Waka Waka vs. Dai Dai: Has Shakira just topped her greatest World Cup song ever?

More than a decade after defining a generation of soccer fans, Shakira is returning to the biggest stage in sports. The global superstar just released “Dai Dai”, the official song for the 2026 FIFA World Cup. But after “Waka Waka”, can Shakira make the same impact twice?

This isn’t just another World Cup anthem. It’s a follow-up to one of the most iconic sports songs ever made.

What to know about “Dai Dai”

A few weeks before releasing the official video for the song, Shakira confirmed the new track, titled “Dai Dai”, will serve as the official anthem for the 2026 World Cup, set to be played across the United States, Canada, and Mexico. The song was released on May 14 and features Nigerian superstar Burna Boy.

Between shots of World Cups past, the music video shows Shakira and dancers at Brazil’s Maracanã stadium. The title itself, “Dai Dai”, roughly translates from Italian to “let’s go” or “come on”, reinforcing the global, high-energy theme FIFA typically looks for in its tournament songs.

The song mixes styles from Afrobeats and Latin Pop. Most of the song is in English, but has a bit of Spanish as well, plus the phrase “Dai Dai” in English, Japanese, Spanish, and French as well. The song incorporates references to famous soccer players like Cristiano Ronaldo and Pelé and is full of inspirational messages. It also mentions all the countries playing in the tournament in 2026.

For American audiences, the biggest wildcard in this collaboration might be Burna Boy. He’s one of the biggest global artists in music right now.

He is widely considered a leading figure in Afrobeats and was named Billboard’s top Afrobeats artist in 2023. He’s been nominated for multiple Grammys, including a historic recognition for African artists, and is one of the most streamed African musicians worldwide.

His inclusion helps turn “Dai Dai” into a global fusion track, blending styles and audiences across continents. And that fits perfectly with a 2026 World Cup that will be the most international ever, spanning three countries and expanding to 48 teams.

Can “Dai Dai” match “Waka Waka”?

Any new Shakira World Cup song will inevitably be compared to “Waka Waka (This Time for Africa)”. And that’s a very high bar.

Released for the 2010 World Cup, “Waka Waka” became a global phenomenon with over 15 million copies sold worldwide, billions of YouTube views, and is now one of the most recognizable sports songs ever made. Just last year, in January 2025, “Waka Waka” earned the Guiness World Record for “most streamed FIFA World Cup song on Spotify” with over a billion streams at that point.

More importantly, the song transcended the tournament itself. Even today, it’s still played at sporting events, parties, and international broadcasts. That’s the standard for “Dai Dai” now - not just to be good, but to be unforgettable.

Shakira and the World Cup: a rare legacy

This isn’t Shakira’s first return to the tournament stage though. In addition to 2010’s “Waka Waka”, she also performed “La La La (Brazil 2014)”.

With “Dai Dai,” she becomes one of the few artists ever to headline multiple World Cup cycles, and arguably the most closely associated with FIFA’s musical identity in the modern era.

World Cup songs aren’t just background music. They shape how fans remember the tournament. “Waka Waka” became synonymous with 2010. Now, “Dai Dai” arrives at a time when the World Cup is expanding, the U.S. market is more important than ever, and global music is more interconnected than ever.

But does “Dai Dai” live up to the status of “Waka Waka”? The general consensus among fans seems to be no. Although it’s a fun fusion of styles and cultures, it lacks the energy of “Waka Waka”. It’s hard to say if this song will have the same lasting power. But again, Shakira really did create a near impossible standard to beat...even for herself.

“Dai Dai” full lyrics

Oh-eh-oh-eh (Oh-eh), eh-oh-eh (Oh-eh)

Oh-eh-oh-eh (Oh-eh), eh-oh-eh

You knew from the day you were born

That here in this place you belong

You been this brave all along

What broke you once made you strong

Dai, dai, ikou, dale, allez, let’s go

Dai, dai, ikou, dale, allez, let’s go

Come follow your desire

Where there’s a will, there’s a way

You are the owner of that fire

No one can take it away

Sweat and blood to write your story

That is how you paved the way

You’re about to reach the glory

Only one step away

All the highs and lows

All the tears and the pain

You been there through it all, been through it all

Just do it again

Now you got to believe, I believe

‘Cause you know what it takes

To be living my dream

At the top of your game

Feel it, got everything you needed

Now bring it like you mean it

Just like you mean it

Dale, no olvide’ lo que vales

Juega como tú sabes

Como tú sabe’

Energy’s contagious, you know

And it never fails, no, no

No one’s getting tired, I know

‘Cause you got that fire, ayo

Dream a little higher, let’s go, let’s go, let’s go

AyoAyo

We’ve taken all that our hearts can hold

And we can’t hold on to the past no more (Mmm)

From the dirt and the tears, we make gold

And we are more than flesh and bones

All the highs and lows (Highs and lows)

All the tears and the pain

You been there through it all, been through it all

Just do it again

Now you got to believe (I believe)

‘Cause you know what it takes

To be living my dream

At the top of your game

Feel it, got everything you needed

Now bring it like you mean it

Just like you mean it

Dale, no olvide’ lo que vales

Juega como tú sabes

Como tú sabe’

Pelé, Maradona, Maldini, Romário

Cristiano Ronaldo

El Pibe, Iniesta, Beckham y Kaká

Messi, Mbappé, Salah

Brasil, Uruguay, Argentina, Colombia

US, England, Germany, France

South Africa, España, México, Japan

Korea, Netherlands

Oh-eh-oh-eh (Oh-eh), eh-oh-eh

Oh-eh-oh-eh (Oh-eh), eh-oh-eh

Knew from the day you were born

Here in this place, you belong

You’ve been this brave all along

What broke you once made you strong (Ow)

Dai, dai, ikou, dale, allez, let’s go

Dai, dai, ikou, dale, allez, let’s go

Dai, dai, ikou, dale, allez, let’s go

Dai, dai, ikou, dale, allez, let’s go

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