Which World Cup anthem is your favorite?

World Cup anthems have evolved from spontaneous fan support to major commercial events, deeply embedding music into the tournament's identity. While FIFA officially entered the music business in 1990, the tradition began earlier. Chilean rockers Los Ramblers created "El Rock del Mundial" for the 1962 championship without an official commission, but its rockabilly rhythm became a South American hit, proving the audience's appetite for sports anthems.

A significant turning point occurred in 1998 with Ricky Martin's "The Cup of Life" for the France World Cup. This energetic Latin pop song, with its memorable chants, became a global phenomenon, launching Martin to superstardom and transforming World Cup songs into a commercial spectacle. Although Italy's "Un’estate Italiana" for the 1990 World Cup was also very popular, Martin's hit demonstrated how an infectious rhythm could captivate the world, regardless of the host nation.

Shakira further refined this formula for the 2010 World Cup in South Africa with "Waka Waka (This Time for Africa)." Combining Afro-Colombian and South African rhythms, the song became a massive cultural moment, breaking numerous records. For Shakira, it was also personally significant, as she met Gerard Piqué, the father of her children, during the video shoot. The song remains a staple in her concerts.

More recent anthems have faced mixed reception. While Shakira performed "Dai Dai" with Burna Boy at the opening of the 2026 World Cup, the song received criticism. In contrast, collaborations like Nicky Jam and Will Smith's "Live It Up" for the 2018 Russia World Cup were described as cynical and soulless attempts to please the audience, with many previous songs being labeled as generic.