From Ricky Martin to Shakira: These have been the biggest musical hits in World Cup history
The World Cup is back and so are it’s anthems. Get ready for an overdose of soccer and a brand new sound track of anthems that will follow us all summer.
Every four years, for about five or six weeks the World Cup takes over our lives. It doesn’t matter on what corner of the globe you live in, there is no escaping soccer’s biggest event, and as you probably already know there is no escaping the songs that accompany each edition of the World Cup.
Shakira sets the bar
Like them or hate them, every World Cup we are bombarded by songs that eventually become chart toppers and part of our everyday lives. We are rendered powerless against the forces that are the World Cup and the official songs or anthems that accompany them. Now some are bangers that people grow to embrace and love even though you are destined to hear them over and over and over again.
Other songs don’t exactly strike the right note or nerve for everyone, and those songs can become a bit monotonous. Either way, you are still going to have to suffer through them throughout the duration of the World Cup. Each year it seems like we have more and more songs that are connected to the tournament. After all the World Cup is a money making machine and the way the tournament has evolved over the last 96 years only reflect the ever-growing sound tracks go hand and hand with the summer’s biggest event.
Shakira is the Queen of World Cup anthems. Waka Waka will never have any competition at the top of the World Cup soundtrack summit. The 2010 World Cup in South Africa was graced with the Colombians singers afro-caribbean banger. It was the perfect song for the event, and it didn’t help that at the time she was married to a Gerard Pique, who went on to win that edition of the World Cup with Spain.
Rolling with Jelly Roll?
Not all of the songs associated with the World Cup are classics, and not all World Cups have had official songs. In fact, it wasn’t until the 1962 World Cup in Chile that Los Ramblers song “El Rock Munidal” was designated the official song of the tournament. FIFA, who organize the tournament every four years, weren’t involved in the selection of that song 60 years ago, but they have become much more involved since then.
While there is really no verification of an exact date, year or edition of the World Cup in which FIFA began to give their input on songs that should be associated with their tournament, it is believed that 1990 was the first “official song of the FIFA World Cup.” The song was “To Be Number One” by Giorgio Moroder Project.
Over the last 36 years we have gone from having a single song, or maybe two connected to a particular edition of the World Cup to entire soundtracks. In Qatar 2022 there were eight songs that were considered World Cup tracks, and this year we are set for even more. “Lighter” by Jelly Roll and Carin Leon is set to be one of the main ones although there has been plenty of backlash after it’s release.
World Cup hits since 1990
Italy 1990
Official song: “To Be Number One” by Giorgio Moroder Project (English and Italian)
USA 1994
Official song: “Gloryland” by Dayll Hall and Sounds of Blackness
France 1998
Official song: “La Copa de la Vida” by Ricky Martin (English and Spanish)
Official anthem: “La Cour des Grands” by Youssou N´Dour and Axelle Red (French and English)
South Korea/Japan 2002
Official Song: “Boom” Anastacia (English)
Official local song: “Let’s Get Together Now” by Voice of KOREA/JAPAN (Korean and Japanese)
Official Anthem: “Anthem”, by Vangelis (Instrumental)
Germany 2006
Official song: “The Time of Our Lives” Il Divo featuring Toni Braxton (English and Spanish)
Official anthem: “Zeit dass sich was dreht (Celebrate The Day)”, Herbert Gronemeyer featuring Amadou & Mariam (English, German, French, Bambara)
South Africa 2010
Official song: “Waka Waka” Shakira featuring Freshlyground (English, Spanish, isiXhosa Fang)
Official mascot song: “Game On” Pitbull, TKZee and Dario G (English)
Official anthem: Sign of Victory, R. Kelley featuring Soweto Spiritual Singers (English)
Brazil 2014
Official song: “We Are One” Pitbull featuring Jennifer Lopez and Claudia Leitte (English, Portuguese and Spanish)
Official Mascot song: “Tatu Bom de Bola” Arlindo Cruz (Portugese)
Official Anthem: “Dar um Jeito” Carlos Santana featuring Wyclef Jean, Avicii, Alexandre Pires
Track from official soundtrack: “Ole” Adelen (English)
Track from official soundtrack: “Vida” Ricky Martin (English and Spainish)
Russia 2018
Official anthem: “Living Football” Hans Zimmer and Lorne Balfe (Instrumental)
Official song: “Live it Up” Nicky Jam featuring Will Smith and Istrefi (English and Spanish)
Qatar 2022
Official anthem: “The Official FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 Theme” Zachary Aaron Golden (Arabic and English)
Track from official album: “Hayya Hayya” Trinidad Cardona, Davido and AISHA (English)
Track from official album: “Arhbo” Ozuna, GIMS and RedOne (Arabic, Spanish and French)
Track from official album and Budweiser anthem: “The World Is Yours To Take” Tears for Fears featuring Lil Baby (English)
Track from official album: “Light the Sky” Nora Fatehi, Balqees, Rahma Riad, Manal and Red One (English and Hindi)
Track from official album and Official FIFA Fan Anthem: “Tukoh Taka” Nicky Minaj, Maluma and Myriam Fares (English, Spanish and Arabic)
Track from official album: “Dreamers” Jung Kook featuring Fahad Al Kubaisi (English and Arabic)
USA, Mexico Canada 2026 (all but one unofficial)
Official anthem: “The Official FIFA World Cup 26 Theme” Zachary Aaron Gordon
“Dai Dai” Shakira and Burna Boy (English and Spanish)
“Lighter” Jelly Roll and Carin Leon (English and Spanish)
“Por Ella” Belinda and Los Angeles Azules (Spanish)
“Echo” Daddy Yankee ans Shenseea (English and Spanish)
“Illuminate” Jessie Reyes and Elyanna (English and Arabic)
“Goals” LIsa, Anitta and Rema (English, Spanish, and Portuguese)
“Game Time” Future, Tyla (English)
World Cup (Champions) IShowSpeed (English)
Related stories
Get closer to the game! Whether you like your soccer of the European variety or that on this side of the pond, our AS USA app has it all. Dive into live coverage, expert insights, breaking news, exclusive videos, and more. Plus, stay updated on NFL, NBA and all other big sports stories as well as the latest in current affairs and entertainment. Download now for all-access coverage, right at your fingertips – anytime, anywhere.
And there’s more: check out our TikTok and Instagram reels for bite-sized visual takes on all the biggest soccer news and insights.
Complete your personal details to comment