World Cup fever is building, and FIFA is placing music at the heart of the excitement ahead of the 2026 tournament.
Returning to North America for the first time since the United States hosted the competition in 1994, the 2026 FIFA World Cup will be the first edition jointly hosted by three countries — the United States, Mexico and Canada. It will also be the largest World Cup in history, featuring 48 teams and more than 100 matches.
Beyond the football spectacle and star-studded line-up of players, the tournament’s official soundtrack is already generating global attention. FIFA released the Official FIFA World Cup 2026 Album on Friday, June 5, featuring an impressive roster of international artists, including several Nigerian stars. For decades, World Cup music largely followed Western pop trends with occasional international influences. This year’s project reflects a more balanced global representation, underscoring the growing influence of Afrobeats on the world stage.
Colombian superstar Shakira, whose 2010 World Cup anthem Waka Waka remains one of the tournament’s most memorable songs, returns with the official theme song, Dai Dai, featuring Nigerian Grammy Award winner Burna Boy.
Afrobeats sensation Ayra Starr features on Show Me alongside American rapper Latto, while Rema teams up with Thai rapper and singer Lisa and Brazilian star Anitta on Goals, a cross-cultural collaboration blending Afrobeats, K-pop and Latin pop.
On No Place Like Home, Davido joins forces with Major Lazer and Canadian singer-songwriter Nelly Furtado in another high-profile international collaboration.
The album also features South African star Tyla, Moroccan-American rapper French Montana and several other artists from across the globe. The 18-track project has been described as FIFA’s most ambitious music and culture initiative for a World Cup tournament, bringing together artists from different continents, languages and musical genres.
FIFA President Gianni Infantino hailed the project as a reflection of the global nature of both football and music, saying ” FIFA has brought together an extraordinarily strong music squad, one befitting the biggest single-sport event in history. From global superstars to breakthrough voices shaping the future of music, the Official FIFA World Cup 2026 Album features artists from across continents, languages and genres in a project designed to unite fans worldwide through the power of music and football”.
Burna Boy is also expected to perform Dai Dai alongside Shakira during the opening ceremony in Mexico on June 11, while separate opening ceremonies will take place in Canada and the United States on June 12.
