Every Fifa World Cup is remembered for more than just football. Long after the trophies are lifted and the stadium lights go off, certain moments continue to live in the memories of fans around the world. Among those traditions are the official World Cup songs, global anthems created to unite cultures, energise supporters, and give every tournament its own unforgettable identity.
From Ricky Martin’s electrifying ‘La Copa de la Vida’ to Shakira’s iconic ‘Waka Waka (This Time for Africa)”, World Cup songs have evolved into cultural events of their own, often becoming just as memorable as the football itself.
For the 2026 Fifa World Cup, the spotlight now belongs to ‘Dai Dai”, the new global anthem by Shakira and Burna Boy.
The song has officially emerged as the soundtrack for the historic 2026 tournament that will be jointly hosted by the United States, Canada, and Mexico. Built around explosive percussion, emotional melodies, multilingual chants, and stadium-ready hooks, ‘Dai Dai’ aims to capture the passion, unity, tension, celebration, and emotion that define the World Cup experience.
The phrase ‘Dai Dai’ roughly translates to ‘come on’ or ‘let’s go’ in Italian, fitting perfectly with the song’s energetic football-chant atmosphere. The anthem moves across several languages, including English, Spanish, French, Italian, and Japanese, symbolising the international spirit of the tournament and the diversity of football fans worldwide.
For Shakira, the song represents another major chapter in her already legendary World Cup legacy. The Colombian superstar famously delivered one of football’s greatest anthems, ‘Waka Waka’ during the 2010 FIFA World Cup in South Africa, a song that went on to dominate charts and stadiums globally. She later returned with ‘La La La’ for the 2014 tournament in Brazil.
Now, over a decade later, she teams up with Burna Boy, one of Africa’s biggest global music exports, whose Afrobeats influence brings a modern and vibrant edge to the anthem. The collaboration blends African rhythms, dance-pop, reggaetón, and cinematic production into a song designed for packed stadiums, fan parks, and celebrations across continents.
The pairing of Shakira and Burna Boy has already generated excitement online, with many football and music fans praising the chemistry between the two artists and the song’s festival-like energy.
Interestingly, ‘Dai Dai’ reportedly became FIFA’s official anthem after another proposed song faced heavy criticism from fans.
According to reports circulating online, the initial song considered for the tournament was ‘Lighter’ by Jelly Roll and Carín León. However, football fans quickly pushed back against the country-rock-inspired track, criticising it for lacking the excitement, rhythm, and emotional intensity usually associated with World Cup music.
Social media discussions surrounding the song reportedly became overwhelmingly negative, with many fans calling for a more energetic and globally appealing anthem. Eventually, FIFA moved in another direction, paving the way for ‘Dai Dai’ to take centre stage.
Released through Sony Music Latin as part of FIFA’s official music rollout, the anthem is also attached to a wider humanitarian initiative. Part of the song’s royalties will reportedly support the FIFA Global Citizen Education Fund, helping improve access to education and football opportunities for children around the world.
FIFA World Cup Songs through the years
The tradition of official World Cup songs stretches back more than six decades, with each host nation introducing a soundtrack that reflects the culture and atmosphere of its tournament.
1962 Chile – ‘El Rock del Mundial’ by Los Ramblers
1966 England – ‘World Cup Willie’ by Lonnie Donegan
1970 Mexico – ‘Fútbol México 70’ by Los Hermanos Zavala
1974 West Germany – ‘Fußball’ by Maryla Rodowicz
1978 Argentina – ‘El Mundial’ by Ennio Morricone
1982 Spain – ‘Mundial 82’ by Plácido Domingo
1986 Mexico – ‘El Mundo Unido por un Balón’ by Juan Carlos Abara
1990 Italy – ‘Un’estate Italiana (Notti Magiche)’ by Gianna Nannini and Edoardo Bennato
1994 USA – ‘Gloryland’ by Daryl Hall and Sounds of Blackness
1998 France – ‘La Copa de la Vida’ by Ricky Martin
2002 Korea/Japan – ‘Boom’ by Anastacia
2006 Germany – ‘The Time of Our Lives’ by Il Divo and Toni Braxton
2010 South Africa – ‘Waka Waka (This Time for Africa)’ by Shakira and Freshlyground
2014 Brazil – ‘We Are One (Ole Ola)’ by Pitbull, Jennifer Lopez and Claudia Leitte
2018 Russia – ‘Live It Up’ by Nicky Jam, Will Smith and Era Istrefi
2022 Qatar – ‘Hayya Hayya (Better Together)’ by Trinidad Cardona, Davido and Aisha
Now, with ‘Dai Dai’ leading the charge into 2026, FIFA appears ready to continue the long-standing tradition of creating music that brings the world together through football, rhythm, and shared emotion. Whether inside packed stadiums or on streets filled with celebrating fans, the anthem is already positioning itself to become one of the defining sounds of the next World Cup era.