Although the World Cup debuted in 1930, FIFA did not begin commissioning official anthems and soundtracks for the quadrennial tournament until 1990. These songs have evolved into far more than just background music; they have become cultural touchstones, capable of catapulting artists to international superstardom.
A prime example is Ricky Martin, whose 1998 anthem “The Cup of Life (La Copa de la Vida)” captured the fervor of the tournament in France. Co-written with collaborators Desmond Child and Draco Rosa, the track became a defining moment of the “Latin Explosion,” earning a Grammy Award and climbing the Billboard Hot 100.
Another historic anthem, Shakira’s vibrant “Waka Waka (This Time for Africa),” became the undisputed soundtrack of the 2010 South Africa tournament. With over 4 billion YouTube views, it remains a testament to how these songs transcend sports to become global pop culture staples.
In 2022, FIFA pivoted to a more expansive, collaborative approach, debuting a multi-song soundtrack for the Qatar World Cup, featuring artists like Davido, Trinidad Cardona, and Aisha. This strategy continued for the 2026 North American tournament, which saw contributions from global icons such as LISA, Burna Boy, and Jelly Roll.
While fan-made songs have honored the tournament since 1962, the list below chronicles the official FIFA anthems and songs that have defined the games since 1990.
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1990 (Italy)
The tournament in Italy was soundtracked by “Un’estate italiana (To Be Number One),” performed by Edoardo Bennato and Gianna Nannini in Italian, with an English version provided by the Giorgio Moroder Project.
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1994 (United States)
For the U.S.-hosted World Cup, the official anthem was “Gloryland,” a soulful, saxophone-driven collaboration between rock-soul musician Daryl Hall and the vocal ensemble Sounds of Blackness.
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1998 (France)
France’s tournament featured an official anthem, “La Cour des Grands (Do You Mind If I Play)” by Youssou N’Dour and Axelle Red, alongside Ricky Martin’s iconic “The Cup of Life,” which remains one of the most successful World Cup songs in history.
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2002 (South Korea & Japan)
This dual-host tournament showcased “Boom” by dance-pop artist Anastacia as the official song, Vangelis’ “Anthem” as the tournament’s official musical theme, and “Let’s Get Together” as the local representative track.
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2006 (Germany)
Germany welcomed the world with the power-ballad “The Time of Our Lives” by Il Divo and Toni Braxton, accompanied by the anthem “Zeit dass sich was dreht (Celebrate The Day)” featuring Herbert Grönemeyer.
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2010 (South Africa)
The 2010 event was marked by a trio of sounds: Shakira’s massive hit “Waka Waka (This Time for Africa),” the mascot song “Game On” by Pitbull, TKZee, and Dario G, and the official anthem “Sign of a Victory,” performed by R. Kelly and the Soweto Spiritual Singers.
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2014 (Brazil)
Brazil celebrated with a trilingual anthem, “Ole Ola (We Are One),” featuring Pitbull, Jennifer Lopez, and Claudia Leitte. They were joined by mascot track “Tatu Bom de Bola” and the stirring anthem “Dar um Jeito (We Will Find a Way)” by Carlos Santana, Wyclef, Avicii, and Alexandre Pires.
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2018 (Russia)
The Russia tournament centered on a singular, high-energy official song: “Live It Up,” featuring a star-studded lineup of Nicky Jam, Will Smith, and Era Istrefi.
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2022 (Qatar)
Qatar introduced a diverse musical tapestry, launching with “Hayya Hayya (Better Together).” The expansive soundtrack continued with global hits like “Tukoh Taka” by Nicki Minaj, Maluma, and Myriam Fares, “Arhbo,” “Light the Sky,” and Jung Kook’s memorable “Dreamers.”
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2026 (North America)
The 2026 soundtrack highlights global unity, featuring collaborations such as Jelly Roll and Carín Leon’s “Lighter,” Daddy Yankee and Shenseea’s “Echo,” and a highly anticipated reunion between Shakira and Burna Boy for “Dai Dai.”
