Tom Brady on advice for World Cup players, acting out ambitions and watching ‘heated rivalry’: ‘This is a great show’

If you purchase an independently reviewed product or service through a link on our website, The Hollywood Reporter may earn an affiliate commission.

Tom Brady knows a thing or two about handling high-stakes situations, but his latest project is certainly more than that sweet It’s stressful.

The Super Bowl champion and current Fox Sports commentator is teaming up with Ferrero North America — maker of brands like Nutella, Ferrero Rocher and Butterfinger — for a new sweepstakes dedicated to the upcoming World Cup. One lucky fan will win a grand prize of $1 million from Ferrero, plus other prizes including a “Super Fan Trip” to a World Cup match (including airfare and accommodation); an “ultimate gaming setup” that includes a new gaming console and gaming chair; and a “Fan Cave Upgrade,” where the winner gets a new TV, sound system and theater seating.

As part of the “Go All In” campaign, Brady also filmed a commercial that will air on streaming services and online starting April 1. The promotion helps make “this summer’s football season the sweetest season ever,” Ferrero says, adding that the seven-time Super Bowl champion is “an icon who knows a thing or two about going all in.”

“When Ferrero came to me, it was easy,” Brady says in a statement. “I consider them ‘the greatest of all gifts.’ They are also about celebrating the moments that bring people together, and this summer’s soccer tournament is one of those huge events that I am really looking forward to as a fan.”

Ferrero says the promotion is backed by an investment of $100 million, representing its first “portfolio-wide campaign and the largest marketing commitment in the company’s history.” Brady, meanwhile, says he was eager to sign a partnership that promotes fun and community — two things that have long been his guiding motivations for the sport.

“I think this campaign is about the passion of true fans and all these great moments that sports creates for the people around you,” says the three-time NFL MVP. THR. “I’ve had a lot of tailgates, I’ve had a lot of viewing parties, and it’s always better to share them with people. I think this campaign is about ‘all in,’ and that’s what it was really about.”

THR I caught up with Brady to talk about his favorite World Cup games, his best motivational tips, and why his current TV-watching habits leave a lot to be desired.

You’re collaborating with Ferrero North America on this new campaign, so I’m curious to know what Ferrero products you have in your snack rotation?

Well, when I was a kid and we had snack shacks or grocery stores on the street, I would go there and for every free 25 cents I got I would get a Crunch Bar. In our house [today]Nutella pancakes are very popular. I was in Milan for the Olympics and I went to a really great pizzeria and we had Nutella pizza. So that’s definitely part of our lives. My favorite is Tic Tac. This has been a must-have for me for years in my pocket.

You are known as a football player, of course, but what is your relationship with football?

I think every kid in America plays soccer, so I played a lot of soccer growing up, and my sister played soccer in college. I have an investment in a European football team [Birmingham City F.C.] I also love the World Cup. I’ve been watching it since I was a kid – the women’s World Cup, the men’s World Cup; I have supported many countries in football and have many friends who play this game. It’s just an incredibly attractive sport.

It’s funny that the word “soccer” is actually known as “soccer” everywhere else in the world except here in the United States.

As you know, American football was called “soccer” because when the match started, the ball was kicked much more often than it was thrown. The shape of the ball does not allow much passing. So it was much more of a kicking game. When they started changing the shape of the ball, it went from using your feet and kicking the ball to more passing. So I get this question a lot from soccer fans all over the world, like, “Why do you guys call it?” soccer When you throw it?;’ Well, originally, it pretty much started with your feet.

What do you think is it about major sporting events like the recent Olympics and World Cup that make people so excited?

Look, there’s no faking it. In sports – and I’ve always felt that way – it’s a reality TV show, and there’s no exaggeration about it; What happened cannot be undone at the moment. So you have to really work hard and be really grounded and focused so that you can help your team when you need it most. I think that’s why people watch, because everything is so unpredictable. There is no text for this. No two games are ever the same. They are all unique.

I’ve been in a number of high-pressure games and situations before. As athletes prepare to take to the field for the World Cup, what advice would you give them?

I think this is a great question, because the only way to prepare for pressure is to put pressure on yourself on a daily basis to perform. And don’t wait for the big moment to feel like, “Okay, now is the time to perform.” I think you need to do the right thing well and consistently every day, and you can’t say, “Oh, it’s just training.” It doesn’t matter.’ This is a loser’s mentality.

I believe people wouldn’t fail if they didn’t push themselves every day under really intense pressure situations. You want to know how your body will respond to anxiety, nervousness, or premature error. How do you respond? I believe that the more you can overcome the fear of failure, I believe you have a better chance of success.

It’s strange to think that failure can be a motivator.

There’s a part of our nervous system, in our adrenaline, that’s often about fight or flight, and the one thing athletes can never do is the flight part, which is escape. You have to fight, you have to fight for what you want, and that’s really stressful, and you have to figure out ways to deal with the stress of your life so that any time you face adversity or something that might become uncertain, you don’t run from it, because there’s nothing to gain by running from it. If it’s something you really value and really want, there’s no point in trying to escape the situation. It’s about understanding how to deal with it head on, and knowing that I may fail, but if I fail, I will learn from the failure. I will reapply the things I have learned in a more successful way, so that the next time I get the opportunity, I will have a better chance of success.

You’re really good at motivational speeches.

Sometimes, as an athlete, you have to be okay with keeping it all in mind and still achieving success. I believe you have to find something inside you that finds the value of hard work, even though the outcome of what you do is never guaranteed.

Okay, back to the World Cup. What countries and teams do you have your eye on this year?

Obviously I support Team USA, first and foremost. We have to defend our homeland. And I think there are a lot of other people that I really like and respect. I’ve had the chance to watch Leo Messi play with a group of players, and I love Cristiano Ronaldo – they’re closer to my era, even though they’re still younger than me. I love Harry Kane from England; I love Kylian Mbappe from France and Karim Benzema. There are a lot of great players around the world who do great things for their countries. And look, I want to see these guys give their best on the biggest stage.

You are very involved in the world of sports these days, but what do you like to do when you are at home with your kids or alone? Do you watch TV?

Sure I wander around a bit, but I always find my way back to sports and watch a lot of football replays.

Do you watch replays of your own matches?

Well, if they are on, Yes. If we win and the result is good, usually. If not, and I know the outcome is bad, I won’t watch it.

What do you like to watch?

I watch a lot of basketball. I watch a lot of the NCAA Tournament. I watch a lot of golf on the weekends. I watch the teams I’m involved with – I like the Las Vegas Aces (Brady is a minority owner of a WNBA team); I love Birmingham City Football Club in the UK. I love watching Chelsea play in the Premier League and I love watching Liverpool play in the Premier League, so I’m a big sports fan. If you were to watch my television, I would say 95% of the things I watch are either sports shows or current sporting events.

What about Hot competition? Have you heard the hype about this “sports show”?

I hope. I watched the first episode and I thought it was really good. It’s really really good, really well written. [It has] Great actors; This is a great offer.

We see you every week in the commentary booth, but is there any chance we’ll see you starring in a similar scripted series in the future?

I never say never, but that’s probably not what I enjoy most. I kind of enjoy the live aspect, like when I’m on Fox and they’re doing the countdown, 5, 4, 3, 2, 1And they send it to you, and my whole stomach is gone BoomYou know, there’s a part of me that feels very alive, and I love that feeling.

There’s also a lot I can really do and be good at. So I spend my time and energy being the best broadcaster I can be. In terms of being an actor, it’s not really what I wanted to devote my time and energy to.