Don Draper is the Santa Claus

FOX Sports commercial for FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 features Jonathan Daniel Hamm, best known for his role as Don Draper in the television series Mad Men. So, Don Draper is the Santa Claus!

The Emmy-nominated actress Ellie Kemper (“The Office”) stars as Mrs. Claus. Seven-time NFL Super Bowl Champion, Tom Brady, and multi-Grammy winning artist and the “Queen of Christmas,” Mariah Carey, join the jolly duo, making can’t-miss cameos as their legendary selves. Finally, the U.S. Men’s National Team (USMNT) takes a seat at the holiday dinner table as teammates Christian Pulisic, Walker Zimmerman, Weston McKennie, Tyler Adams, Jesús Ferreira, and Yunus Musah join in on the fun.

FOX Sports’ “Superfan Santa” opens on Santa Claus in the North Pole, sitting behind his desk staring at a wall of TVs showing international soccer highlights. Frustrated with the change of focus around the holidays, Mrs. Claus lifts his spirits, suggesting a crowd of U.S. fans chanting in the stands are, in a way, caroling. Santa’s heart grows three times bigger as he realizes how amazing the FIFA World Cup TM is and the platform it provides for him to spread holiday cheer. He imagines scenarios of people watching the matches as he rattles off ideas to his elves: Brady in his kitchen commenting on Cristiano Ronaldo’s play, Carey with her glamsquad being far too busy given the time of year, and the USMNT passing dishes at an elaborate Thanksgiving feast. Santa realizes that the U.S. winning it all would be the best gift American fans can receive and he pictures himself leading a celebratory march down the streets of New York City. At last, Santa accepts sharing the holiday season with the highly celebrated FIFA World Cup TM tournament is the gift that keeps on giving.

The creative campaign was created in-house by FOX Sports Marketing and led by freelance Creative Director Gary Van Dzura.

Credits:

FOX Sports
President, Marketing: Robert Gottlieb
SVP, On-Air Promotions: Bill Battin
Lead Creative: Gary Van Dzura
VP, Creative: Blake Danforth
VP, Production Claudina Mercado
VP, Production: Keith Hritz
Sr. Creative Director: Steve Lewis
Director, On-Air Promotions: Meghan de Andrade
Producer: Rebecca Wilmer
Production Coordinator: Lauren Schwartzer
Flame Artist: Kevin Prendiville
Hungry Man Productions
Director: Wayne McClammy
Executive Producer: Rick Jarjoura
Director of Photography: Paul Cameron
The Den Editorial (Edit)
Editor: Christjan Jordan
AE/Editor: Jake Swartz
Sr Producer: Carolina Padilla
JAMM Visual (VFX)
Executive Producer: Asher Edwards
Sr. Producer: Ashley Greyson
VFX Supervisor: Jake Montgomery
Company 3 (Color)
Colorist: Bryan Smaller
Sr. Producer: Mario Castro
Wave Studios (Audio)
Executive Producer: Vicky Ferraro
Audio Engineer: Chris Afzal