Andy Devaney
London likes to think it has seen every kind of sporting stunt, but PlayStation has arrived with a fresh piece of mischief: a playable billboard that asks footballers to become hoopers, and hoopers to find their inner finisher—under the gaze of South Bank footfall and a very public set of targets.
Set for Sunday 18 January 2026, the stunt is called The Ultimate Combo—a one-off interactive billboard created by Sony Interactive Entertainment (SIE) that blends football and basketball into a single, sequential challenge. The idea is simple enough to explain in one breath and difficult enough to ruin your confidence in two: nail a football finish through one target, then immediately hit a half-court basketball shot through another.
What is the Ultimate Combo billboard?
The Ultimate Combo billboard is a playable street installation inspired by the iconic PlayStation controller symbols. Participants must kick a football through the Circle (O) target and then sink a half-court basketball shot into the Square (□) hoop. Do both in succession and you’ve completed the “combo”—the sort of sporting sentence that sounds neat on paper and feels less cooperative once your pulse joins the conversation.
The rewards, however, are not subtle. The first fan to complete the full sequence wins a trip to this year’s NBA Finals and UEFA Champions League Final. Complete it after that and there’s still hardware on the line: successful attempts can earn a PS5 console prize.
Where and when can fans take part in London?
The installation is located under Hungerford Bridge on London’s South Bank. It opens to the public on Sunday, 18 January at 11 am, giving fans the chance to step up and attempt the Ultimate Combo themselves—right as London’s sporting calendar starts to hum.
Marcelo turns ringmaster for the crossover chaos
Fronting the launch is Marcelo, the five-time UEFA Champions League winner, who is taking on the challenge himself to kick off the activation. He frames the appeal exactly as you’d expect from someone who has lived on the big stage and still fancies a new trick in a new arena:
SE1, London.
— Marcelotwelve (@MarceloM12) January 15, 2026
Sunday. 11am.
Two Shots.
First To Hit It Wins.#ad
“Though football has been my profession and life, my love for basketball comes close, so this was a dream crossover for me. The Ultimate Combo is crazy – it’s hard, it’s fun, and I’m excited to see if anyone can win this amazing prize to the UCL Final and NBA Finals. I want this prize myself!”
It’s also a tidy reminder that the smartest stunts don’t just chase attention—they borrow credibility. Marcelo doesn’t need to be here. Which is precisely why it works.
What’s the prize, and who can win it?
The promotion is open to UK participants aged 7 years and over. The headline prize—the UCL Final and NBA Final ticket trip—is available to UK participants aged 18+ only. Participants under 18 can still take part, but only for the PS5 prize, and must have parental or guardian consent. Valid ID may be required for age verification, and organisers reserve the right to refuse participation at their discretion.
Full terms and conditions are provided here: bit.ly/UltimateComboTerms
Why the timing matters: NBA London Game and Champions League week
PlayStation’s stunt is timed to ride a very specific wave: the NBA London Game 2026 presented by Tissot at The O2 on Sunday 18 January, featuring the Memphis Grizzlies vs Orlando Magic. Then, just days later, UEFA Champions League Matchday 7 fixtures land in London on 20/21 January.
In other words, London is already primed for sporting theatre. PlayStation has simply decided that, for one weekend, the theatre should be interactive—and that the best seats in the house should be reserved for anyone brave enough to miss in public.
Quick guide: how to attempt the Ultimate Combo
- Hit the football through the Circle (O) target
- Immediately attempt the half-court basketball shot into the Square (□) hoop
- Complete both in succession to register the combo
- If you’re under 18, you’re playing for PS5 (with consent)
- If you’re 18+, the dual-finals trip is on the table for the first successful combo
