The 2026 King of the Ring tournament got underway this week on WWE Raw, with the finals of both the men’s and women’s events set to take place at the Night of Champions Premium Live Event on the 27th of June.

The King of the Ring has historically been a single-elimination tournament. However, this year, WWE has flipped the script by making every first round match a fatal-four way bout.

Oba Femi and IYO Sky became the first Superstars to book their places in the semi-finals after winning their respective matches on Monday.

The 2026 King of the Ring Winners Will Secure A Big Prize

Despite the 16-man tournament still being in its very early stages, a backstage report has leaked the planned winner of the men’s crown. The stakes couldn’t be higher for the King of the Ring winners as they will earn themselves a world championship opportunity at SummerSlam.

Per Ibou on the Self Made Sessions, a decision has been made by WWE creative on the outcome of the tournament, leading to a marquee match at SummerSlam in August.

Although Oba Femi was the first man to qualify for the semi finals, ‘The Ruler’ reportedly won’t be going on to claim the top prize.

‘That’s What I Was Told’ – The 2026 Men’s King of the Ring Winner Revealed

“Today I was just talking to somebody about the King of the Ring thing. What they said to me was there’s a lot of moving parts, there’s a lot up in the air right now for SummerSlam for whatever reason and I’m not sure why. What they told me was right now, the plan is for Seth Rollins is to win the tournament and face Roman Reigns. So, that’s what I was told.”

WWE has long wanted to run a major singles bout between Reigns and Rollins, even planting seeds for the contest during Roman’s loss to Cody Rhodes in the main event of WrestleMania 40.

The match was initially pencilled in to headline WrestleMania 42 earlier this month. However, plans were forced to be changed after Seth suffered an injury late last year and was unavailable for much of the build-up to ‘Mania. As a result, Reigns squared off with CM Punk and Rollins clashed with Gunther.

Rollins is set to meet Je’Von Evans, Talla Tonga and Ricky Saints in his first-round match. Unless WWE has a huge change of heart, expect to see ‘The Visionary’ coming out on top and playing a big role at SummerSlam.

The only other Superstar seemingly considered for the crown was Oba Femi, although it now seems likely that the Nigerian powerhouse will instead complete his trilogy with Brock Lesnar at the ‘Biggest Part of the Summer’. WWE does have plans for a Reigns vs Femi match, but this will be saved for a future major event.

The World Cup is the single biggest sporting event in the world which sees the greatest footballers on the planet competing against each other every four years for the right to be crowned champions.

As well as being a raucous theatre for creativity and ingenuity on the pitch, the sheer scale of the month-long occasion means that it represents an ideal opportunity for brands and corporations to get their message out to a global audience, as millions of spectators attend games or tune in to them on TV.

Historically, the World Cup has inspired a number of unique efforts, with Coca-Cola deploying the skills of Diego Maradona ahead of the 1982 World Cup, McDonald’s unearthing a young Scott Parker for their 1994 World Cup commercial and Nike memorably utilising the Samba magic of Brazil and Ronaldo Nazario in the lead up to the 1998 World Cup.

Taking their lead from the big-hitters, others have also sought to leverage their various endorsement rosters in order to maximise the appeal of their products and it has become the norm to see brands attempt to one-up each other.

Ahead of the 2026 World Cup in the United States, Canada and Mexico, GIVEMESPORT takes a look at the best ads – have a read and let us know if you agree or not.

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Coca-Cola – Uncanned Emotions

Ft. Peter Drury

Coca-Cola appeals to the senses with an ad that focuses on the subtle sounds associated with watching a game, from nervous tapping on a soda bottle to the almost anticipatory hiss of a can opening and it is all augmented by the inimitable voice of commentator Peter Drury. The brand’s iconic red and white colours are front and centre, with moments between fans serving as metaphorical echoes of the match. Enough to inspire a thirst.

10

Stella Artois – Celebration Ft. David Beckham

Only Fools Rush In

History has taught us that Elvis Presley provides a wonderful soundtrack to a football advert (if you don’t know what I’m talking about, watch this classic World Cup ad from 2002, directed by Terry Gilliam, no less) and Stella Artois got the memo. The Belgian beer company have paired Elvis’ ‘Only Fools Rush In’ with a wisely serene David Beckham in their World Cup 2026 commercial. As Stella Artois rains down on the elated spectators, Beckham holds firm during the celebrations and subsequently relishes the taste of prudence.

9

Jim Beam – Home Field Advantage

Starring Tim Howard

Jim Beam leans in to the traditional settings of American sports fandom – the living room, backyard barbecues and “the dive bars that smell like winning” – to promote their wares ahead of the World Cup, declaring that they have “Home Field Advantage”. A confident man on a lawnmower casually runs through the various scenes tossing bottles to fans and it even features a cameo from legendary “Goalie Guy” Tim Howard, who endears himself with a “nice save” towards the end.

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Budweiser – Let It Pour

Jurgen Klopp and a Hint of Erling Haaland

Former Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp ominously declares, “it’s happening again” and proceeds to immerse himself in the writhing madness of the fans, which includes a group of Argentina fans transporting a goat through the streets and a Japanese businessman emerging with his entire face painted. Norway’s Erling Haaland makes an appearance too, but only just – we don’t actually see the Manchester City sharpshooter’s face. “Trust the magic!”

Mohamed Salah and Alexia Putellas Pop Up

David Beckham might have hung his boots up many moons ago, but the former Manchester United and Real Madrid star remains ubiquitous in football advertisements, evolving into something of a successor to Eric Cantona in that respect. Ahead of the World Cup, he has teamed up with his long-time partners Pepsi for an imagined Football Nation, where fickle fans decide which rules to keep and which to dispense with. The ad features the likes of Mohamed Salah, Alexia Putellas, Vinicius Jr and none other than former Rangers trialist Gordon Ramsay.

