The 2026 World Cup will take place from 11/6 to 19/7 in the US, Canada, and Mexico. This year, the official song for the tournament, "Lighter", has been criticized for lacking the vibrancy of previous anthems.
According to Billboard, music and football share an invisible and powerful connection. During each World Cup, audiences remember not only spectacular goals but also melodies that stir millions of hearts. Before "Lighter", many songs became classics in football history.
El Mundial - Placido Domingo (Spain, 1982)
According to NBC, this marked the first time world-renowned tenor Placido Domingo directly performed the theme song for the World Cup. The event elevated football music from mere cheering to an art form. "El Mundial" brought an unprecedented sense of grandeur to the tournament. The song paved the way for A-list stars and accomplished artists to venture into the realm of sports music.
Un Estate Italiana - Edoardo Bennato & Gianna Nannini (Italy, 1990)
This is considered the most emotional and artistic World Cup song, topping charts in Italy and Switzerland for many months. In Vietnam, generations born in the 1970s and 1980s still regard it as the best football song, thanks to its artistic blend of rock and opera. Many listeners comment that few World Cup anthems can replace "Un Estate Italiana", saying "every time I hear it, I get goosebumps".
Originally, this song was an English track titled "To Be Number One", composed by Giorgio Moroder. However, it only achieved immortality when translated into Italian, performed by the powerful, husky, and earthy voices of the duo Bennato & Nannini.
The Cup of Life - Ricky Martin (France, 1998)
This song soared to number one in over 30 countries after its release. Billboard and The Atlantic both named it the greatest World Cup song of all time. The chant "Un, dos, tres, allez, allez, allez" became a catchphrase for football fans for decades.
Ricky Martin once admitted in his autobiography "Me" that he was very nervous and "a bit shaky" when he received the invitation from FIFA. However, his explosive performance at the 1999 Grammy Awards later propelled him to global superstardom.
La Cour des Grands - Youssou N'Dour & Axelle Red (France, 1998)
Though overshadowed by Ricky Martin's immense popularity that same year, this is still considered the most humanitarian anthem in World Cup history. The collaboration between a Senegalese artist and a Belgian artist symbolized France's multicultural spirit in 1998. The Guardian described the song as having a raw and profound essence.
The Time of Our Lives - Tony Braxton, Il Divo (Germany, 2006)
The song carries a profound message: How to create a better world when we join hands. Its powerful message of peace and unity makes it one of the best World Cup songs, even though some felt the melody lacked the inherent passion and fervor of the "king of sports" (football).
Hips Don't Lie - Shakira ft. Wyclef Jean (Germany, 2006)
While not the official song for the tournament in Germany, the "Bamboo" version of "Hips Don't Lie" is considered one of the best and most iconic World Cup songs. According to Billboard, it topped charts in 55 countries, becoming one of the best-selling singles of the 21st century and solidifying Shakira's status as the "Queen of the World Cup".
The "Bamboo" version of this song was remixed with a stronger drum beat for a performance before the final match in Berlin. This also marked a milestone, making Shakira the first artist in history to perform at three consecutive World Cups.
Waka Waka - Shakira (South Africa, 2010)
This is the best-selling World Cup single in history, with over 10 million copies sold and currently 4,5 billion views on YouTube. The "Waka Waka" dance sparked a global flashmob craze for a time. According to NBC, the chorus "Zamina mina" is actually a remix of the 1986 military song "Zangalewa" by the group Golden Sounds (Cameroon). Despite an initial copyright dispute, the work was later amicably resolved and became an emblem of the tournament.
Wavin' Flag - K'naan (South Africa, 2010)
The song reached the top 10 in over 20 countries. According to The Guardian, audiences loved this song for its humanitarian message of freedom and unity, rather than being merely a pure motivational anthem. The original work was a song about the suffering of Somali refugees, with melancholic lyrics. To become a motivational song, K'naan had to rewrite all the lyrics to be more positive and uplifting, suiting the festive spirit.
We Are One (Ole Ola) - Pitbull ft. Jennifer Lopez (Brazil, 2014)
The track garnered over one billion views on YouTube and topped charts in Belgium and Hungary. However, it was often compared to and overshadowed by Shakira's song "La La La", released at the same time. With a Carnival vibe, the song was criticized by Brazilians for having too little Portuguese and lacking the pure Samba essence of the host country.
Dreamers - Jung Kook of BTS (Qatar 2022)
According to Billboard, young people globally raved about "Dreamers'" blend of modern sounds and Saudi Arabian cultural elements, which significantly broadened the World Cup's appeal to Generation Z audiences. The song became the first World Cup track to reach number one on iTunes in over 100 countries and territories within just a few hours. The performance video from the opening ceremony amassed tens of millions of views overnight.
According to Billboard, Jung Kook received the invitation to join this project less than one month before the opening ceremony. He completed the choreography and recording himself in an extremely short time in Qatar. This marked the first time a K-pop artist had an official solo song for the World Cup.
Hoa Mi
