Every FIFA World Cup Theme Song Ranked & Reviewed (1990–2026)
From Pavarotti's opera in 1990 to Shakira's Waka Waka in 2010 — a complete history of the anthems that defined each tournament, with ratings and verdicts on all of them.
I've been watching the World Cup since Italia 90. That means I've heard every official anthem from Pavarotti's Nessun Dorma to Shakira's Waka Waka — and I can tell you immediately which three stand above everything else: Nessun Dorma (1990), La Copa de la Vida (1998), and Waka Waka (2010). Every other anthem has spent the last three decades trying to reach that tier and falling short. Here is the full definitive ranking, with honest verdicts on all nine.
Dai Dai (The World Is Yours to Take)
Shakira ft. Burna Boy
USA / Canada / Mexico
English / Spanish · Afropop / Latin Pop
FIFA announced "Dai Dai" in May 2026 — Shakira's second World Cup anthem after Waka Waka, this time paired with Afrobeats star Burna Boy. The title means "generation" in Mandarin, a deliberate nod to the tournament's global reach. Early reception: familiar Shakira DNA, but whether it earns classic status depends entirely on how the tournament unfolds.
Hayya Hayya (Better Together)
Trinidad Cardona, Davido & Aisha
Qatar
English / Arabic · Afrobeats / Pop
A deliberately global mix — Nigerian Afrobeats (Davido), American soul (Trinidad Cardona) and Qatari flavor (Aisha). Energetic and radio-friendly, but critics felt it lacked the transcendent grandeur of past anthems. Grew on audiences during the tournament.
