FIFA announced ‘Dai Dai,’ a collaboration between Colombian superstar Shakira and Nigerian artist Burna Boy, as the official song for the 2026 FIFA World Cup on Friday. The track, available immediately on streaming platforms, marks Shakira’s fourth World Cup anthem and her first since ‘Waka Waka (This Time for Africa)’ in 2010. FIFA described the song as capturing ‘the energy, passion and global spirit’ of the tournament, which will take place across the United States, Canada and Mexico from June 11 to July 19, 2026.

Royalties from ‘Dai Dai’ will benefit the FIFA Global Citizen Education Fund, an initiative aiming to raise $100 million for children’s education and soccer opportunities by the end of the tournament. FIFA stated the fund supports access to schooling and grassroots soccer programs worldwide, aligning with its broader social responsibility goals. The fund’s launch follows FIFA’s expanded commitments to youth development and community investment ahead of the expanded 48-team tournament.

Shakira, one of the most recognizable names in Latin pop, has a long history with FIFA. Her 2010 anthem ‘Waka Waka’ became one of the most streamed World Cup songs ever, associated with the South Africa tournament. She returned in 2014 with ‘La La La (Brazil 2014)’ and again in 2018 with ‘Live It Up,’ featuring Will Smith and Nicky Jam. ‘Dai Dai’ continues this tradition, blending Afrobeats and Latin rhythms—a nod to the growing influence of African and Latin music in global pop culture.

Burna Boy, a Grammy-winning artist from Nigeria, has risen to global prominence with hits like ‘Last Last’ and ‘Ye.’ His collaboration with Shakira brings a fresh, contemporary sound to the World Cup’s musical lineup. The pairing reflects FIFA’s strategy to engage diverse audiences through partnerships with top-tier international artists. Burna Boy’s inclusion also highlights the growing cultural footprint of African music in major sporting events.

FIFA’s choice of ‘Dai Dai’ follows a pattern of selecting anthems that resonate beyond the pitch. Previous World Cup songs like ‘We Are One (Ole Ola)’ in 2014 and ‘Colors’ in 2018 aimed to unify global audiences under a shared musical identity. These songs often become cultural touchstones, played at fan zones, broadcast events and in marketing campaigns worldwide. ‘Dai Dai,’ with its multilingual title (meaning ‘yes yes’ in Yoruba), signals FIFA’s intent to embrace linguistic diversity.

The release of the song comes as FIFA ramps up promotional activities for the 2026 edition, the first to feature 48 teams. Organizers are leveraging cultural moments to build anticipation, from anthem announcements to host city unveilings. The financial boost from anthem royalties—often substantial for high-profile collaborations—will directly support the education fund, a rare direct link between entertainment and social impact in major sports.

Looking ahead, FIFA plans to unveil more tournament-related content, including mascot reveals and official match ball announcements. The ‘Dai Dai’ campaign will likely feature in global advertising and fan engagement initiatives, ensuring the song’s place in the cultural build-up to the 2026 World Cup.

What You Need to Know

  • Source: NPR
  • Published: May 15, 2026 at 19:22 UTC
  • Category: World
  • Topics: #npr · #usa · #world-news · #sports · #football · #world-cup

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Curated by GlobalBR News · May 15, 2026

🇧🇷 Resumo em Português

A Copa do Mundo de 2026 já tem sua trilha sonora oficial: a rainha do pop Shakira e o superstar nigeriano Burna Boy uniram forças para lançar “Dai Dai”, um hino vibrante que promete incendiar os gramados e as festas ao redor do globo. Com batidas contagiosas e letras que celebram a união e a paixão pelo futebol, a canção chega em um momento em que o torneio, pela primeira vez na história, será co-organizado por três países — Estados Unidos, Canadá e México —, ampliando ainda mais seu alcance e apelo multicultural.

A escolha de Shakira, ícone latino-americano e embaixadora do futebol, junto a Burna Boy, um dos maiores nomes do afrobeats, reforça a diversidade que define a competição. Além do impacto cultural, a FIFA anunciou que os royalties da música serão revertidos para programas globais de educação e futebol, uma estratégia para usar o poder do esporte como ferramenta de transformação social — algo que ressoa fortemente no Brasil, país que sabe como poucas o que é viver o esporte como paixão nacional e possível alavanca de mudanças. Para os torcedores brasileiros, acostumados a viver a Copa como uma festa coletiva, a canção chega como um convite para celebrar não apenas o torneio, mas também a esperança de um futuro onde o esporte e a educação caminhem lado a lado.

Agora, resta esperar se “Dai Dai” se tornará mais um clássico instantâneo da história das Copas — ou se, como muitos hinos do passado, será esquecida após o apito final.

🇪🇸 Resumen en Español

La FIFA ha dado a conocer el himno oficial de la Copa Mundial 2026 con la colaboración de dos gigantes musicales: Shakira y Burna Boy, quienes estrenan el tema Dai Dai.

La elección de estos artistas no solo refuerza el carácter global y multicultural de la competición, sino que también subraya el compromiso de la FIFA con causas sociales, ya que los royalties del tema se destinarán a programas de educación y fútbol en todo el mundo. Para los hispanohablantes, el protagonismo de Shakira —ícono de la música en español— representa un guiño cultural que conecta con audiencias de habla hispana, mientras que la participación de Burna Boy, estrella africana, amplía el alcance del evento. Además, el título Dai Dai, que en yoruba significa “bailar”, refuerza la esencia festiva del torneo, consolidando una vez más la música como puente entre naciones.