The global football community can officially breathe a sigh of relief: Shakira is back to provide the soundtrack for the beautiful game. In a highly anticipated move that immediately sent social media into a frenzy this Thursday, the Colombian hitmaker confirmed she is returning to the FIFA stage for the 2026 World Cup—hosted jointly by the United States, Mexico, and Canada.
Proving that her reign over international sports anthems is far from over, she is teaming up with Afrobeat titan Burna Boy to deliver a brand new track guaranteed to dominate the summer.
Here is everything you need to know about the upcoming release, plus a definitive ranking of the five greatest World Cup songs that paved the way.
Inside the ‘Dai Dai’ Announcement
Shakira took to Instagram to drop the massive news, sharing a vibrant teaser video filmed right on the pitch of the legendary Maracanã Stadium in Rio de Janeiro. Surrounded by dancers sporting the colors of various national teams and historic World Cup match balls from 2006, 2010, and 2014, she playfully set up the official 2026 “Trionda” ball before launching into the choreography.
The brief audio snippet features a joyful, infectious Afro-Caribbean rhythm, with lyrics blending multiple languages—including an English chorus proclaiming, “Let’s go!” and the Italian-inspired “dai, dai.”
The collaboration with Grammy-winning Nigerian artist Burna Boy ensures the track will have a massive global groove. Fans won’t have to wait long to hear the full version, as “Dai Dai” is officially slated to drop on May 14th.
The 5 Best World Cup Songs of All Time
To celebrate Shakira’s monumental return to the global football stage, here is a look back at the top five World Cup anthems that still get crowds jumping.
“Waka Waka (This Time for Africa)” – Shakira feat. Freshlyground (2010)
Could it be anything else? The official anthem of the 2010 South Africa tournament transcends the sport itself to be one of the most successful pop songs of the 21st century. With its instantly recognizable chorus, perfect choreography, and inspiring message, “Waka Waka” is the undisputed gold standard for how a World Cup song should sound and feel. It remains a legendary pop culture milestone.
“La Copa de la Vida” (The Cup of Life) – Ricky Martin (1998)
Before the Latin pop explosion of the late ’90s, Ricky Martin delivered this absolute powerhouse of a track for the 1998 tournament in France. Complete with blaring horns, an explosive samba beat, and the iconic “Go, go, go! Ale, ale, ale!” chant, it practically forces you out of your seat. It brought an unmatched level of theatrical energy to the sport that has been endlessly imitated but rarely matched.
“Wavin’ Flag” (Coca-Cola Celebration Mix) – K’naan (2010)
While “Waka Waka” was the official FIFA anthem in 2010, K’naan’s “Wavin’ Flag” served as the promotional anthem for Coca-Cola and captured the hearts of fans worldwide just as fiercely. The track is beautiful, deeply emotional, and heavily focused on the unifying power of sports, delivering an uplifting message about freedom and joy that resonated perfectly with the spirit of the games.
“Un’estate italiana” (To Be Number One) – Edoardo Bennato and Gianna Nannini (1990)
This legendary Italian anthem for the 1990 World Cup is widely considered a masterpiece by football purists. Unlike the high-tempo dance tracks that dominate today’s tournaments, “Un’estate italiana” is a soaring, deeply passionate rock ballad. The emotional grit in the vocal delivery perfectly captures the high stakes, heartbreak, and ultimate glory of the World Cup stage.
“La La La (Brazil 2014)” – Shakira feat. Carlinhos Brown (2014)
Shakira makes the list twice because, quite frankly, she knows exactly how to write a football stadium banger. While Pitbull and Jennifer Lopez handled the official 2014 anthem, Shakira’s “La La La” became the undeniable fan-favorite of the Brazil tournament. The relentless, thumping Brazilian drumbeat and the aggressively catchy chorus proved once again that nobody understands the intersection of pop music and football quite like her.
