And the Songs Are: The Playlist That Will Accompany Us at the 2026 World Cup

From Bosnian dance to Portuguese rap, if you are looking for a soundtrack for the games, this is the place.

Sport 5, published: 11.06.26, 15:50 Photo: Sport 5

Finally, it is happening: tonight at 22:00, the moment football fans around the world have been waiting for will arrive, and the opening whistle of the World Cup will be heard. Four long years have passed since Lionel Messi and Argentina lifted their historic trophy, and now everything begins again. The madness has started.

Besides football, the World Cup is also a cultural celebration, bringing with it no small number of works released around the tournament. The most prominent field is, as usual, music. The World Cup always generates a huge number of songs, but this time the quantity seems especially large, from official tournament anthems, to songs created by commercial companies, to songs from the various countries. So in honor of the celebration, we organized things for you and chose 10 songs that can accompany the matches. Put on your headphones and let’s begin.

Dai Dai

As tradition dictates, this World Cup also has an official soundtrack, and at its center is Shakira. Sixteen years after the “Waka Waka” that drove the world wild, she is back with what is supposed to be the tournament’s theme song, under a title that in Italian means, loosely translated, “Come on, come on.” The successful Colombian singer is also expected to perform the song at the opening ceremony, יחד with Burna Boy, a successful Nigerian dancehall artist. Anyone expecting a hit in the style of the classic song from South Africa will, in my opinion, be a little disappointed, but this is בהחלט a pretty cool Latin pop creation.

DNA

If someone is looking for a hit, maybe the answer will come from there. As tradition dictates, FIFA released a full soundtrack for this World Cup, which includes eight fairly polished songs. One of them is this star-studded piece, featuring opera singer Andrea Bocelli, South Korean singer EGAE, David Guetta, who produced and was behind the work, and also the hot rapper Megan Thee Stallion, after Nicki Minaj, as you may recall, was in the previous campaign. An uplifting, cool and very powerful song. This is not just a game, this is the DNA.

Lighter

The World Cup is coming to America, and as such, it has to connect with American heritage too. With the roots, and in this case, country music. Jelly Roll, a former rapper who was also convicted of criminal offenses, is now one of the leading country artists in American music, and he is joining the celebration as well, along with Mexican singer Carin Leon. A less upbeat song, but no less cool, and one that puts you in the mood for fighting for yourself. America in your face.

Champions

A song that could certainly succeed, also because of who is behind it, YouTuber “Speed,” who sometimes, between videos, also works in music. Under his hands came a very infectious and World Cup-oriented track, which could also become a pretty big hit, with a summer and stadium atmosphere that can be addictive.

Jump

As tradition dictates, Coca-Cola is also producing its own song for the World Cup, which will compete with the official anthem. This time they went big, with a cover of an old hit. “Jump” is a rock hit by the successful band Van Halen, which received a new arrangement with successful reggaeton artist J Balvin, together with R&B singer Amber Mark. A classic that is impossible to refuse, in a modern arrangement. Not bad.

Take Me To America (Bosnia)

We have moved on from general anthems to those of specific countries, and this is a World Cup that celebrates diversity. No fewer than 48 teams will be in this World Cup, and among them are quite a few sides not usually accustomed to this stage, such as Bosnia, which will appear only for the second time in its history as an independent country. And the truth? Judging by this anthem, it’s a shame they do not come more often. A fun song with a gypsy flavor, by the band Dubioza Kolektiv, impossible not to dance to.

Take us to America.

Bate No Peito (Brazil)

It has been 24 years since Brazil last lifted the trophy. Far too long by their standards, and the national team is trying to rally public support around it, as in this song, where a line of Brazilian singers came together to create an anthem for the local team. “Beat on your chest,” they sing to the fans, “we are Brazilians,” in a very typical song that really takes you to the beaches of Rio. It is not clear whether Neymar will dance at this World Cup, but this song certainly makes you want to.

Alnashama (Jordan)

It is not far from us, but it will make history. Jordan’s national team will appear in the World Cup for the first time in its history, and it invested in a song produced by Moroccan RedOne, who created a number of songs around the previous World Cup in Qatar. Hussein Al Salman and Yara Mustafa perform it, and the lyrics are emotional and patriotic, for the sons of the late King Hussein. “Let the world sing, we are Jordanians, and with God’s help we will win.” A fun, catchy track with a truly Middle Eastern flavor.

E Tuga Ou Nada (Portugal)

The most attractive song in this World Cup, in fact, comes from Portugal. The team that dreams of a first World Cup, and of a fitting final dance for Ronaldo, has delivered something especially explosive, titled “Portugal or nothing.” A number of local rappers perform it, with a catchy chorus, and something that could give a boost to Roberto Martínez’s talented team.

Mama Wa (Curaçao)

As mentioned, the upcoming World Cup will also be the finest hour for the smaller teams, those people have not really heard of, and who suddenly get a chance on the big stage. One of them is the Curaçao national team, of our acquaintance Kenji Gorré, which will try to spring a surprise, and is sending with it a very charming song, in a local style under the title “The Blue Wave.” More relaxed, less festive, but fun.

World Cup 2026

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