TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Football and music have always been an inseparable combination. Every FIFA World Cup tournament introduces a song designed to unite fans across different countries, languages, and cultures. From Spanish-language tracks in the 1960s to cross-continental collaborations at the 2026 FIFA World Cup, the list of official musical performers has evolved with the times.
Interestingly, not all official World Cup songs follow the same blueprint. The tournaments feature official FIFA anthems, global promotional tracks, and vibrant soundtracks that become a tournament's identity. Some have even eclipsed the popularity of the competition itself, most notably Ricky Martin's "The Cup of Life" and Shakira's "Waka Waka."
Here is the complete list of official FIFA World Cup song performers and the stories behind these songs.
17 Official FIFA World Cup Song Performers Through the Years
1962 - Los Ramblers: "El Rock del Mundial" (Chile)
The tradition of World Cup music began at the 1962 tournament in Chile. Local rock group Los Ramblers released "El Rock del Mundial," which is widely recognized as the first World Cup song in history.
The Spanish-language track carried a rock-and-roll edge that was highly popular during the era. While it lacked the formalized "official anthem" status seen today, the song successfully captured the festive spirit of the tournament and set a musical precedent that continues to this day.
1966 - Lonnie Donegan: "World Cup Willie" (England)
Four years later, host nation England presented "World Cup Willie," performed by the prominent British skiffle musician Lonnie Donegan.
The track was named after the 1966 World Cup’s official mascot, a lion named Willie. With its cheerful, easily memorable English lyrics, the song became a core pillar of the tournament's identity, a tournament eventually won by England itself.
1970 - Los Hermanos Zavala: "Fútbol México 70" (Mexico)
When Mexico became the first Latin American country to host the World Cup, musical group Los Hermanos Zavala was tapped to perform "Fútbol México 70."
Infused with local cultural elements and sung entirely in Spanish, the track reflected Mexico's immense pride in hosting one of the world's biggest sports events.
1974 - Maryla Rodowicz: "Futbol" (West Germany)
Polish singer Maryla Rodowicz brought a highly unique approach to the tournament with her track, "Futbol."
Rather than sticking to a single language, the song was performed in five: Polish, English, German, Russian, and Spanish. This multilingual approach was considered highly progressive for its time, mirroring the spirit of international unity that defines the World Cup.
1978 - Buenos Aires Municipal Symphony: "El Mundial" (Argentina)
The 1978 World Cup took a different creative direction. "El Mundial" was an instrumental piece crafted by the legendary Italian composer Ennio Morricone.
Unlike previous or future editions, the piece featured no vocals or lyrics. To this day, "El Mundial" remains unique as the only official FIFA World Cup theme executed entirely as an orchestral composition.
1982 - Plácido Domingo: "Mundial '82" (Spain)
World-renowned Spanish operatic tenor Plácido Domingo was chosen to perform the theme for "Mundial '82."
Domingo's selection was an ideal fit, given that the tournament was hosted by his home country. The Spanish-language song, paired with a grand orchestral arrangement, gave the tournament an elegant and sophisticated atmosphere.
1986 - Stephanie Lawrence: "A Special Kind of Hero" (Mexico)
The 1986 World Cup featured "A Special Kind of Hero," performed by British actress and vocalist Stephanie Lawrence.
Notably, the track was composed by Rick Wakeman, the famed keyboardist of the progressive rock band Yes. This tournament also popularized several unofficial tracks, such as Arrow's "Hot Hot Hot," which became synonymous with the vibrant energy of Latin American football.
1990 - Edoardo Bennato & Gianna Nannini: "Un'estate Italiana" (Italy)
To many football enthusiasts, "Un'estate Italiana" stands out as the finest soundtrack in World Cup history.
Performed by Edoardo Bennato and Gianna Nannini, it was the first track to be universally celebrated as the tournament’s defining musical piece. The song was produced by Giorgio Moroder, one of the global music industry's most influential pioneers. An English version, recorded by the Giorgio Moroder Project, was also released
1994 - Daryl Hall & Sounds of Blackness: "Gloryland" (United States)
When the World Cup made its debut in the United States, Daryl Hall of the famed duo Hall & Oates collaborated with the gospel ensemble Sounds of Blackness to deliver "Gloryland."
The track emphasized themes of hope, community, and solidarity, matching the ambitions of a tournament designed to introduce soccer to a massive new American audience.
Concurrently, Queen’s legendary "We Are the Champions" was adopted as the tournament's promotional anthem.
1998 - Ricky Martin: "La Copa de la Vida (The Cup of Life)" (France)
When discussing World Cup anthems that have achieved permanent legendary status, Ricky Martin's name invariably sits at the top.
"La Copa de la Vida" became one of the most commercially successful World Cup tracks ever recorded, topping international charts and cementing Martin's status as a global pop icon.
