Trust Donald Trump to go where no one has gone before, right? Especially if there’s a branding opportunity involved.

A supposed internal NASA briefing has sparked growing disbelief after outlining an extraordinary plan to link the 2026 World Cup with a series of lunar events backed - actively promoted - by the U.S. president. It is the sort of idea that sounds bold at first, then slightly confusing, and eventually raises the quiet question: was anyone in the room allowed to say no?

The timing, according to the leaked document, is “no coincidence.” With NASA preparing to send astronauts around the Moon for the first time in more than 50 years as part of its Artemis II mission, planners reportedly saw a rare opportunity to merge “two globally unifying spectacles.” Which is one way of describing it. Another would be: combining two things that were doing perfectly well on their own.

The Artemis II crew itself, led by commander Reid Wiseman alongside American compatriots Victor Glover, Christina Koch and Canadian astronaut Jeremy Hansen, is expected to become the most closely followed spaceflight team in decades. Their mission, designed to test the route back to the lunar surface, has already drawn intense public attention, with NASA framing it as a crucial step toward long-term human presence beyond Earth.

According to the leaked briefing, that visibility is exactly what made the World Cup crossover “too compelling to ignore.” It is not entirely clear who found it irresistible, but they appear to have been very persuasive.

World Cup live from the Moon

One section describes a live video feed from lunar orbit during the opening ceremony, with the Artemis crew delivering a synchronized message to fans worldwide. “We are going to the Moon for all humanity,” one draft script reads, echoing language already associated with the mission, and aligned to FIFA messaging. Stirring, certainly. Though it may lose a fraction of its grandeur if followed immediately by a reminder to stay tuned for kickoff.

Dr. Leonard Hsu, described in the document as a senior mission integration analyst, is quoted as saying: “You have four astronauts who are not just elite pilots and engineers, but public figures with families, stories, and emotional stakes.” All true, and all reasons one might hesitate before turning them into what begins to sound like the most ambitious pre-match segment ever devised.

Even more ambitious proposals include installing a high-powered optical relay system that would allow images from stadiums on Earth to be transmitted toward lunar orbit and reflected back in near real time. Internally dubbed “Project Full Moon,” the idea has reportedly been pitched as a premium broadcast enhancement. Sponsors are battling it out to get their logos seen from space, quite literally. Because visibility on Earth, it seems, is no longer quite enough.

“The physics are tight, but the branding is perfect,” said media consultant Rachel Ibarra in the document. A sentence that may one day serve as a useful summary of the entire concept.

Kick off ball dropped from on high

One of the more surreal concepts involves the official match ball for the opening game being symbolically launched from lunar orbit, with calculations suggesting a controlled re-entry could see it arrive on Earth just before kickoff, as The Killers perform Spaceman. It is a striking image, provided one does not dwell too long on the mechanics.

Engineers from Elon Musk’s SpaceX have allegedly explored heat shielding capsule options to ensure the ball remains “match-ready upon atmospheric return.” A separate note outlines a backup plan in which a replica ball is quietly swapped in if the original fails to survive re-entry, with instructions that “commentary teams must maintain narrative continuity at all times.”

There is also mention of a post-tournament celebration in which the winning team would travel to lunar orbit for a ceremonial trophy lift. Early simulations cited in the document suggest that in microgravity, a tossed trophy could hover dramatically for several seconds, creating what is described as a “once-in-history visual moment.” One suspects it would also make the act of catching it rather more complicated than usual. More space debris!

Former referee Mark Clattenburg, listed as a “consultant for off-world officiating protocols,” is quoted as raising practical concerns. “Communication delay alone changes everything. You think VAR debates are intense now? Try making a call when your assistant referee is technically 240,000 miles away.” It is a fair point. The current system already tests fans’ patience without introducing astronomical distances.

The leak even touches on a proposition that would see select former stars of the game (with Ronaldinho, Baggio and – just for a floating scorpion kick – René Higuita hinted at) undergo short-term training in simulated low-gravity environments to participate in a “lunar skills showcase” tied to halftime entertainment. Picture a huge, transparent airtight box lowered into the stadium as the whistle blows. Quite why this is necessary is not fully explained but it should keep eyes on screens, and ads, during the break.

Other plans suggested in the report include: a NASA-style countdown before each World Cup game; a replica trophy being taken and left on the Moon; penalty spots crafted with previously collected Moon dust; augmented reality apps for lunar viewing and interactive games.

NASA quiet on World Cup links

We have reached out to NASA for comment on the claims, but as yet there has been no response. Meanwhile, the Artemis II mission continues with its publicly stated focus of exploration, science and international cooperation, areas which, until now, have rarely required a halftime show.

The four astronauts – each said to be keen football fans – are aiming to balance the risks of deep space travel with the mission’s broader goals. One excerpt in the briefing attributes to Glover: “Pushing ourselves to explore is part of being human, but entertainment is very much a modern human need.” As part of their training, young influencers were brought in to share key points of social media skills to ensure algorithm-pleasing TikTok and Insta clips are created.

It’s worth noting that sources close to World Cup organizers have said that people on both sides of the plans were not keen to proceed. One dismissed the idea as “creative brainstorming taken far beyond its original scope,” while another reportedly described the document as “a mix of real science and unchecked imagination.” Both assessments feel somewhat restrained.

Still, the briefing concluded with a confident note: “Execution feasibility: ambitious. Public interest: guaranteed.”

Whether they manage to pull it off without any hiccups remains to be seen. But before getting carried away with visions of footballs descending from space and astronauts delivering pre-match messages, it may be worth pausing for a moment.

...and checking today’s date.

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