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IRN-BRU – We’re Made in Scotland from Girders

John McGinn Tees up ‘SuBo’

Singer Susan Boyle appears at the top of Forth Bridge to bring IRN-BRU’s 2026 World Cup advert to a crescendo, but only after being assisted by none other than Aston Villa’s John McGinn. With Scotland returning to the World Cup for the first time since 1998, the famous Scottish soft-drink company has assembled a cohort of notable Scots in noteworthy backdrops to cheer the team on with a typically tongue-in-cheek anthem.

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adidas – La Preparacion Americana

Lamine Yamal on a Mechanical Bull

As part of their push to promote their fresh range of kits ahead of the World Cup, adidas brought together Lamine Yamal, Florian Wirtz and Lionel Messi for a tongue-in-cheek portrayal of the lengths players will go to in order to prepare for a tournament in North America. Germany’s talisman Wirtz weaves through a furious blob of American footballers before scoring past a hapless hockey goalkeeper, Yamal stylishly tames a mechanical bull while wearing a cowboy hat and Messi hits strike after strike with the wand that is his left foot at the bowling alley.

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Lays – Bandwagon (Ft. Will Ferrell & David Beckham)

LAFC Owner Rouses a Nation of Bandwagoners

Los Angeles FC part-owner and veritable funnyman Will Ferrell has fired up the bandwagon and is trailing it all across America in one of Lay’s’ World Cup 2026 ads. As well as convincing a few cowboys to get on board with a lusty ‘yee-haw’, Ferrell talks legendary Seattle Seahawks running-back Marshawn Lynch into embracing (real) football. To cap it all off, the omnipresent David Beckham appears (once again!) and takes umbrage at the suggestion that he, of all people, could be considered a bandwagoner.

3

Lego – Everyone Wants a Piece

Just a Few GOATs and Toy Bricks

Lego has been a partner of FIFA for a while now and the Danish construction toy company has brought together the biggest names in the sport for a clever ad ahead of the World Cup. Kylian Mbappe, Cristiano Ronaldo, Vinicius Jr and Lionel Messi sit at a spinning circular table, each of them taking their turn to add a brick to the Lego World Cup trophy. However, as will be the case come the final in July, there is only room for one of them on top. Unless, maybe there will be a surprise?

Ft. Trinity Rodman, Jude Bellingham and Timothee Chalamet

adidas has recruited arguably the most famous Saint-Etienne supporter in the world to garnish their World Cup 2026 advert with some Hollywood chutzpah. Timothee Chalamet assembles a crack team of footballers to finally defeat a mysterious team of backyard players who cannot be beaten. Trinity Rodman, Jude Bellingham and Lamine Yamal join forces for the task as a suitably impressed Lionel Messi watches on from the sidelines. Chalamet regales his troops with the legendary losers who failed to complete the challenge, with Zinedine Zidane, Alessandro Del Piero and – yes – that man Beckham showing up once more.

Since Michael Carrick took up his position in the Manchester United dugout for a second spell as interim manager in January, no club has won more Premier League points than the Red Devils. While Ruben Amorim’s tenure suggested United were still a long way from recapturing their former glory, the club’s retired midfielder appears to have found an instant cure for many of their not-too-distant fragilities.

Carrick has brought a clear identity to United’s tactical setup, helped restore a feel-good factor around M16, and has subsequently earned the right to be appointed for football’s most stressful job on a long-term basis. The feeling now, however, is that rougher waters may still lie ahead, especially if the current form proves to be nothing more than a honeymoon period.

Regardless, times at the Theatre of Dreams are exciting once again, and this summer the new boss will have the opportunity to shape a squad more in his image. With that in mind, Carrick’s five-player wishlist has emerged this week, along with the four players reportedly set to be put up for sale when the transfer window opens on June 15.

The 5 Signings Carrick Wants to Make At Man United this Summer

The acquisition of Atalanta midfielder Ederson should help United fill the void left by Casemiro’s contract expiry. However, that area of the pitch remains the club’s biggest area for improvement, and it is expected that Carrick won’t rest on his laurels until he has added at least a couple more assets to his engine room, especially given the uncertain futures of several players currently operating in that position.

According to the Mirror, United hold a strong interest in Real Madrid’s Aurelien Tchouameni, West Ham United star Mateus Fernandes and Brighton’s Carlos Baleba, with it appearing that stability is the order of the day in the middle of the pitch. Elliot Anderson has also been linked, although it appears Manchester City have stolen a march in the race for his signature.

What’s more, a striker is also firmly on the club’s radar following the confirmation of Rasmus Hojlund’s permanent departure from Old Trafford, with the in-form Benjamin Sesko needing competition. Meanwhile, a left-back remains on the shopping list, with Newcastle star Lewis Hall emerging as a potential target.

Four Man United Players Put Up For Sale

United are also set to see more major names leave, which will free up spots in their squad and also raise funds for their transfer plans as they continue to shoulder the burdens of debt left behind by the Glazer family.

Manuel Ugarte, Joshua Zirkzee, Marcus Rashford and Andre Onana are up for sale, whilst Casemiro has left following the expiry of his contract. Jadon Sancho, who spent an unspectacular season on loan at Aston Villa last time out, is another player who will exit on a free.

With these departures, it is expected that Carrick will continue to use the club’s famed academy to its full potential, with the 44-year-old having given opportunities to Shea Lacy last term, as well as playing a pivotal role in the club’s reconciliation plans to bring Kobbie Mainoo back into the picture. Whereas his predecessor neglected youth, Carrick’s reliance on it has paid dividends so far.