FIFA releases official 2026 World Cup anthem teaser ahead of North American launch
The official song for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, titled "Dai Dai", is scheduled for release on 14 May 2026, featuring a collaboration between Shakira and Burna Boy.
FIFA has officially teased the theme music for the 2026 World Cup through a one-minute video clip released to social media platforms. The track, titled "Dai Dai", features a collaboration between Colombian pop superstar Shakira and Nigerian Afrobeats artist Burna Boy. The clip was filmed at the Maracanã Stadium in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, where Shakira performed during a free concert attended by a large crowd.
In the footage, Shakira is seen holding the official tournament match ball, the Trionda, while singing a verse in English alongside Burna Boy. The video includes dancers dressed in the colours of the national teams participating in the tournament, reinforcing the global scope of the event. The chorus repeats the phrase "Dai, dai, we go, dale, ale, let's go", with the title interpreted as Italian for "Let's go" and the subsequent words as a Spanish expression for "Go on" or "We can do it".
The full song is scheduled for official release on 14 May 2026. This announcement comes as the 2026 FIFA World Cup prepares to kick off on 11 June 2026, with the opening match set to take place between Mexico and South Africa at the Azteca Stadium in Mexico City. The tournament will be jointly hosted by Mexico, Canada, and the United States.
Shakira's involvement marks her third appearance as a performer for the World Cup finals. She previously served as the face of the tournament for the 2010 event in South Africa, releasing the official song "Waka Waka (This Time for Africa)". She also performed at the finals of the 2006 and 2014 World Cups, establishing a recurring role in the global sporting institution's promotional strategy.
The release of the anthem serves as a precursor to the expanded tournament format. While the song release is confirmed for mid-May, the competition itself is scheduled to commence in June across three nations. The video concludes with the message "We're ready!", indicating the finalisation of promotional assets for the upcoming multi-nation event.
