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Music and football share a fundamental characteristic that makes them unique: they are both universal, infinite, and intergenerational art forms. Throughout the history of the beautiful game, music has always managed to carve out a place for itself, manifesting in anthems, terrace chants, celebrations, and dances alike.
In the World Cup, numerous songs have accompanied each edition, investing the tournament with a special magic. These songs—or rather, anthems—still have the power to transport us back to that summer of Italia '90, with Schillaci’s goals scored to the rhythm of 'Notti Magiche', or to South Africa 2010, where the Spanish national team lifted their first World Cup to the sound of 'Waka Waka'.
Although collective memory tends to fix the beginning of this phenomenon in the 1990s, to understand how music became the emotional fuel of the tournament, we must rewind the tape much further. We shall travel back in time to review the history of World Cup anthems from their true origins.
Chile 1962: "El Rock del Mundial" – Los Ramblers
The tradition was born spontaneously in Chile when composer Jorge Rojas Astorga wrote this track to a rockabilly rhythm to support his national team. The band Los Ramblers recorded it, and it resonated so deeply with the public that it became the first official track adopted for the tournament. On the pitch, this was the tournament that cemented Garrincha's legendary status, concluding with Brazil being crowned back-to-back world champions.
England 1966: "World Cup Willie" – Lonnie Donegan
For the tournament hosted in England, the organisers devised the first mascot in history: Willie the lion. Musician Lonnie Donegan, renowned as the King of Skiffle, provided the vocals for a pop track with a distinctly British style. That summer concluded with the English national team lifting their first—and so far, only—World Cup at the mythical Wembley Stadium.
Mexico 1970: "Fútbol México 70" – Los Hermanos Zavala
Mexico opted for a purely folkloric composition performed by Los Hermanos Zavala, in which trumpets and cheerful choruses took centre stage. It provided the perfect sonic backdrop for a historic and aesthetically groundbreaking tournament—the first to be broadcast in colour—which saw Pelé’s Brazil crowned as three-time world champions. Quite an achievement.
Germany 1974: "Futbol" – Maryla Rodowicz
Although this World Cup, contested on German soil, is better remembered for the instrumental fanfares in the stadiums, Polish singer Maryla Rodowicz performed this 1970s pop track during the opening ceremony. On the pitch, it was the tournament where the pragmatism of West Germany, led by 'Der Kaiser', prevailed in the final over the revolutionary 'Total Football' of Rinus Michels' Netherlands.
Argentina 1978: "El Mundial" – Ennio Morricone
An elite contribution for the tournament organised in Argentina. The official melody was commissioned from the celebrated film composer Ennio Morricone, who created a solemn, marching, and wordless instrumental piece performed by the Municipal Symphony Orchestra of Buenos Aires. The tournament concluded with the host nation capturing their maiden world title amidst a shower of ticker tape at the Monumental Stadium.
Spain 1982: "El Mundial" – Plácido Domingo
Spain sought to project a serious and traditional institutional image by drawing upon the lyrical power of tenor Plácido Domingo. The song blended the traditional pasodoble with elegant symphonic arrangements in a tournament that featured the mascot Naranjito as its true emblem. In sporting terms, the championship crowned an Italy side that grew in stature as the tournament progressed, spearheaded by the great goalscorer Paolo Rossi.
Mexico 1986: "El Mundo Unido por un Balón" – Juan Carlos Abara
Following the devastating 1985 earthquake, Mexico required a message of unity and optimism. Composer Juan Carlos Abara created this iconic anthem, which highlighted local hospitality and traditions. Featuring festive choruses performed by the Hermanos Zavala, it became the indispensable official melody of a tournament defined by Diego Armando Maradona, who signed the 'Hand of God' and the 'Goal of the Century' to secure Argentina's second star.
Italy 1990: "Un'estate italiana" – Gianna Nannini and Edoardo Bennato
Originally composed by Giorgio Moroder, singers Gianna Nannini and Edoardo Bennato invested the track with tremendous power through their raspy vocals, rendering it, in the eyes of many, the finest song in World Cup history. Those "magical nights" in Italy concluded with West Germany gaining their revenge by defeating Maradona's Argentina in the final.
United States 1994: "Gloryland" – Daryl Hall and Sounds of Blackness
In FIFA's bid to establish football in the United States, the official song combined the pop-rock of Daryl Hall with a traditional African-American gospel choir, resulting in a solemn and spiritual track. The tournament was contested under stifling temperatures and was ultimately decided on penalties, crowning Brazil as four-time world champions.
