Beyond the Pitch: The Filipino-American Creatives Shaping FIFA World Cup 2026
The FIFA (Fédération Internationale de Football Association) World Cup 2026 is officially electrifying North America, but the most historic plays aren't happening on the grass. Behind the scenes, three prominent Filipino-American visionaries are driving the cultural heartbeat of the world's biggest sporting event. From the driving basslines of Los Angeles' official tournament theme to the vibrant visual identities broadcasting New York/New Jersey and San Francisco to millions of global fans, the sonic and visual landscape of FIFA 26 belongs to the Fil-Am diaspora.
Meet DJ Flict (Chris Aparri), Rich Tu, and LeRoid David — the creative powerhouses redefining how the world experiences the beautiful game.
DJ Flict / Photo Credit: @djflict
DJ Flict, professionally known as Chris Aparri, is a Grammy-nominated, multi-platinum music producer, songwriter, DJ, and musical director residing in Los Angeles, California. He has achieved significant acclaim as the creative of the Official FIFA World Cup 2026 Los Angeles Sonic ID, serving as the city’s official tournament theme. His objective was to encapsulate the city's cultural diversity while developing a universal sound. The resulting composition integrates mariachi-style trumpet with West Coast hip-hop elements, reflecting the unique identity of Angelenos.
DJ Flict’s extensive experience within the Los Angeles sports landscape made him the perfect candidate as he is an established premier producer for regional sports anthems, having composed the official themes for both the NHL’s Los Angeles Kings and LAFC.
Having commenced his musical training at age five, Flict has maintained a lifelong commitment to his craft. In college he majored in brass performance and earned a degree in Recording Arts and Production. Beyond his contributions to the sports industry, Flict has collaborated with numerous distinguished artists, including Lauryn Hill, Snoop Dogg, Wiz Khalifa, Cypress Hill, Meghan Trainor, Sia, Common Kings, and Fifth Harmony to name a few.
Rich Tu / Photo Credit: @rich_tu
Rich Tu is an award-winning, first-generation Filipino-American multidisciplinary artist, designer, and creative director from Orange, New Jersey. He currently serves as the Executive Creative Director and Partner at Sunday Afternoon, a branding agency based in New York. He is also the designer of the Official New York New Jersey 2026 World Cup Poster.
Rich Tu / Photo Credit: @rich_tu
Tu's poster design honors both his heritage and his hometown. His work includes subtle cultural references such as the sampaguita, the national flower of the Philippines, alongside floral patterns representing New Jersey's designation as the Garden State. The design also incorporates dice as a reference to Atlantic City, as well as pizza and the Statue of Liberty, which serve as iconic symbols of New York culture.
Tu's portfolio features significant sports-related projects, including the brand identity for the official WNBA 2026 Draft and retail design collaborations with U.S. Soccer. Tu has held prominent positions within corporate and popular culture sectors, having served as the Vice President of Brand Design at MTV Entertainment Group and as a graphic designer for Nike Inc. He frequently oversees global visual campaigns for major brands, including HOKA, Uniqlo, and Reebok.
As an educator at the School of Visual Arts in New York, Tu holds an MFA in Illustration from the institution. He is the co-founder of the COLORFUL awards in partnership with the One Club for Creativity, a grant program established to provide opportunities for early-career BIPOC creatives. Furthermore, he hosts the First Generation Burden podcast, which examines the intersection of immigrant culture, identity, and the creative industry.
LeRoid David / Photo Credit: @leroid.david
LeRoid David is an accomplished second-generation Filipino-American freelance illustrator, graphic designer, and film producer from the San Francisco Bay Area. He was commissioned as the primary creative for the Official San Francisco Bay Area Host City Poster for the FIFA World Cup 2026.
His conceptual design centers on Levi's Stadium, featuring stylized depictions of the Golden Gate Bridge and Bay Bridge amidst coastal fog. These elements are integrated with circuit trace motifs that pay homage to Silicon Valley's technological legacy.
LeRoid David / Photo Credit: @leroid.david
David has developed official merchandise and promotional artwork for several major professional sports organizations, including the San Francisco Giants, Golden State Warriors, San Francisco 49ers, San Jose Sharks, and San Jose Earthquakes, as well as NBC Sports Bay Area. Furthermore, he is recognized for his distinctive digital caricature aesthetic utilized by The Lumpia Co., a business venture established by E-40 and Alex Retodo.
In the film industry, he serves in multiple capacities as an associate producer, comic artist, and co-producer for the independent Filipino-American cinema franchise comprising Lumpia and Lumpia with a Vengeance. His historical portfolio also includes illustrative contributions to the Black Eyed Peas' 2004 music video for "The Apl Song".
David attained a Bachelor of Arts in Visual Communications from San Francisco State University in 2003. He maintains his professional creative practice while serving in a full-time capacity as a senior office assistant for the County of Sacramento.
Long after the final whistle blows on July 19, the cultural footprint left by these three phenomenal creators will remain. Having the immense honor of knowing Chris, Rich, and LeRoid personally makes watching their work take over the global stage incredibly surreal. Their contributions prove that representation isn't just about getting a seat at the table — it's about designing the visual identity curation, composing the anthem, and setting the tone for modern American culture. I couldn't be prouder to see our community represented so powerfully on the ultimate world stage.