Controversy as Ishowspeed drops unofficial 2026 World Cup anthem

Internet personality IShowSpeed has ignited a global discussion with the release of his self-proclaimed tournament anthem, "World Cup (Champions)." The high-energy music video, which premiered on YouTube on June 1, quickly amassed over 3.3 million views and hundreds of thousands of likes in under 24 hours. The track prominently features crowd chants representing various footballing nations, with a special focus on Ghana, where IShowSpeed holds honorary citizenship, alongside vibrant displays of flags and traditional dancers.

Following the viral success of his video, IShowSpeed tagged the Federation of International Football Associations (FIFA) on social media, requesting that his song be officially adopted as the tournament's anthem. FIFA's verified account responded with a message that has drawn significant online attention: "We will be in touch."

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IShowSpeed putting Ghana on his back for this World Cup video is everything. The energy, the flags, the dancers, this feels more organic and alive than the actual official song. Ghana to the world!

This development has triggered a lively debate among football fans and digital commentators. Many are comparing IShowSpeed's independent release with the official FIFA soundtrack, "Goals," by artists Lisa, Anitta, and Rema, ahead of the global tournament's commencement on June 11 across the United States, Canada, and Mexico. Some users on platforms like X have praised IShowSpeed's video for its cultural authenticity and energy. One user, @yetunede, posted, "IShowSpeed putting Ghana on his back for this World Cup video is everything. The energy, the flags, the dancers, this feels more organic and alive than the actual official song."

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People comparing this Speed video to Rema, Lisa and Anitta’s ‘Goals’ must be joking. One is a globally produced, multi-million-dollar masterpiece by Cirkut, and the other is just streaming noise. Let’s keep standard music separate from content creation.

However, the track's raw, internet-centric style has also drawn criticism from segments of the music community, who defend the artistic merit of the official soundtrack. Counterarguments highlight the professional production of the official song. User @Danyflamez3 tweeted, "People comparing this Speed video to Rema, Lisa and Anitta’s ‘Goals’ must be joking. One is a globally produced, multi-million-dollar masterpiece by Cirkut, and the other is just streaming noise."

Concerns have also been raised about FIFA's response. User @lawizzygotswag commented, "FIFA saying ‘we will be in touch’ is hilarious but risky. You can’t sideline established global artists who spent months crafting a multilingual anthem just to chase clout with a YouTuber’s viral video at the eleventh hour." FIFA has yet to release an official statement regarding the adoption of any anthem.

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FIFA saying ‘we will be in touch’ is hilarious but risky. You can’t sideline established global artists who spent months crafting a multilingual anthem just to chase clout with a YouTuber’s viral video at the eleventh hour.