NEW YORK – As the global sports community counts down to the 2026 FIFA World Cup, global music icon Shakira has stepped back into the World Cup spotlight, dropping a highly anticipated teaser for the tournament’s official anthem from one of soccer’s most legendary venues.
The Colombian hitmaker shared a 60-second preview of her new track “Dai Dai” across her social media channels Thursday, confirming the song as the 2026 FIFA World Cup Official Song and tagging Afrobeats superstar Burna Boy as a collaborator on the release. Filmed on the grass of Rio de Janeiro’s iconic Maracaná Stadium, the teaser shows Shakira front and center on the pitch, surrounded by a troupe of energetic dancers as she performs a snippet of the track. In the preview, the artist delivers uplifting lyrics in English: “Here in this place / You belong,” with a male vocal harmonizing underneath, followed by the line “What broke you once / Made you strong.” Fans do not have to wait long for the full release: the complete track is set to drop globally on May 14.
For Shakira, penning and performing a World Cup anthem is far from uncharted territory. The singer cemented her place in both soccer and pop history with “Waka Waka (This Time For Africa)”, the official song of the 2010 FIFA World Cup held in South Africa, which remains one of the most streamed and recognizable World Cup tracks of all time.
It is important to note that “Dai Dai” is a separate official release from Coca-Cola’s own 2026 World Cup anthem, a reimagined version of Van Halen’s classic rock hit “Jump”. That track features an eclectic lineup of artists: Colombian reggaeton star J Balvin, legendary Blink-182 drummer Travis Barker, acclaimed pop and R&B vocalist Amber Mark, and iconic rock guitarist Steve Vai.
In that rework, Amber Mark opens the track with her signature clear, luminous vocals delivering the original song’s English lyrics, while Steve Vai puts a fresh spin on the track’s instantly recognizable guitar riff and Travis Barker amps up its percussion section. The biggest change to the original comes from J Balvin, who penned an entirely new verse in Spanish. Speaking to the Associated Press in March, Balvin explained that the production, from frequent collaborator L.E.X.V.Z, blends Brazilian funk rhythms with hard-hitting strings and hip-hop influences. “‘Jump’ is not a fútbol song,” he said, noting the original track’s lack of ties to the sport. “So that’s why I had to put the Latin love and passion for fútbol (in the lyrics).”
This year’s FIFA World Cup is set to kick off on June 11, with an opening match between Mexico and South Africa at Mexico City’s historic Azteca Stadium. The tournament will conclude with the final match scheduled for July 19 at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey, located just outside New York City.