She has become one of the few artists trusted to define that sound
Once again, as the world prepares to gather around football's grandest stage, a familiar voice steps forward to give the moment its melody. Shakira, the Colombian artist who helped define the sound of the 2010 World Cup with 'Waka Waka,' has unveiled 'Dai Dai' — her official anthem for the 2026 tournament spanning the United States, Mexico, and Canada. Joined by Nigerian artist Burna Boy, she offers a song that reaches across continents, much like the sport itself, arriving at a tournament that will be larger and more globally ambitious than any before it.
- Shakira announced 'Dai Dai' from the Maracanã stadium in Rio — the same iconic ground where she has stood before on football's biggest stage, making the reveal feel like a homecoming.
- The collaboration with Burna Boy is no accident: pairing Latin American and African musical traditions signals FIFA's deliberate push to reflect the sport's sprawling, diverse global audience.
- With the song dropping May 14 and the tournament opening June 11, 'Dai Dai' has only three weeks to embed itself in the cultural imagination before the first whistle blows.
- The shadow of 'Waka Waka' looms large — one of the most recognized World Cup anthems ever recorded — raising the question of whether lightning can strike twice for the same artist.
- Colombia's qualification means Shakira will not only soundtrack the tournament but watch her own nation compete within it, adding a personal dimension to her ceremonial role.
Shakira, the 49-year-old Colombian singer behind some of pop's most enduring hooks, has stepped into a familiar role. On Thursday, she revealed 'Dai Dai' as the official anthem for the 2026 FIFA World Cup — a tournament set to unfold across the United States, Mexico, and Canada this summer. The announcement came through a short video filmed at Rio de Janeiro's Maracanã stadium, a venue that has witnessed her perform before on football's grandest occasion.
The song, due for release on May 14, features Nigerian artist Burna Boy. It marks Shakira's second time as the official voice of a World Cup. In 2010, she gave South Africa's tournament its defining sound with 'Waka Waka (This Time for Africa).' Her ties to the competition run even deeper: she performed 'La La La' at the 2014 closing ceremony in Rio and sang 'Hips Don't Lie' at Germany's closing ceremony in 2006, making her one of the most consistent musical presences in the tournament's modern history.
The pairing with Burna Boy appears deliberate — a blending of Latin American and African musical traditions that mirrors the World Cup's increasingly global character. For Shakira, the stakes carry personal weight too: Colombia has qualified for the expanded 48-team tournament, meaning she will watch her home country compete in a competition she is helping to define.
Whether 'Dai Dai' can match the cultural staying power of 'Waka Waka' is an open question. But with the tournament running from June 11 through July 19, the song will have the entire summer to make its case.
Shakira, the 49-year-old Colombian singer whose catalog spans from "Whenever, Wherever" to "Hips Don't Lie," has claimed another World Cup moment. On Thursday, she unveiled "Dai Dai" as the official anthem for the 2026 tournament, which will take place across the United States, Mexico, and Canada this summer. The announcement came via a one-minute video posted from Rio de Janeiro's Maracana stadium, the iconic venue where she has performed before on football's biggest stage.
The track, arriving May 14, features Nigerian artist Burna Boy alongside Shakira's vocals. It represents her second time serving as the official voice of a World Cup tournament. In 2010, when South Africa hosted the games, she delivered "Waka Waka (This Time for Africa)," a song that became synonymous with that summer's competition. Her connection to World Cup ceremonies runs deeper still. She recorded the second theme song for Brazil 2014, "La La La," which she performed at the closing ceremony in Rio. Years earlier, in 2006 when Germany hosted, she sang "Hips Don't Lie" at the closing ceremony, cementing her status as a reliable fixture in football's ceremonial landscape.
Shakira's presence at the 2026 tournament carries particular weight for her home country. Colombia qualified for the 48-team competition, meaning she will watch her nation compete in a tournament she is helping to soundtrack. The expanded format—48 teams instead of the traditional 32—marks a significant shift in how the World Cup will be structured, and Shakira's involvement signals FIFA's continued investment in pairing the tournament with major musical moments.
Her trajectory from performer to official anthem artist reflects both her sustained relevance in global pop culture and the strategic importance FIFA places on music in marketing the World Cup. Each tournament now arrives with its own sonic identity, and Shakira has become one of the few artists trusted to define that sound across multiple editions. The collaboration with Burna Boy, one of Africa's most prominent contemporary musicians, suggests an intentional effort to blend Latin American and African musical traditions—a nod to the tournament's increasingly global reach and the diverse fan bases that follow the sport.
With the release date set for mid-May and the tournament beginning June 11, "Dai Dai" will have roughly three weeks to establish itself in the cultural conversation before the first matches kick off. Whether it achieves the staying power of "Waka Waka" remains to be seen, but Shakira's track record suggests the song will become inescapable during the tournament's run through July 19.
Citas Notables
The announcement came via a one-minute video posted from Rio de Janeiro's Maracana stadium— Shakira's social media announcement
La Conversación del Hearth Otra perspectiva de la historia
Why does FIFA keep turning to Shakira for these moments? Is it just because she's famous?
It's more than that. She's proven she can create songs that actually stick—"Waka Waka" became the sound of 2010 in a way that transcended football. FIFA wants that cultural penetration. She delivers it.
But she's done this three times now. Doesn't it feel repetitive?
You'd think so, but each one has been different enough. "Waka Waka" was celebratory and African-focused. "La La La" was more playful. "Dai Dai" is a collaboration, which changes the texture entirely. She's not just recycling herself.
What's the significance of pairing her with Burna Boy?
It's deliberate geography. You're getting Latin America through Shakira, West Africa through Burna Boy. The World Cup is expanding to 48 teams—it's becoming less European, less predictable. The music should reflect that.
Does she actually care about football, or is this just a paycheck?
That's the thing—she's Colombian. Her country is in the tournament. This isn't abstract for her. She's not just selling a song; she's part of the story.
Will anyone remember "Dai Dai" the way they remember "Waka Waka"?
Impossible to know. "Waka Waka" had something ineffable—the moment, the context, the way it sounded. You can't manufacture that. But Shakira's given herself the best chance by doing it again.