Home Depot Spotlights Associates in World Cup Campaign, Celebrating Names

On December 1, 2025 Home Depot debuted a World Cup advertisement titled "We All Have a Name" that places a frontline associate at the center of national marketing. The short piece juxtaposes the name on a soccer jersey with the name on the orange apron that identifies an associate, and includes an appearance by U.S. men national team forward Ricardo Pepi. The imagery and narrative connect personal identity to the company brand.

The campaign continues a long standing practice at Home Depot of featuring real associates in national creative rather than using actors. That approach positions employees as visible contributors to the company story and amplifies their role in customer experience. By tying the associate directly to a global event like the World Cup, the company extended that internal recognition into a broader cultural moment.

For workers the campaign serves multiple functions. At the store level it can increase pride and morale when colleagues are photographed or filmed and elevated across national channels. Featuring an associate alongside a high profile athlete also raises the visibility of frontline roles that are often overlooked in corporate messaging. For managers and human resources teams the spot provides a tangible example of how marketing and internal recognition can intersect, offering material for employee communications, recruiting and retention conversations.

There are operational considerations as well. Production that includes associates requires coordination around schedules, permissions and workplace coverage, and visible participation in advertising can prompt questions about selection criteria and fairness from staff. Clear communication from leadership about how associates were chosen and what recognition accompanies participation can help manage workplace dynamics.

By centering a real employee in a high profile campaign Home Depot reinforced the message that its workforce is part of the brand. The World Cup timing broadened the reach of that message, giving associates a moment in national creative while signaling the company values workers as more than background cast in its advertising.