Shakira unveils 2026 World Cup anthem video featuring leading football stars

ISLAMABAD: Shakira has released the music video for Dai Dai, the official anthem of the 2026 FIFA World Cup, in a production that brings together several of football’s biggest current stars alongside broader cultural and social themes tied to the tournament.

The song, recorded with Nigerian artist Burna Boy, arrives ahead of the World Cup that will be co-hosted by the United States, Mexico and Canada. The video features Argentina captain Lionel Messi, England skipper Harry Kane, Norway striker Erling Haaland and France forward Kylian Mbappe as part of a stylised presentation built around the global appeal of football.

The production also includes Uganda’s Ghetto Kids, a youth group known for dance and performance work. Their appearance adds a social dimension to the video, which combines spectacle with messaging around opportunity through sport and creativity.

Global imagery and football references

Visually, the video moves through a range of international settings and references, including Mexico City’s Angel of Independence, Brazil’s Maracana Stadium and African-inspired landscapes. These elements are intended to reflect the worldwide identity of the sport ahead of the first World Cup to feature 48 teams.

The video also contains tributes to past football greats, with references to Diego Maradona, Pele, Kaka and Ronaldo Nazario, linking the current generation of players with earlier icons of the game. Shakira appears in parts of the video wearing Colombia’s national colours.

Final half-time show plans

Shakira is also due to co-headline the World Cup final half-time show at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey on July 19. The performance is set to mark the first time a FIFA World Cup final will include an expanded half-time entertainment segment.

Other international acts expected to appear include Madonna and South Korean group BTS, as FIFA seeks to make the final a major cultural event alongside the match itself. Organisers have confirmed that the longer half-time format will allow a more elaborate production than the traditional 15-minute interval, creating room for a concert-style show during the final.

Education fund link

Beyond the video launch, the anthem has been linked to the FIFA Global Citizen Education Fund, with proceeds set to support education programmes around the world. Shakira has also pledged royalties from the song, while additional fundraising connected to her touring activity is expected to contribute to the initiative.

The 2026 FIFA World Cup is scheduled to begin on June 11, with the final to be played on July 19 in the United States. The tournament is being presented as one of the most commercially and culturally ambitious editions of the competition so far.