Football at the Edge of the World: The Powerade FIFA World Cup Shoot in Nepal
In 2006, the world’s eyes were on Germany for the FIFA World Cup. But for one Coca Cola Germany commercial for Powerade, the official sports drink of the tournament, the magic happened far from the stadiums in the high Himalayas of Nepal.
The concept was bold. An imaginary country called Skorgolia, set in a remote Tibetan Plateau landscape, playing football against the backdrop of snowcapped peaks and surreal dark rock formations. There were no roads to the location. Only foot trails and air access. And yet, we built a full international size football ground in the middle of nowhere.
Fifty four European football players from various clubs flew into Nepal for the shoot, joined by twelve players from the African United team. We cast hundreds of Nepali A Division and B Division footballers from local clubs, along with 350 extras to act as cheering fans. In total, over 550 people camped at the site for more than a week.
The setting was extreme. The field was perched on a flat stretch of land over a cliff. Two hundred original match balls were brought in for the shoot. Stunt players doubled for hero shots, especially in scenes where a ball risked rolling off the cliff edge.
We had constant snowfall. Every morning, our camping crew dug us out of tents. Expedition sleeping bags, hot water bags, constant tea and coffee, oxygen tanks on standby, and electrolytes kept everyone functioning. All camera, grip, and massive support equipment came and went on helicopters. Food and other necessary supplies arrived daily.
Doctors, nurses, and paramedics were on site around the clock. We even had a backup production team in Kathmandu ready to deploy in case anyone fell sick from altitude.
When filming wrapped, the entire crew, all the gear, and every ball were flown back by helicopter. The final spot aired across Europe on major television channels for a month. The unique setting and the sheer scale of the production became a talking point in the industry.
For us, it was proof that Nepal could handle any production challenge, anywhere, at any altitude. Back in 2006, very few believed such a project could be pulled off in these conditions. We did it. And today, with even more experience and resources, we can make the impossible happen for any film, commercial, or photography project.
If your creative vision demands the extreme, from building sets on remote Himalayan plateaus to managing hundreds of cast and crew in high altitude conditions, Location Nepal, Himalayan Fashion Adventure and Gautam Dhimal are your go to production partners in Nepal.
For production companies, agencies, broadcasters, brands, and sponsors across the UK, Germany, and Europe preparing for FIFA World Cup campaigns, Nepal is no longer a remote option. It is a proven, high performance production destination built on real execution at high altitude and challenging locations.
During the FIFA World Cup 2006 campaign, we delivered full scale international production in the Himalayas, managing European and UK crews, international athletes, remote logistics, aviation support, and high altitude challenges with complete precision. Brands like Powerade, Coca Cola, and global sponsors witnessed how creativity can thrive even in the most demanding environments.
Today, we work with decision makers, agencies, sponsors, and production partners behind FIFA, football campaigns, automotive launches, beverage campaigns, and high impact visual productions, including brands and partners like Coca Cola, Powerade, Adidas, Aramco, Hyundai Kia, Visa, DHL, Qatar Airways, and Lenovo. From cinematic Himalayan landscapes to large scale line production, casting, equipment, and full logistics, Nepal becomes a seamless extension of your creative vision.
If your next football, brand, sports, or global commercial project demands flawless execution in Nepal, you already know who to contact.
Just send us an email to start the conversation at mail@GautamDhimal.com or info@LocationNepal.com.
