Sports

How Hyundai Connected FIFA World Cup 2026™ Fans Through Gaming

3 minute read

July 23, 2026

To celebrate the FIFA World Cup 2026™, Hyundai Motor Company brought the
IONIQ 6 N Line to Rocket League and Fortnite, globally popular titles and official games of the Esports World Cup. These collaborations created new opportunities for fans to engage with the brand through immersive gaming experiences.

Rocket League Brings the FIFA World Cup 2026™ to Players

Rocket League launched a limited-time FIFA World Cup 2026™ event running from June 10 to July 20. Players could choose one of the 48 nations qualified for the FIFA World Cup 2026™ and contribute to their country's overall standing by scoring goals during matches.

Throughout the event, nations competed for the top spot on the leaderboard. Players who completed 10 event quests unlocked the IONIQ 6 N Line, while those who drove a total distance of 8,000m could earn an exclusive Hyundai FIFA World Cup 2026™ commemorative decal.

IONIQ 6 N Line hitting the ball with various moves inside the Rocket League game

Just three weeks after launch, in-game acquisitions of the IONIQ 6 N Line surpassed millions. Players responded enthusiastically with comments such as, 'Hyundai has finally arrived', 'The vehicle performs great', and 'Don’t miss the chance to unlock it for free'. During the event period, user-generated content featuring the vehicle gained significant traction across Twitch, YouTube, and TikTok, generating more than 80 million cumulative views.

Various user-generated content(UGC) thumbnail regarding Hyundai IONIQ 6 N Line collaboration with Fortnite and Rocket league.

Taking the Next Starts Now Campaign into Competitive Gaming

As part of the Next Starts Now FIFA World Cup 2026™ campaign, Hyundai hosted the 3v3 Rocket League Next Starts Now Cup presented by Hyundai, bringing together 48 creators and professional players across 16 teams.

All participants competed exclusively in the IONIQ 6 N Line. The event was hosted by SquishyMuffinz, a well-known Canadian gaming creator and former professional Rocket League player, whose experience and credibility helped bring the livestream to life.

Poster of the Next Starts Now Cup presented by Hyundai which was held June 24th with 48 creators and pro players participating in the tournament.

Over the course of the nearly three-hour broadcast, SquishyMuffinz interacted directly with viewers and shared that he is a Hyundai owner himself. Participants also streamed the tournament on their own channels, helping amplify the campaign across the gaming community.

Across 38 five-minute matches, Team Wahvey, led by American professional player Wahvey, ultimately took the championship title. The event generated 1.5 million views and 18,117 hours of watch time on tournament day alone and was also featured on Liquipedia, a leading esports statistics platforms.

The tournament bracket of the Next Starts Now Cup presented by Hyundai. Total of 38 games have been played by 16 teams. The person shown in the image is SquishyMuffinz, a Rocket league content creator and a former Rocket League pro champion. He hosted the tournament unbehalf of Hyundai and Epic games.

SquishyMuffinz is live streaming the Next Starts Now Cup presented by Hyundai. His screen is showing the last goal from the Finals match between team Wahvey and team Coconut.

SquishyMuffinz is sharing a tweet about a meme that shows how competitive and tough this Next Starts Now Cup is by listing participants names who are highly skilled players of the rocket league.

Extending the Experience Through Fortnite

The IONIQ 6 N Line unlocked in Rocket League is also compatible with Fortnite, one of Epic Games' most popular battle royale titles. As a result, players actively shared tips and strategies for unlocking the vehicle across gaming communities such as Reddit, while Fortnite creators continued to publish content featuring the vehicle.

To celebrate the conclusion of the FIFA World Cup 2026™, Hyundai also joined fans on July 19 with a special IONIQ 6 N Line giveaway event in Fortnite, extending the excitement beyond the pitch and into the gaming world. The event saw millions of Fortnite players claim the IONIQ 6 N Line, further amplifying the vehicle’s visibility and engagement within the gaming community.

A promotional artwork created to announce an event where players can earn the IONIQ 6 N Line in Fortnite. A Fortnite character wearing a red soccer uniform is shown kicking a soccer ball in front of the IONIQ 6 N Line, while a collectible Fortnite item called the Soccer Sprite stands beside them. Players can obtain the IONIQ 6 N Line by nurturing and evolving their Soccer Sprite throughout the event.

Fortnite’s Final Kickoff event Key visual of a IONIQ 6 N Line placed in the middle. The car has been given out to the players for free if they logged in the game on July 19 and succeed in the necessary mission related to Fortnite Sprites.

A promotional artwork of the Hyundai IONIQ 6 N Line in a Fortnite game-like environment. A Fortnite character sitting in the IONIQ 6 N Line is waving his hands towards the camera.

Keeping the FIFA World Cup 2026™ Spirit Alive in Roblox

Hyundai also brought the excitement of the FIFA World Cup 2026™ to Hyundai Future Adventure, the brand’s dedicated experience on Roblox.

As players explored a world inspired by future mobility concepts and robotics, they searched for hidden Lucky Boxes throughout the map. Those who successfully collected them had a chance to unlock one of just 2,000 limited-edition Next Starts Now Track Top Suits, offering an exclusive way to commemorate the tournament within the Roblox universe.

Roblox promotional graphic showcasing the FIFA World Cup 2026™ tracksuit reward in Hyundai Future Adventure.

While the FIFA World Cup 2026™ may have ended, Hyundai’s gaming journey continues. As the brand explores new ways to engage fans, Hyundai remains committed to creating immersive brand experiences and deepening connections with gaming communities worldwide.

Follow @hyundai on Instagram to discover more stories behind Hyundai’s next-generation marketing initiatives.