re looking at but a huge canon of fire blows over the top of them. They retreat rapidly into the nearest building, the train station, where they pile onto the train destination LONDON.

Arriving in Paddington the party is greeted by white balls and they all intertwine. The swarm quickly gather pace through the capitals, streets past iconic landmarks towards their final destination, they arrive at the walk up to wembley. The multicoloured mass forming into a helix around the crowds of supporters from England Ireland Scotland, NI and Wales, all united and brimming with enthusiasm. They helix reaches Wembley and constructs itself into the arch. 

ENDFRAME. Football, it’s in our DNA.