Though FIFA designated an official anthem by Youssou N'Dour and Axelle Red that year, it was completely overshadowed by the sheer cultural force of Martin's hit.
2002 - Anastacia: "Boom" (South Korea & Japan)
American R&B vocalist Anastacia was selected to voice "Boom" for the first Asian-hosted tournament.
The song became an immediate favorite among football fans, later earning the title of favorite World Cup song by MTV Italy in 2014. The 2002 tournament also featured a memorable electronic instrumental titled "Anthem" by the composer Vangelis.
2006 - Il Divo ft. Toni Braxton & Herbert Grnemeyer (Germany)
The 200 German edition spotlighted two official tracks.
The first was "The Time of Our Lives," an emotional power ballad delivered by operatic quartet Il Divo alongside R&B star Toni Braxton. The second was "Zeit dass sich was dreht (Celebrate The Day)," performed by Herbert Grönemeyer alongside the Malian musical duo Amadou & Mariam.
That same year, Shakira ignited stadiums with "Hips Don't Lie (Bamboo Mix)," which is often considered a semi-official song.
2010 - Shakira: "Waka Waka (This Time for Africa)" (South Africa)
It is difficult to discuss the song "Waka Waka" by Shakira at the 2010 World Cup without mentioning its status as the most successful World Cup song of all time.
Shakira collaborated with Freshlyground to deliver a song that combined Afro-pop, reggaeton, and Latin pop. To this day, the song has garnered billions of views and has become a symbol of the global football celebration.
The main meaning of "Waka Waka" is the spirit of perseverance, unity, and optimism. It is no wonder that many people still consider it the best World Cup soundtrack in history.
In addition, K'Naan also achieved success with "Wavin' Flag," which became the official promotional song for Coca-Cola.
2014 - Pitbull ft. Jennifer Lopez & Claudia Leitte: "We Are One (Ole Ola)" (Brazil)
Brazil is known as a football country, so the 2014 FIFA official song was full of the typical Latin American festival atmosphere. The collaboration between Pitbull, Jennifer Lopez, and Claudia Leitte resulted in "We Are One (Ole Ola)."
In the same edition, Shakira once again appeared with "La La La (Brazil 2014)" alongside Carlinhos Brown. Meanwhile, "Dar um Jeito (We Will Find a Way)" was performed by Carlos Santana, Wyclef Jean, Avicii, and Alexandre Pires.
2018 - Nicky Jam ft. Will Smith & Era Istrefi: "Live It Up" (Russia)
For Russia 2018, FIFA chose a cross-genre and cross-country collaboration. "Live It Up" was performed by Nicky Jam, Will Smith, and Era Istrefi.
The song was produced by Diplo. Meanwhile, "Colors" by Jason Derulo became the official Coca-Cola song, which was also very popular during the 2018 World Cup era.
2022 - Trinidad Cardona, Davido & Aisha: "Hayya Hayya (Better Together)" (Qatar)
The song "Hayya Hayya" at the 2022 World Cup cannot be overlooked, as it became FIFA's first official song released for the Qatar tournament.
The song was performed by Trinidad Cardona, Davido, and Aisha, produced by RedOne. The song was released on April 1, 2022, carrying a message of cultural unity. Qatar 2022 also presented several other official songs, including "Arhbo" by Gims and Ozuna, "Dreamers" by Jungkook BTS with Fahad Al-Kubaisi, "Light The Sky," and "Tukoh Taka" performed by Nicki Minaj, Maluma, and Myriam Fares.
2026 - Shakira & Burna Boy: "Dai Dai" (Canada, Mexico, United States)
For the FIFA World Cup 2026, FIFA once again appointed Shakira as the main song performer with "Dai Dai" alongside Burna Boy. The song was released on May 15, 2026, as the official song of FIFA 2026.
Dai Dai became one of the 2026 World Cup songs that combined Afrobeats, dance-pop, and reggaeton with a message of global unity. The song was co-written with Ed Sheeran and included various international language elements in its chorus. FIFA described the song as a celebration of football, culture, and global unity.
The presence of this song made Shakira the first artist involved in four different World Cup music eras, strengthening her position as one of the 2026 World Cup song performers and an icon of global football music.
In addition to "Dai Dai," the official FIFA 2026 album also included:
"Lighter" - Jelly Roll & Carn Len
"Por Ella" - Belinda & Los Ángeles Azules
"Echo" - Daddy Yankee & Shenseea
"Illuminate" - Jessie Reyez & Elyanna
"Goals" - Lisa, Anitta & Rema
"Game Time" - Future & Tyla
From "El Rock del Mundial" to "Dai Dai," the journey of the official FIFA World Cup soundtrack shows how football and music have developed together. Each generation has its own favorite song, but names like Ricky Martin, Shakira, and even Jungkook have proven that music can become a universal language that unites billions of football fans worldwide.
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