Watch Keegan-Michael Key revive popular sketch during World Cup

Keegan-Michael Key is back in one of his most recognizable roles, and soccer fans cannot get enough.

While attending a 2026 FIFA World Cup match between Belgium and Iran in Los Angeles, the Emmy-winning comedian revived his beloved "Substitute Teacher" character from "Key & Peele", this time swapping a classroom full of students for some of the biggest names in soccer.

The crossover has sparked widespread reactions online, with longtime fans celebrating the return of Mr. Garvey and newer viewers enjoying hearing some of soccer's biggest stars become the latest victims of his famously mangled pronunciations.

Here's a breakdown of the viral video.

Keegan-Michael Key brings back Mr. Garvey for FIFA World Cup

The sketch recreates the format that made the original 2012 "Key & Peele" segment memorable.

"My name is Mr. Garvey. I'm your substitute teacher today," Key says before attempting to take attendance using the names of international soccer players instead of students.

Among the intentionally butchered roll call are versions of France's Aurélien Tchouaméni, Kylian Mbappé and Désiré Doué; Brazil's Vinícius Júnior; Spain's Lamine Yamal; Norway's Erling Haaland; and England's Jude Bellingham and Aaron Wan-Bissaka.

Wan-Bissaka receives one of the sketch's biggest callbacks when Key revives his famous "A-A-Ron" pronunciation from the original video.

Fans say the sketch 'will never get old'

The TikTok video has earned more than 1 million likes, with viewers praising the crossover between soccer and one of the internet's most memorable comedy sketches.

"The World Cup content we actually need in between games," TV and film critic John Rocha wrote on X.

Fans echoed the sentiment in TikTok comments. "This skit was so monumental," one viewer wrote, while another added, "It will never get old."

Others singled out the camera operator's audible laughter as "the icing on the cake."

Key's love of soccer made the collaboration a natural fit

The World Cup partnership comes as little surprise for Key, an avid soccer fan who has described the tournament as "Christmas."

In a recent interview with USA TODAY while promoting a Casamigos campaign alongside Gabrielle Union, Key said he planned to follow every match despite a busy filming schedule for "Romy & Michele Get Married," the sequel to the 1997 cult classic.

"The best part is that at least it'll be in the time zone I'm in," Key told USA TODAY. "I'm going to try to watch the highlights for every single match."

Contributor: USA TODAY's Ralphie Aversa

Reporter Anthony Thompson can be reached at [email protected], or on X @athompsonUSAT