LOS ANGELES (June 27, 2007)—Could soccer replace football as America’s new favorite sport? According to a release from adidas, more than 140 million Americans tuned in for the 2006 FIFA World Cup, compared to the 90 million who watched this year’s Super Bowl. So as Los Angeles prepares to welcome David Beckham to the Galaxy next month, adidas is working to bridge the gap between the sports with its Futbol Meets Football campaign.

Reggie Bush(l) with David Beckham(r)

As an extension of its Impossible is Nothing brand campaign, the company wanted to showcase two athletes in an authentic and inspiring way “we hope will resonate with all football fans around the world,” said spokesman Evan Weiner. And what better way to do that than to pair the two athletes in the U.S. who will be the most visible in their respective sports: Beckham and New Orleans Saints running back Reggie Bush. The duo met up in Madrid, where they traded sports for a day. Beckham performed running drills, ran pass routes and kicked field goals while Bush defended penalty kicks. Footage of their rendez-vous will be available at www.futbolmeetsfootball.com. The company will also release short episodic vignettes online throughout August.

“As part of our brand campaign, Impossible is Nothing, we wanted to create a parallel between the world’s most popular sport, soccer, with the most popular sport in the U.S., football,” Weiner said. “The football meets football concept showcases the two athletes in the U.S. who will be the most visible in their respective sports in 2007 and are also a part of the adidas Impossible is Nothing campaign.”

Beckham’s and Bush’s advertising spots for the Impossible is Nothing campaign will begin airing in July and August respectively.

“Adidas is proud to support individuals like David Beckham and Reggie Bush, who display the world-class athleticism and charisma representative of our athletes,” Stephen Pierpoint, vice president adidas Americas, said in a statement. “Futbol meets Football is an extension of the Impossible is Nothing brand mantra – unmatchable skill and talent that isn’t afraid to face something new and unfamiliar. We believe sports fans in America will adopt this same mentality and escalate their passion for soccer in the same way they follow football.”

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