Shakira Makes Announcement on Official World Cup Song
Shakira has officially unveiled "Dai Dai," the official song for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, marking her return to the global football stage more than a decade after the success of "Waka Waka (This Time for Africa)" in 2010.
The new anthem features Nigerian Afrofusion star Burna Boy and was released on Thursday across major streaming platforms and YouTube.
The Colombian superstar revealed the track with a social media post featuring a promotional poster of herself alongside Burna Boy. On Instagram, she wrote: "Dai Dai is here. The FIFA World Cup 2026 starts now!"
The nearly four-minute song mixes Afrobeats, dance-pop, reggaetón and world music influences while celebrating football culture and global unity. FIFA described the track as "a vibrant celebration of football, culture and unity."
"Dai dai" is an Italian expression meaning "come on" or "let's go," and the song reflects that message throughout its multilingual chorus. Lyrics are delivered in English and Spanish, while phrases in Italian, French and Japanese are also included to highlight the international spirit of the tournament.
The anthem follows a motivational theme focused on perseverance and achievement. In one part of the chorus, Shakira sings: "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."
Burna Boy joins her on the uplifting hook as the pair encourage listeners to keep pushing forward. The song also honors some of football's most famous names, including Pelé, Diego Maradona, David Beckham, Cristiano Ronaldo, Lionel Messi and Kylian Mbappé.
"Dai Dai" marks the second time Shakira has recorded an official FIFA World Cup song. Her 2010 anthem "Waka Waka (This Time for Africa)" became one of the most recognized World Cup songs ever released and remains a favorite among football fans worldwide.
The song was teased earlier this month through a video filmed at the iconic Maracanã Stadium in Brazil. FIFA later confirmed the track as the official anthem for the tournament.
The 2026 FIFA World Cup will be co-hosted by the United States, Canada and Mexico. The tournament begins on June 11 at Estadio Azteca and concludes on July 19 at MetLife Stadium, which will be renamed New York New Jersey Stadium during the games.
Shakira is also set to co-headline the tournament's first-ever halftime show at the final alongside Madonna and BTS.
Meanwhile, Burna Boy continues to expand his international success following platinum hits such as "Last Last" and "Ye." The Nigerian artist recently released his album "No Sign of Weakness" and also contributed music to the upcoming "F1" movie soundtrack.
With "Dai Dai," FIFA appears to be aiming for another global anthem that can unite football fans before the 2026 tournament officially kicks off.
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This story was originally published May 15, 2026 at 11:02 PM.