The “Queen of the World Cup” is officially back. On Thursday, Colombian superstar Shakira sent social media into a frenzy by announcing that her latest single, “Dai Dai,” has been selected as the official song for the FIFA World Cup 2026.
The track is a high-profile collaboration with Nigerian global sensation Burna Boy, signaling FIFA’s intent to celebrate the multicultural spirit of the upcoming tournament hosted across Canada, Mexico, and the United States.
A Teaser from the Maracanã
Shakira unveiled the news via a one-minute teaser filmed at the iconic Maracanã Stadium in Rio de Janeiro. The visuals feature the singer walking onto the pitch sporting a yellow top and blue skirt—colors reminiscent of both the Colombian and Brazilian flags—accompanied by a troupe of dancers.
The snippet offers a glimpse into the song’s uplifting lyrics, with Shakira singing in English:
“Here in this place / You belong. What once broke you / Made you strong.”
The full track and music video are set to be released worldwide on May 14.
A Historic Partnership Continued
This marks Shakira’s fourth major contribution to the FIFA World Cup, further cementing her status as the tournament’s most iconic musical voice:
- 2006 (Germany): Performed “Hips Don’t Lie (Bamboo version)” at the closing ceremony.
- 2010 (South Africa): Released the legendary “Waka Waka (This Time for Africa),” widely considered the most successful World Cup song of all time.
- 2014 (Brazil): Contributed the hit “La La La (Brazil 2014).”
Afrobeats Meets Latin Pop
The pairing with Burna Boy has already generated massive buzz. The Nigerian Grammy winner is renowned for his “Afro-fusion” style, blending Afrobeats, dancehall, and hip-hop. Fans expect “Dai Dai” to merge these rhythmic African beats with Shakira’s signature Latin pop and stadium-sized production.
With the 2026 World Cup set to be the largest in history—featuring 48 national teams and 104 matches—FIFA is leaning into a global sound to match the scale of the event.
“We are ready,” the video concludes, echoing the sentiments of millions of fans waiting for the tournament to kick off.