France 1998: "La Copa de la Vida" – Ricky Martin
This World Cup, held in France, changed the rules of the game from a musical perspective. Ricky Martin introduced Latin rhythms, energetic percussion, and a direct refrain ("Ale, ale, ale!") that served as the blueprint for the hits of subsequent decades. The stadium celebrations concluded with the French national team of Zidane, Deschamps, and company lifting their first world title after a resounding victory over Brazil in the final.
Korea-Japan 2002: "Boom" – Anastacia
The first World Cup hosted on Asian soil opted for technological modernity. American singer Anastacia delivered an electronic pop-rock sound highly characteristic of the turn of the millennium, which coexisted alongside Vangelis' delicate orchestral anthem. In sporting terms, Brazil were proclaimed five-time world champions, spearheaded by Ronaldo Nazário's brace in the final.
Germany 2006: "The Time of Our Lives" – Il Divo and Toni Braxton
Germany decided to tone down the pop euphoria, seeking a far more emotive and solemn approach instead. The operatic pop quartet Il Divo and American singer Toni Braxton performed an elegant ballad. On the pitch, it was the tournament that marked Zinedine Zidane's farewell, concluding with Italy capturing their fourth star from the penalty spot.
South Africa 2010: "Waka Waka (This Time for Africa)" – Shakira and Freshlyground
An absolute mass phenomenon. Shakira adapted a traditional Cameroonian refrain to breathe life into a joyful track, which was defined by the relentless drone of vuvuzelas in the stands. This song remains an indelible sonic memory for Spanish football, serving as the soundtrack to the historic first star that Spain captured in South Africa.
Brazil 2014: "We Are One (Ole Ola)" – Pitbull, Jennifer Lopez and Claudia Leitte
FIFA designed a collaboration heavily tailored for the dance floor, uniting Pitbull, Jennifer Lopez, and Brazilian singer Claudia Leitte over tropical pop rhythms. The tournament signified the return of football to Brazil, yet the title headed to Europe following Germany's extra-time victory over Argentina—a tournament further distinguished by the Germans' historic 7-1 demolition of the hosts.
Russia 2018: "Live It Up" – Nicky Jam, Will Smith and Era Istrefi
Russia embraced global urban rhythms and commercial reggaeton in a production helmed by DJ Diplo. This was the first World Cup to implement the use of VAR and concluded with France adding a second star to their history after defeating Croatia in the grand final.
Qatar 2022: "Hayya Hayya (Better Together)" – Trinidad Cardona, Davido and Aisha
This track spearheaded the project, blending R&B with traditional Middle Eastern sounds for the first World Cup ever staged in winter—a historic first. The tournament drew to a close with a spectacular final that crowned Leo Messi's Argentina after defeating France in a penalty shootout.
Canada, United States and Mexico 2026: "Dai Dai" – Shakira and Burna Boy
FIFA pinned their hopes once more on Colombian artist Shakira, who joins forces with Nigerian Afrobeat icon Burna Boy to launch "Dai Dai", a track that fuses Latin pop with African rhythms. Shakira's presence brings great augury for Spanish supporters, evoking memories of 2010 when her music accompanied Spain's glory in South Africa. In sporting terms, this tournament stands out as the first in history to feature 48 teams contesting the finals across three nations.
Hearing the chords of Moroder, the folklore of Los Hermanos Zavala, the 'Notti Magiche' of Italy '90, or the rhythms of Ricky Martin and Shakira, transports us directly to a specific summer of our lives, rescuing from oblivion the very surroundings where we watched those matches.
Footballers retire and the game itself may undergo extensive changes, but it is the songs that remain forever alive, both in time and in our minds. They serve as the true sonic archive that preserves the chronicle of each championship, ensuring that the emotion of those past summers endures long after the final whistle.
Frequently Asked Questions about the History of World Cup Songs
Which was the first official song adopted in World Cup history?
It was born spontaneously at the 1962 World Cup in Chile with the rockabilly track "El Rock del Mundial", composed by Jorge Rojas Astorga and performed by the band Los Ramblers.
Who composed the music for the 1978 World Cup in Argentina?
The official melody was a solemn, marching, and wordless instrumental piece commissioned from the celebrated film composer Ennio Morricone and executed by the Municipal Symphony Orchestra of Buenos Aires.
Which artist performed the song for the 1982 World Cup in Spain?
The task fell to tenor Plácido Domingo, who performed a track that blended the traditional pasodoble with elegant symphonic arrangements during the tournament represented by the mascot Naranjito.
