Shakira and Burna Boy linked with 2026 World Cup anthem

Why the World Cup song still matters

A tournament anthem can feel like a marketing extra, but the best ones become part of the event’s memory.

• Shakira already has strong World Cup history and clear football recognition.
• Burna Boy brings a modern, international sound with stadium appeal.
• Reports suggest Dai Dai blends Latin pop and Afrobeats with a celebratory, multilingual feel.

That formula makes sense for a competition designed to speak to every corner of the game. The update also says royalties are set to support the Global Citizen Education Fund, giving the release a broader purpose beyond the usual pre-tournament hype.

More than a football headline

This is also a wider music-week story, not just a football one.

• Drake has reportedly unveiled ICEMAN, a project framed around introspection and isolation.
• Gracie Abrams is said to have returned with Hit The Wall, leaning into stripped-back emotional pop.
• Martin Garrix and Ed Sheeran reportedly reconnect on Repeat It, built for festival-sized singalongs.
• K-pop remains part of the week’s noise, with new material linked to aespa, G-Dragon, NMIXX and BoyNextDoor.

The football angle

For football, the key point is simple: major tournaments are no longer just sporting events. They are cultural seasons. The song, the visuals, the social-media clips and the opening-week atmosphere all help define how a World Cup is remembered before a ball is kicked.

The next thing to watch is whether Dai Dai quickly becomes attached to official tournament build-up, fan events and promotional campaigns as the road to 2026 gathers pace.