And the Names Are: The Songs Set to Accompany Us at the 2026 World Cup

And the Names Are: The Songs Set to Accompany Us at the 2026 World Cup, from Bosnian dance to Portuguese rap. For anyone looking for a soundtrack to the matches, this is the place, Sport 5 Published: 11.06.26, 15:50 Photo: Sport 5

At last, it is happening. Tonight at 10:00 p.m., 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 begun. Click for 5 Hevra, the World Cup prediction game of the Sports Channel in partnership with McDonald’s.

Beyond football, the World Cup is also a cultural celebration, bringing with it many works released around the tournament. The most prominent field is, as usual, music. The global football tournament always generates a huge number of songs around it, 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, for the occasion, we organized things for you and chose 10 songs that can accompany the matches for you. Put on your headphones and let’s begin.

Dai Dai

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

DNA

If someone is looking for a hit, the answer may come from there. As tradition dictates, FIFA released an entire soundtrack for this World Cup, including eight fairly elaborate 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 remembered, was in the previous campaign. An uplifting, cool and very powerful song. It is not just a game, it is the DNA.

Lighter

The World Cup is coming to America, and as such, it must also connect with American heritage. To the roots, and in this case, to country music. Jelly Roll, a former rapper who was also convicted of crimes, is now one of the leading country artists in American music, and he is joining the celebration too, with Mexican singer Carin León also participating. A less rhythmic song, but no less cool, and one that puts you in the mood for a battle for yourself. America in your face.

Champions

A song that could definitely do well, also because of who is behind it, YouTuber Speed, who sometimes dabbles in music between videos. Under his hands came a very uplifting and World Cup-like creation, which could also be a pretty big hit, in a summery, stadium atmosphere that can be addictive.

Jump

As tradition dictates, Coca-Cola is also producing its own song for the World Cup, competing 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 version. Not bad.

Take Me To America (Bosnia)

We moved from general anthems to songs for specific countries, and this is a World Cup that celebrates diversity. Not fewer than 48 national teams will be in this World Cup, along with many teams that are not so used to this stage, such as Bosnia, which will appear for only the second time in its history as an independent state. And the truth is, according to this anthem, it is 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)

Brazil has not seen a trophy lifted in 24 years. Far too long, by their standards, and the national team is trying to rally public support around it, as in this song, in which a number 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 you certainly can to this song.

Alnashama (Jordan)

It is not far from us, but it will make history. The Jordanian national team will appear in the upcoming World Cup for the first time in its history, and invested in a song, produced by Moroccan RedOne, who created many 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 piece with a truly Middle Eastern aroma.

E Tuga Ou Nada (Portugal)

The most handsome song in this World Cup, actually, comes from Portugal. The team that dreams of its first World Cup, and of a fitting final dance for Ronaldo, came with a particularly explosive track, titled “Portugal or Nothing.” A number of local rappers perform it, with a catchy chorus, and something that could give a boost to Roberto Martinez’s talented squad.

Mama Wa (Curaçao)

As mentioned, the upcoming World Cup will also be a golden moment for the small teams, those few people have really heard of, who suddenly get a chance on the big stage. One of them is Curaçao, with our acquaintance Kenji Jora, which will try to surprise, and sends along a very cute song, in a local atmosphere under the title “The Blue Wave.” More relaxed, less festive, but fun.

World Cup 2026

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