Hyundai Motor Unveils New Stage-Based Goal of the Tournament Voting for FIFA World Cup 2026™
- Hyundai Motor updates its FIFA World Cup™ fan participation platform, Hyundai Goal of the Tournament
- Update includes stage-based voting to select best goals at each tournament stage, followed by a final global voter
- Initiative reinforces Hyundai Motor's commitment to connecting with global football fans through meaningful brand experiences
- Enhanced program complements Hyundai Motor’s largest-ever official fleet deployment and first robotics integration
Press material
Hyundai Motor Company today announced an updated format for the Hyundai Goal of the Tournament for the FIFA World Cup 2026™, transforming the fan-favorite award into a stage-based voting platform that enhances fan engagement throughout the competition.
The evolution reinforces Hyundai Motor's role in sharing unforgettable World Cup moments with global fans and delivering impactful brand experiences through sport.
The FIFA World Cup™ creates unforgettable moments for fans around the world, and Hyundai Motor is proud to help celebrate those moments by creating more opportunities for fans to participate and stay connected throughout the tournament. By evolving the Hyundai Goal of the Tournament format for the FIFA World Cup 2026™, we aim to deepen fan engagement and share in the excitement of the game.
What Makes the Hyundai Goal of the Tournament a FIFA World Cup™ Tradition?
First established in 2006, the Hyundai Goal of the Tournament has become one of Hyundai’s key fan engagement programs for the FIFA World Cup™. The program allows football (soccer) fans around the world to celebrate the sport's most memorable moments through a participatory voting experience.
The inaugural winner was Argentina's Maxi Rodríguez, whose stunning volley against Mexico in the Round of 16 at the 2006 FIFA World Cup Germany™ remains one of the competition's most unforgettable goals. Since then, the award has recognized iconic moments across every tournament:
- 2010 FIFA World Cup South Africa™: Uruguay's Diego Forlán earned the honor with his remarkable strike in the third-place match against Germany
- 2014 FIFA World Cup Brazil™: Colombia's James Rodríguez was recognized for his spectacular goal against Uruguay in the Round of 16 at the Maracanã Stadium in Rio de Janeiro
- 2018 FIFA World Cup Russia™: France's Benjamin Pavard captured more than three million votes for his powerful strike against Argentina, becoming the first European player to win the award
- FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022™: Brazil's Richarlison claimed victory for his stunning bicycle kick against Serbia – another defining moment etched into World Cup history
How Will the New Voting Format Work at FIFA World Cup 2026™?
Beginning with the FIFA World Cup 2026™, Hyundai Motor is introducing an evolved voting format to increase fan participation and sustain excitement throughout the competition.
Rather than selecting a single winner at the end of the tournament, the new stage-based format will:
- Enable fans to vote for the best goal during the group stage
- Allow fans to select winning goals during each knockout round
- Feature a final global vote following the tournament Final, where stage winners will compete to determine the overall Goal of the Tournament champion
Through this enhanced structure, Hyundai Motor creates more consistent opportunities for fan engagement across the competition while continuing to celebrate the moments that define the FIFA World Cup™ experience.
Why Is Hyundai Motor Enhancing This Program?
The updated voting platform reflects Hyundai Motor's broader objective: to enhance global fan engagement throughout the FIFA World Cup™ by delivering meaningful and participatory brand experiences. This commitment extends across Hyundai Motor's FIFA World Cup 2026™ initiatives, including:
- Hyundai Motor’s largest-ever official fleet deployment to support tournament operations
- The first-ever robotics integration tied to FIFA World Cup™ programming, showcasing the company’s advanced mobility innovations
- Be There With Hyundai (BTWH), featuring a global artwork contest that captures messages of support for national teams
- Global Test Drive Campaign, inviting customers worldwide to engage directly with Hyundai Motor vehicles through a shared brand experience
- Additional fan experiences and activations designed to connect global audiences with football
To learn more about Hyundai Motor’s FIFA World Cup 2026™ campaign, “Next Starts Now,” visit Hyundai Motor's “Next Starts Now” brand journal article.
