Global pop superstar Shakira has once again stepped onto football’s biggest stage, teasing the official song for the 2026 Fifa World Cup with a vibrant new video filmed at Brazil’s legendary Maracanã Stadium. The brief but energetic preview immediately sparked excitement among football fans and music lovers around the world, especially given Shakira’s long and celebrated connection with the tournament over the years.
The singer, whose music has become closely associated with the spirit and celebration of international football, announced the new song, titled Dai Dai, through a post shared on her Instagram account. In the 67-second teaser video, Shakira appears performing on the pitch of the historic Maracanã Stadium in Rio de Janeiro, one of the world’s most iconic football venues. The setting carried symbolic significance, as the stadium has hosted some of football’s most unforgettable moments and remains deeply connected to the passion of the sport in Latin America.
The teaser was released only days after Shakira delivered a massive free concert at Copacabana Beach in Rio de Janeiro, where more than two million fans gathered to watch the performance. The concert further highlighted the singer’s enduring popularity and her powerful connection with audiences across different cultures and generations.
Holding the “Trionda”, the official match ball of the 2026 Fifa World Cup, Shakira performed portions of the song in English while surrounded by dancers dressed in the colours of various national teams, including the United States and Colombia. The visual style of the video emphasised unity, celebration and cultural diversity, themes that have long been central to World Cup music and ceremonies.
The track was produced in collaboration with Nigerian Grammy-winning artist Burna Boy and is scheduled for official release on May 14. The teaser clip, which was also shared by the Fifa World Cup account, concluded with the message: “We’re ready!”, building anticipation ahead of the upcoming tournament.
Shakira’s association with the World Cup stretches back nearly two decades. She performed at the 2006 and 2014 World Cup finals and achieved worldwide success with Waka Waka (This Time for Africa), the official anthem of the 2010 Fifa World Cup in South Africa. The song became one of the most recognisable World Cup anthems in history, blending music, dance and football into a global cultural phenomenon. — AFP
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