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FIFA World Cup songs from 1962 to 2026, with iconic songs like Un’estate italiana, Cup of Life, Waka Waka, Hayya Hayya and Dai Dai.
FIFA World Cup trophy (AP)
Music and football have shared a deep connection for decades, with fans around the world using chants and songs to celebrate their teams.
FIFA, however, only formally embraced the idea of official World Cup music in 1962, beginning a tradition that has since become one of the tournament’s defining cultural elements.
Here are all the FIFA World Cup songs:
1962 – Chile
The journey began with Los Ramblers’ “El Rock del Mundial,” the first official World Cup song. Hugely popular in Chile, the track was primarily focused on supporting the host nation and did not yet have the international appeal that later tournament songs would achieve.
1978 – Argentina
The 1978 edition marked a major shift in quality and ambition. Legendary Italian composer Ennio Morricone created the instrumental masterpiece “El Mundial” with the Buenos Aires Philharmonic. Even without lyrics, the composition became one of the most respected World Cup musical pieces ever produced.
1982 – Spain
Spain turned to celebrated conductor Plácido Domingo, who created “Mundial’82,” a lively tune deeply influenced by Spanish musical traditions and festive rhythms.
1990 – Italy
Italy delivered one of the most iconic football songs ever with “Un’estate Italiana (To Be Number One),” performed in Italian by Edoardo Bennato and Gianna Nannini and in English by the Giorgio Moroder Project. The emotional anthem perfectly captured the romance of football.
1994 – United States
The USA World Cup featured “Gloryland” by Daryl Hall and Sounds of Blackness. Driven by gospel and soul influences, the song reflected American musical identity and patriotic energy.
1998 – France
France introduced both an official anthem and an official song. Youssou N’Dour and Axelle Red delivered “La Cour des Grands (Do You Mind If I Play),” while Ricky Martin’s “Cup of Life (La Copa de la Vida)” became a global phenomenon and remains one of FIFA’s most beloved tracks.
2002 – South Korea and Japan
The first Asian-hosted World Cup featured “Boom” by Anastacia as the official song, while Vangelis composed the anthem “Anthem.” FIFA also promoted “Let’s Get Together” as the tournament’s local song.
2006 – Germany
Germany’s World Cup soundtrack included “The Time of Our Lives” by Il Divo and Toni Braxton, alongside “Zeit, dass sich was dreht (Celebrate The Day)” by Herbert Grönemeyer featuring Amadou & Mariam.
2010 – South Africa
South Africa raised the bar dramatically with Shakira’s “Waka Waka (This Time For Africa)” and K’Naan’s “Wavin’ Flag.” The tournament also featured “Sign of a Victory” by R. Kelly and “Game On” by Pitbull, TKZee and Dario G.
2014 – Brazil
Brazil embraced carnival energy with “Ole Ola (We Are One)” by Pitbull, Jennifer Lopez and Claudia Leitte. The anthem “Dar um Jeito (We Will Find a Way)” featured Carlos Santana, Wyclef, Avicii and Alexandre Pires.
2018 – Russia
Russia 2018 showcased “Live It Up” by Nicky Jam, Will Smith and Era Istrefi, a high-energy multilingual track performed at the closing ceremony.
2022 – Qatar
Qatar’s soundtrack featured “Hayya Hayya (Better Together)” by Trinidad Cardona, Davido and Aisha. Jungkook of BTS also released “Dreamers,” adding further global appeal to the tournament.
2022 – USA, Canada, Mexico
Shakira returns with Dai Dai – the official anthem for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
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