Shakira returns to the FIFA stage with Dai Dai, the official anthem for the 2026 World Cup, set for release on May 14. Teased in a video shot at Rio’s Maracanã Stadium, the track blends her Latin-pop and reggaetón roots with Burna Boy’s Afrobeats, echoing the global spirit of a record 48-team tournament across the US, Mexico, and Canada.
It’s become a ritual at this point: every time, as soon as a FIFA World Cup anthem drops, fans, mildly (and depending on the year and the artist, hugely) disappointed, go back to the previous decades of official FIFA songs, to reminisce just how good the good ol’ days were. Sure, we don’t disagree: Ole Ola and Waka Waka are bangers. But, almost as if to prove that good music can come any time in any year, Shakira has revealed that she is back in the world of football anthems with the 2026 FIFA World Cup anthem, Dai Dai, which is set for release on May 14.
The 49-year-old singer unveiled the first teaser for the track on Thursday through a one-minute video filmed at the iconic Maracanã Stadium, immediately sending fans into an online frenzy. The teaser features Shakira dancing on the stadium field alongside performers dressed in colours inspired by participating nations. Nigerian singer Burna Boy also appears on the track, bringing an Afrobeats influence into the mix alongside Shakira’s trademark Latin-pop and reggaetón sound.
In the clip, Shakira sings the lines, “Here in this place / You belong,” before a male voice follows with, “What broke you once / Made you strong.” Reportedly, Dai Dai roughly translates to “Let’s go,” a fitting slogan for a tournament expected to become the largest in FIFA World Cup history.
The song marks Shakira’s second official World Cup anthem following Waka Waka (This Time for Africa), the massively successful anthem for the 2010 FIFA World Cup in South Africa, which went on to become one of the most recognisable football songs ever released. Her association with the tournament did not stop there. She later released La La La (Brazil 2014) as the second theme song for the 2014 tournament in Brazil and performed it during the closing ceremony in Rio de Janeiro. Years earlier, she had also performed Hips Don't Lie during the closing ceremony of the 2006 FIFA World Cup in Germany.
The 2026 FIFA World Cup will run from June 11 to July 19 across the United States, Mexico, and Canada, making it the first tournament to be jointly hosted by three countries. The opening match will take place at Azteca Stadium, where Mexico is scheduled to face South Africa, while the final will be held at MetLife Stadium. The competition will also feature 48 teams for the first time, expanding from the 32-team format that was followed til 2022. Shakira’s home country, Colombia, has qualified for the event as well.