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Key Takeaways:
- PUMA launches its first official Premier League match ball with a campaign celebrating spontaneity in football.
- The “Have a Ball” campaign encourages players to embrace joy, creativity, and instinct on the pitch and beyond.
- The activations will debut in the USA Summer Series and will include community coaching, in-store events, and grassroots support.
PUMA’s new Premier League era begins with a call to stop overthinking and just play.
As the official match ball partner of the Premier League starting in the 2025-26 season, the sportswear brand is kicking things off with a new campaign.
"Have a Ball" serves as a global initiative that aims to spotlight the joy of simply having the ball at your feet.
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With just 109 seconds of average ball time per player per game, PUMA's latest efforts want every touch to matter, whether you're a Premier League pro or pulling off stepovers at the park.
“By emphasizing the emotional and liberating aspects of playing football, the 'Have a Ball' campaign highlights how the simple act of just having the ball can bring immense joy and excitement,” Puma VP of Brand & Marketing Richard Teyssier said in a press release.
The campaign also comes with the debut of the "PUMA Orbita Ultimate PL," a new match ball designed for elite performance but accessible in spirit to anyone playing in their backyard.
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The match ball itself features 12 evenly sized panels for balance, deeper seams for aerodynamics, and a soft-touch finish that adapts across pitch conditions.
It’s a design meant to serve the Premier League’s finest and weekend warriors alike.
Will Brass, CCO of the Premier League, called the launch "an exciting new chapter," noting the collaboration’s potential to create memorable moments both on and off the field.
More Than a Ball
The campaign's hero spot opens with a young aspiring athlete watching a football game by the pitch.
He shares with the team the average amount of time a Premier League player has the ball during a match.
"So when you get the ball, have a ball," he narrates.
Viewers are then treated to a montage of casual and professional football players enjoying their time playing the sport, whether it's on a field or a basketball court.
The spot closes with the players sharing smiles and lighthearted moments, reminding viewers that football is meant to be enjoyed and savored.
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The campaign will first take the spotlight during the Premier League Summer Series in the USA this July, where the ball will make its official debut.
Six matches will unfold across three American venues, accompanied by community coaching programs that aim to bring football to local neighborhoods.
PUMA will also host in-store activations at its New York City flagship and support grassroots programs like Premier League Kicks and No Room for Racism.
These efforts will also include initiatives focused on girls' and women’s football, as well as international community outreach.
Our Take: What Makes Joy a Winning Strategy?
It’s easy to forget how much joy lives in a single moment with the ball, especially in the hyper-structured world of professional sport.
That’s why this campaign works.
It speaks to something simple and universal: the thrill of touching the ball, trying something bold, and making it count.
From a marketing lens, campaigns like this thrive on emotional engagement.
I think tapping into pure, unfiltered joy is what makes "Have a Ball" not just a product launch but also a feeling.
And for football fans, this feeling is what keeps them coming back.
Previously, Pepsi united football legends and up-and-comers in a campaign celebrating 50 years of ads.
Want breakthrough campaigns that get remembered? Work with one of our vetted creative agencies:
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