As NBC gears up to play its part in the biggest sports event in the world, the network is turning to one of its brightest homegrown stars to help spread the word. A Saturday Night Live standout has started popping up ahead of the international soccer tournament.
Current Saturday Night Live cast member Marcello Hernandez has become a prominent face of NBCUniversal's promotional efforts surrounding the 2026 FIFA World Cup, appearing in commercials for Peacock and Telemundo aimed at Spanish-speaking audiences. The campaign suggests the network is banking on Hernández's unique ability to connect with younger viewers, bilingual audiences, and soccer fans alike.
The partnership is hardly a surprise. Hernandez has spent the past two years steadily becoming one of NBC's most valuable crossover talents, thanks to his growing popularity on SNL and his strong connection to Latino audiences.
NBC's relationship with Hernandez and the World Cup actually predates the latest advertising campaign. In December, U.S. Soccer unveiled Never Chase Reality, its official 2026 Men's National Team World Cup campaign, narrated by Hernández. The 90-second film celebrated the history of American soccer while encouraging fans to embrace the possibility of what the future could bring as the United States prepares to co-host the tournament.
Months earlier, Hernandez joined Telemundo in Orlando to celebrate the two-year countdown to FIFA World Cup 2026â„¢ during a U.S. Men's National Team match against Brazil. The June event drew significant attention as the United States battled Brazil to a 1-1 draw.
For NBCUniversal, Hernandez represents an ideal ambassador. The company has long enjoyed a unique advantage thanks to Saturday Night Live. Unlike many media companies, NBC has direct access to a collection of recognizable comedy stars who can appear across NBC's various brands, whether promoting sports, streaming services, or entertainment programming.
Over the years, Saturday Night Live performers have regularly appeared in network promotions, Olympics coverage, and crossover commercials. Hernandez's growing profile makes him an especially valuable asset as NBC attempts to attract younger and more diverse audiences to both Peacock and Telemundo ahead of the World Cup.
Arguably no current SNL cast member has experienced a bigger rise in popularity than Hernández. While he has become known for recurring characters such as part of "The Couple You Can't Believe Are Together" or host of the immigrant dad talk show, his breakout moment came through the wildly successful Domingo sketches.
The musical parody series became one of the defining sketch franchises of SNL's recent seasons, generating millions of online views and turning Hernandez into one of the show's most recognizable faces. That broader appeal is exactly what NBC wants as it prepares for the World Cup. Peacock is the exclusive Spanish-language streaming home for the tournament.
As the countdown to the 2026 World Cup continues, don't be surprised if viewers see even more of the SNL star helping NBC sell what could become one of the biggest television events of the decade.
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