Formula 1 and football will be sharing centre stage across Barcelona this weekend – and the Visa Cash App Racing Bulls may be the first team in the sport to formally tap into a special commercial moment
While the 2026 FIFA World Cup gets under way across the United States, Canada and Mexico from Thursday, F1 arrives in one of world sport’s most football-obsessed cities for the MSC Cruises Barcelona-Catalunya Grand Prix.
With the two events taking place simultaneously, Racing Bulls has launched VCARB FC, a football-inspired special livery, bespoke teamwear collection and fan merchandise range.
The potential retail opportunity accompanying the move is substantial.
World Cup-related merchandise sales are projected to reach $5 billion globally across the tournament, with the football jersey market alone valued at $8.7 billion in 2026.
A custom VCARB FC crest combines a chequered flag with three stars – representing the World Cup’s three host nations and VCARB’s third year in F1 – with the range extending across driver race suits, team kit and a limited-edition scarf designed by emerging creative Hattie Crowther.
“Formula One and football are two global sports with incredibly passionate communities, united by a shared sense of identity, creativity and culture,” Peter Bayer, Chief Executive Officer of VCARB, said.
“With VCARB FC, we’re celebrating that crossover, bringing together the energy of both sports. We’re also proud to give emerging talent the opportunity to help shape campaigns like this, bringing fresh perspectives that continue to push the boundaries in the world of F1.”
Visa is already a long-standing World Cup partner, making the Barcelona activation part of a coordinated cross-sport strategy rather than an opportunistic one-off.
Two of the biggest stages in sport are colliding in one of the most football-obsessed cities on earth and that kind of moment demands more.
Zack Ashley
The VCARB FC campaign runs across both properties simultaneously – two of the most commercially valuable sporting platforms on earth, active in the same city at the same time.
“Two of the biggest stages in sport are colliding in one of the most football-obsessed cities on earth and that kind of moment demands more,” said Zack Ashley, Head of Global Partnerships at Block, Cash App’s parent company.
“Together with VCARB, we wanted to celebrate what makes fandom universal: community. The special livery and matchday-inspired jersey are a love letter to that energy – the speed, the belonging, the shared passion, and the Cash App Visa card is how every fan gets their piece of it.”
While the football-inspired replica kits have been launched, the VCARB car livery will be unveiled on Wednesday.
