So, picture this: the North London Derby, Arsenal vs. Tottenham, one of the most heated rivalries in football. The energy is electric. But wait, what’s that? Before kickoff, instead of a former footballer or some football club bigwig, it’s LISA from BLACKPINK, walking onto the Emirates Stadium turf! I’m telling you, folks, this is rare. In the Premier League, celeb coin tosses? Not a regular occurrence. Think maybe 3 or 4 in the last decade.
We’ve seen it in other sports: Kevin Durant, the NBA legend, tossing the coin for a Fulham vs. Chelsea friendly. Or even the YouTuber Ellis Platten for a Nottingham Forest vs. Chelsea game. But in the English Premier League, these cameos are usually reserved for sports figures.
Lisa? She’s in a league of her own, in music! She’s literally rewriting the playbook.
The short answer? Guinness. But let’s unpack this like a perfectly curated playlist.
This summer, the Premier League switched sponsors, swapping Budweiser for Diageo, the parent company of the iconic Guinness beer. We’re talking a massive four-year deal worth £52 million. Guinness is now the official beer of the Premier League. This means that all 20 stadiums have the beer available for sale as well as banner advertisements during the broadcasts. It’s a global partnership, which is the key here.
Guinness needed a way to make some noise and launch their partnership with a splash. So, they decided to collaborate with a global icon for the North London Derby, bringing a celebrity to the pitch for the coin toss. They could have picked a football legend like Alan Shearer. But no, they chose LISA!
Guinness hasn’t officially stated why they chose Lisa, but as a journalist, let me connect the dots:
Global Sensation: Lisa boasts 105 million Instagram followers, making her the most-followed K-pop artist globally. Everyone loves her, just like everyone loves the Premier League.
Diversity and Reach: Lisa transcends borders. She’s Thai, a star in South Korea, and has collaborated with artists from all over the world. Think Tyla (Africa), Rosalia (Europe), and Selena Gomez (North America). She’s a global chameleon. Similar to the Premier League, which showcases talents from all over the globe.
Guinness Connection: Lisa holds nine Guinness World Records, including the first solo K-pop artist to hit 1 billion streams on Spotify with “Money.” She’s a record breaker, and so is Guinness, with a history stretching back over 260 years. Fun Fact, the Guinness World Records was created by an executive at the brewery.
Guinness knew what they were doing! They understand Lisa’s power and global brand recognition. She has a level of star power that would get people talking globally with only a few minutes of screen time.
But there’s more to it than that. Lisa isn’t just some bubblegum pop artist. She has range, an “all-around” style. She can be sweet, she can be edgy, and she can represent an adult lifestyle. And frankly, she looks right at home in an ad for an adult beverage. (Don’t forget her campaign with Chivas Regal.)
And let’s not ignore the “Black” connection: Guinness is a “black beer” sometimes called a “black pint.” Lisa’s group? Blackpink. It’s a subtle synergy that just works.
On January 15th, 2025, Lisa entered the pitch, met with the referee Simon Hooper and team captains Martin Odegaard and Son Heung-min. She handed off the coin to the referee, who conducted the toss. It’s unclear why she didn’t toss the coin herself. Maybe she didn’t want to be the center of attention. Whatever the reason, she was in and out in under two minutes.
Short and sweet but impactful. Her appearance sparked a global conversation!
People wondered: “Why is Lisa at the Emirates?” When they got their answer, they learned more about Guinness’s partnership with the Premier League.
Guinness got a HUGE return on investment. Instead of hiring another football star, they went global and the response has been overwhelmingly positive.
There were fears online. Would Brits recognize Lisa? Would anyone criticize her for being a pop star on a football pitch? The answer was a resounding no! The feedback was glowing, with comments like:
“Wow, Lisa’s partnering with Guinness? She should visit their Irish brewery!”
“This was my first North London Derby and Lisa is here! Amazing!”
“Lisa is doing all the side quests! F1 flag waver and now football coin toss! Next, she’ll be doing the first pitch at a baseball game!”
So, there you have it. Lisa on the pitch was a global moment, a marketing masterstroke, and frankly, really cool for any football fan. I have to admit, seeing a Thai icon on the pitch was a bit surreal! And the fact that the first Thai person to grace a Premier League field wasn’t a footballer, but Lisa, the global superstar? That’s just iconic!
Lisa’s journey goes beyond being just a singer; she’s working in all fields, proving that she can represent many brands and still be well-loved.
As a fellow citizen of Thailand, I couldn’t be prouder to see her on the world stage!
Source: Premier League Facebook
