Burna Boy and Shakira released “Dai Dai,” the official anthem for the FIFA World Cup 2026, marking a major collaboration between the Nigerian Afrobeats star and the Colombian singer.
The track, which runs for nearly four minutes, blended Afrobeats, dance-pop and reggaetón and featured a multilingual chorus in Japanese, Spanish, French, English and Italian, with the chant “Dai, dai, ikou, dale, allez, let’s go.” It served as a global rallying call centred on football culture and unity.
Shakira opened the song with a reflective verse about belonging, while Burna Boy followed with lyrics encouraging ambition and determination. The pair also referenced football legends including Diego Maradona, Paolo Maldini, Ronaldo, David Beckham, Kaká and Lionel Messi, alongside nations such as Brazil, Argentina, Colombia, the United States and the Netherlands.
Royalties from “Dai Dai” were designated for the FIFA Global Citizen Education Fund, which aimed to raise $100 million by the end of the tournament to improve access to education and football for children worldwide.
Beyond the anthem, Africa’s presence at the 2026 World Cup was also significant, with a record 10 African teams qualifying, including Morocco, Senegal, Egypt, Ghana, Algeria, Tunisia, Côte d’Ivoire, Cape Verde, South Africa and DR Congo.
Nigerian singer Rema and South African star Tyla were also scheduled to perform at the opening ceremony at SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles on 12 June, alongside international artists including Katy Perry, Future, Anitta and LISA.
The tournament was set to kick off on 11 June at Estadio Azteca in Mexico City and conclude on 19 July at the New York New Jersey Stadium, where Shakira was due to co-headline the first-ever FIFA World Cup final halftime show alongside Madonna and BTS. “Dai Dai” was expected to feature prominently across the tournament’s global soundtrack.
Erizia Rubyjeana
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