Two of the world’s most electrifying performers are joining forces for football’s grandest stage. Global pop icon Shakira and Nigerian Afrobeats heavyweight Burna Boy will release “Dai Dai,” the official song of the 2026 FIFA World Cup, on May 14, 2026 — a collaboration that promises to be one of the most talked-about musical moments of the year.
The pairing is historic in more ways than one. It marks the first time Shakira and Burna Boy have worked together, and brings two of the planet’s most dominant music genres — Latin pop and Afrobeats — into the same stadium-sized anthem. FIFA has framed the release as a global unifying statement, reflecting the energy, diversity, and shared spirit that the World Cup embodies every four years.
For Shakira, “Dai Dai” is a homecoming of sorts. The Colombian superstar previously delivered what many consider the definitive World Cup song with “Waka Waka (This Time for Africa)” at the 2010 tournament in South Africa — a track that transcended football to become a bona fide global phenomenon. Her return to the FIFA stage only deepens a legacy that has made her one of the tournament’s most enduring musical ambassadors.
Burna Boy’s inclusion tells its own compelling story. The Port Harcourt-born star has spent the better part of a decade building one of music’s most formidable international profiles, racking up global collaborations, Grammy recognition, and sold-out arena tours across continents.
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His selection for the World Cup anthem is perhaps the clearest signal yet of Afrobeats’ arrival as a true force in mainstream global pop culture — not a trend to be accommodated, but a genre setting the terms of engagement.
Industry observers note that FIFA’s pairing of Shakira and Burna Boy is consistent with a deliberate strategy of blending musical cultures to maximise global appeal ahead of the tournament, particularly for an edition that already carries record-breaking expectations.
The 2026 World Cup — co-hosted by the United States, Mexico, and Canada — is set to be the largest in the tournament’s history, with an expanded format and unprecedented global interest.
“Dai Dai” drops on May 14, 2026, and early anticipation suggests it could become the defining soundtrack of the summer.