A tribute to the global artists, songs, and sounds helping unite football fans across Canada, Mexico, the United States, and the world.

Champion Music Publishers congratulates FIFA and FIFA Sound for recognizing what musicians, songwriters, publishers, performers, and fans have always known: music is one of the great emotional engines of the World Cup. Long before the first whistle, songs begin building anticipation. Long after the final match, those same melodies remain attached to the memories, pride, and shared joy of the tournament.

The World Cup’s Musical Legacy

For decades, FIFA has understood that the World Cup is not only a sporting event, but also a cultural gathering. Music gives each tournament a sound of its own, bringing together players, host nations, artists, broadcasters, and billions of fans in a common emotional language.

One of the clearest examples came in 1998, when Ricky Martin’s “La Copa de la Vida” became a defining World Cup anthem. The song demonstrated how a tournament theme could travel far beyond the stadium, reaching radio, television, dance floors, and homes around the world. It helped show that World Cup music could become part of global popular culture, not merely part of a sporting broadcast.

A New Scale for 2026

For the FIFA World Cup 2026™, hosted across Canada, Mexico, and the United States, FIFA Sound has expanded that tradition into a broad official music program. FIFA has described the Official FIFA World Cup 2026™ Album as an 18-track project bringing together artists from across continents, languages, and genres, reflecting the size, diversity, and ambition of the first World Cup staged across three nations.

Featured Official Album Releases

Among the early releases and featured tracks are:

• “Lighter” by Jelly Roll and Carín León
• “Por Ella” by Los Ángeles Azules and Belinda
• “Echo” by Daddy Yankee and Shenseea
• “Illuminate” by Jessie Reyez and Elyanna
• “Goals” by LISA, Anitta, and Rema
• “Game Time” by Future and Tyla

The full album also includes notable additions such as “Dai Dai” by Shakira and Burna Boy and “In the Stars” (Remix) by The Rolling Stones, underscoring the album’s range and its ambition to connect different generations, markets, and musical traditions.

Music as a Shared World Cup Experience

The 2026 program also reflects a larger understanding of how fans experience the modern World Cup. The tournament now arrives not only through teams, fixtures, and stadiums, but through playlists, performances, social media, broadcasts, and live celebrations. Music helps give the event its rhythm before the matches begin and helps carry its emotional impact after they end.

Reports around FIFA’s music and entertainment plans point to celebrations connected to the opening matches in Mexico City, Toronto, and Los Angeles, as well as a historic final halftime show at New York New Jersey Stadium. Together, these initiatives suggest that music is no longer simply an accompaniment to the World Cup; it is an essential part of how the tournament presents itself to the world.

Congratulations from Champion Music Publishers

Champion Music Publishers applauds FIFA, FIFA Sound, the participating artists, songwriters, producers, publishers, and performers for building a musical program worthy of the world’s largest sporting stage. The FIFA World Cup 2026™ offers a powerful reminder that sport and music share the same rare ability: they bring people together across borders, languages, histories, and generations.

With musical best wishes,

John Francis Krimsky

Founding President, Champion Music Publishers