Stacia Datskovska
View all posts by Stacia Datskovska March 19, 2026
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Right before going up on stage to hand over a statuette at the 2016 NAACP Image Awards, Keegan-Michael Key — having recently come off of Key & Peele‘s almost-four-year run on Comedy Central — and Gabrielle Union, who also knows a thing or two about (romantic) comedy, decided to opt for some improvisation. “Let’s do a bit together,” Key recalls telling his fellow award presenter, and then they did it, and the audience was charmed.
A decade later, the duo’s newest project is less steeped in playful camaraderie and more focused on some well-oiled, playful rivalry. Key and Union have just become the faces of tequila giant Casamigos’ fresh line of crafted cocktails that epitomizes the oldest argument in the margarita book: classic or spicy?
The Casamigos Spicy Margarita (composed of the brand’s Blanco expression, orange liqueur, lime, and notes of dried chili pepper plus jalapeño) and the Classic Lime Margarita (Blanco; orange liqueur; natural lime flavors) are now the Official Margaritas of the World Cup, so consider Key and Union your friendly neighborhood FIFA watch party co-hosts with the most. The former is Team Classic through and through, while the latter loves some heat with her tequila. Ahead of the summer, they’ve reunited to obsess over soccer, reconcile their differences in taste, and convince fútbol fans that even a blowout could be easily remedied with the help of some Blue Weber agave–fueled goodness.
team classic Casamigos Classic Lime Ready-to-Serve Margarita, FIFA World Cup 2026 Edition
$26.99
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Buy Now at casamigos team spicy Casamigos Spicy Ready-to-Serve Margarita, FIFA World Cup 2026 Edition
$26.99
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Buy Now at casamigos“I’m literally getting chills because Gabrielle and I got a job where we get to talk about soccer,” Key tells Rolling Stone on a Zoom call. “It’s unbelievable that we got this job. It’s so exciting, and we’re still months away.”
While some celebrity-backed brand campaigns feel like a stretch, it’s truly impossible to think of two better people for the task at hand, since unbeknownst to many, Key and Union have that strong a love of the game.
Casamigos “I grew up playing soccer and remember Diego Maradona’s ‘Hand of God’ goal,” Union shares. “So I have a natural affinity for South American countries, since I’ve been watching all of those iconic players [for decades]… I’m just a sucker for a great package. Pull at my heartstrings and I will follow you to the ends of the earth.”
On who Key is cheering for this June and July besides the red, white, and blue: “I keep an eye on Senegal. I keep an eye on Ghana. I keep an eye on Morocco. I keep an eye on Nigeria, Algeria, Tunisia, Egypt. These North African teams have really come to the forefront in the past 10 years.”
Another allegiance? Belgium, ever since discovering that his biological family has roots in the country.
The parallels between pre-mixed margaritas and the most prestigious international soccer tournament in history might not be evident at first glance, but Key is quick to point out the kind of metaphor that can resonate with a person for months.
“[Gabrielle] mentioned watching Brazil, which is interesting because I’m the classic margs person and she’s the spicy margs person. Brazil is the winningest World Cup team. You have to think of them as one of the classic World Cup teams. But their style of play? Very attacking football, and also the way they perform in the midfield is very spicy. So, in that regard, we both win,” he says.
Casamigos When it comes time to talk about their ideal World Cup watch party arrangements, as well as how they drank Casamigos tequila before the latest launch, Key passes the baton to Union, and she proceeds to spill secret recipes and hacks for an unforgettable time.
“My favorite is Casamigos’ Reposado. I like to add a little grapefruit juice, a splash of OJ, and a little bit of grenadine. My family is also kind of psychotic in how we drink tequila: We do different rim options. Some people just like salt, some people like tajín, some people like the combo or like sugar. So we have all these [stations] where you can make your own rim at parties.”
But with momentum shifts being known to arise in a matter of seconds during soccer matches, tracking the screen sometimes takes priority over managing the DIY rim station… which is where Casamigos’ pour-and-serve selection comes in to save the day.
“When you’re serving, you’re also trying to enjoy yourself,” says Union. “That’s what I love about the pre-mix: You’re just pouring. You can add things if you like, but it makes hosting so much easier.”
The two Cas-amigos will always be on opposite sides of the spice-level aisle, but they’re almost carbon copies of each other in regards to footy loyalties. Not so with Union and some of her other friends in the industry, however: “I want to be in the midst of the enemy. I want to be having that constant interaction, but a lot of people don’t like it. So we have TVs that are dedicated to these fans, the casual fans who want to talk through the whole damn thing, and then the people who want to battle it out.”
The Casamigos ambassadors are already envisioning some heated tensions developing in the span of 90 minutes at the World Cup, but they’re also believers in the fact that even a showdown as intense as Argentina-Brazil can result in both sides clinking glasses.
After all, with a mentality like Keegan-Michael Key and Gabrielle Union‘s (“margs, margs, and more margs,” according to the Bring It On actress), it’s hard not to turn rivals into ride or dies.
