Think Shakira Was No. 1? ACM’s Surprising World Cup Radio Ranking
As the world prepares for the opening whistle of the 2026 World Cup in the United States, Canada and Mexico, Israel already has a clear winner, at least on Israeli radio. Special data published by ACUM reveals which World Cup songs have been played most often on Israeli radio of all time, and the result is surprising: the song at No. 1 is the official anthem of the 2014 World Cup in Brazil, “We Are One (Ole Ola),” performed by Pitbull and Jennifer Lopez.
The Brazilian carnival song that never left the playlist may have accompanied the matches of the 2014 World Cup, but in Israel it became much more than a one-tournament hit. The combination of Latin rhythm, samba atmosphere and a catchy chorus turned it into a permanent radio hit even years after the tournament ended in Brazil. According to ACUM data, it is the most-played World Cup song on radio stations in Israel, an achievement that places it above some of the most closely identified anthems in world football.
Shakira still reigns in second place, with “Waka Waka (This Time for Africa),” the official song of the 2010 World Cup in South Africa. More than 15 years after its release, “Waka Waka” is still regarded by many as the ultimate World Cup song, one that instantly brings back the atmosphere of vuvuzelas, colorful streets and the first African tournament in history. Shakira appears again in fourth place with “DAI DAI,” the new song for the 2026 World Cup with Burna Boy, which has already climbed to the top of Israeli airplay even before the tournament has fully gotten underway.
Nostalgia for the 1990s is still alive and well, with third place going to “La Copa de la Vida” by Ricky Martin from the 1998 World Cup in France, a song that became a symbol of the late 1990s and propelled Ricky Martin to international stardom. The 1990 World Cup in Italy is also still alive in Israeli memory, with “Un’Estate Italiana” by Edoardo Bennato and Gianna Nannini making it into the top 10 and continuing to be regarded by many fans as one of the greatest World Cup songs ever.
ACUM’s ranking is based on cumulative airplay data from 34 national and regional radio stations in Israel since computerized tracking began in 1993. But beyond the numbers, the list also says something deeper about the connection between music and sport, World Cup songs are long no longer just tournament songs. They are collective memory. Each such song brings listeners back to the big moments, last-minute goals, street celebrations, nights in front of the television and the sense of excitement that only the World Cup can create.
