The official anthem for the 2026 FIFA World Cup has arrived. Released on Thursday, May 14, «Dai Dai» sees Colombian music icon Shakira team up with Nigerian Afrobeats sensation Burna Boy for a vibrant and fiercely motivational track.
Seamlessly blending Afrobeats, dance-pop, world beats and reggaeton, the nearly four-minute song delivers an uplifting message of resilience and ambition for athletes and fans globally. Shakira opens the track with powerful lyrics:
«You knew from the day you were born/ That here in this place you belong/ You’ve been this brave all along/ What broke you once, made you strong.» Burna Boy later echoes the inspirational sentiment, chanting: «Go follow your desire/ Where there’s a will, there’s a way.»
The artists also use the track to pay homage to footballing royalty. «Dai Dai» references legendary figures such as Pele, Diego Maradona, Paolo Maldini, Romario, Cristiano Ronaldo, Andres Iniesta, David Beckham, Kaka, Lionel Messi, Kylian Mbappe and Mohamed Salah. It also proudly shouts out several participating nations including Brazil, Uruguay, Argentina, Colombia, the United States, England, Germany, France, South Africa, Spain, Mexico, Japan, South Korea and the Netherlands.
A soundtrack for social change
Beyond serving as the soundtrack for the biggest sporting event on the planet, «Dai Dai» carries a significant charitable focus. All of Shakira’s royalties from the release will be donated to the FIFA Global Citizen Education Fund, an initiative aiming to raise $100 mln to provide children worldwide with access to quality education and grassroots football opportunities. Sony Music has also pledged to match the first $250,000 raised for the cause.
This release marks Shakira’s third appearance on an official World Cup track following her 2010 smash hit «Waka Waka (This Time for Africa)» and 2014’s «La La La (Brazil 2014)».
«Waka Waka» famously dominated the global charts, spending 42 weeks at number one on the Latin Digital Song Sales chart and peaking at number 38 on the Billboard Hot 100. Meanwhile, Burna Boy makes history as the second Nigerian artist to feature on a World Cup anthem after Davido’s involvement in the 2022 tournament.
The road to the historic final
The 2026 FIFA World Cup will be the largest in history with 48 teams competing across the United States, Canada and Mexico. The tournament kicks off on June 11 at the iconic Estadio Azteca in Mexico City and will conclude on July 19 at the New York New Jersey Stadium (traditionally known as MetLife Stadium).
The final match will feature a Super Bowl-style halftime show. Curated by Coldplay frontman Chris Martin and produced by Global Citizen, the musical spectacle will be co-headlined by Shakira, Madonna and K-pop megastars BTS. The performance will also feature appearances from beloved Sesame Street and The Muppets characters to further promote the tournament’s underlying mission of global childhood education.
