Ed Sheeran helped me handle World Cup final pressure, says Burna Boy

Grammy-winning artist Burna Boy shared how British pop star Ed Sheeran provided crucial support in preparing him for the immense pressure of performing at the 2026 FIFA World Cup final. Burna Boy described Sheeran as one of the most thoughtful individuals he has collaborated with, highlighting his proactive role in their joint work.

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He’s actually the first one to call me about this because he’s the one that had my number before everyone. He hit me up about it and said, ‘Yeah, we should do the World Cup song with Shakira,’ and I said, ‘I’d love to work with Shakira, let's do it.'

Sheeran was the first to reach out to Burna Boy regarding a collaboration with Colombian superstar Shakira on the official 2026 FIFA World Cup anthem, 'Dai Dai.' Burna Boy recalled Sheeran's early involvement, stating, "He’s actually the first one to call me about this because he’s the one that had my number before everyone. He hit me up about it and said, ‘Yeah, we should do the World Cup song with Shakira,’ and I said, ‘I’d love to work with Shakira, let's do it.'"

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Yo, you’re gonna have to perform at the finals and all of that... He knows how I get down. He knows the stress part is a bit crazy for me, so he gave me a heads-up. He was like, ‘Yo, it’s gonna be real stressful.'

Burna Boy further explained that Sheeran, understanding his potential struggles with large-scale performances, offered a heads-up about the demanding nature of the event. "He had to give me the heads up like, ‘Yo, you’re gonna have to perform at the finals and all of that,’ because he knows me. He knows how I get down. He knows the stress part is a bit crazy for me, so he gave me a heads-up. He was like, ‘Yo, it’s gonna be real stressful,'" Burna Boy recounted.

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He’s just a very sensible and lovable guy. He’s someone I’ve taken to personally from the beginning. Ed is very smart, man. He always knows what he’s doing.

Shakira, in a separate interview, elaborated on her decision to feature Burna Boy on 'Dai Dai.' She sought a powerful male voice to complement the song's Afrobeats-inspired rhythm, noting, "Once I had the song, I felt that I really needed a male vocal, a male voice in the song because the World Cup carries a big male energy. I was like, ‘Who can give me that very masculine voice that I want in this Afrobeat setting?'" She expressed her admiration for Burna Boy and her persistence in securing his contribution, even after a 20-day wait for his verse, ultimately finding his performance "absolutely perfect."

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Once I had the song, I felt that I really needed a male vocal, a male voice in the song because the World Cup carries a big male energy. I was like, ‘Who can give me that very masculine voice that I want in this Afrobeat setting?'