NEW YORK (AP) 鈥� What makes a memorable anthem? Is it a song that best reflects the host countries? Is it a global banger, incorporating multiple languages and genres? Or should it simply value a chant-along chorus above all?
There’s an argument to make for each 鈥� or perhaps all. To get to the bottom of it ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup, The Associated Press asked a few of the performers behind World Cup songs past and present. It’s a list that includes Shakira 鈥� who, alongside is responsible for the official 2026 FIFA World Cup anthem, 鈥� as well as Colombian singer J Balvin, Wyclef Jean and newcomer Nora Fatehi.
Shakira unites cultures
the Colombian superstar co-wrote and performed 鈥淲aka Waka (This Time for Africa)鈥� featuring Freshlyground, the official anthem of the 2010 FIFA World Cup held in South Africa.
鈥淔煤tbol is a thing that unites so many cultures and people of different walks of life,鈥� she told the AP. 鈥淭he big responsibility of making a World Cup song is that you鈥檝e got to make a song that represents people鈥檚 feelings, emotions, and passion.鈥�
鈥淪o you’ve got to write that song, in a way, understanding that it has to be global. It has to encompass so many cultures and represent so many in one tune,鈥� Shakira continued. 鈥淭hat, in a way, has helped me craft those songs in the past.鈥�
But beyond those conceptual ideas, Shakira has some specific sonic suggestions as well.
鈥淚 feel like a good World Cup song needs to definitely have rhythm. It has to be rhythmic. It has to make people want to dance. And it has to be an anthem as well. It has to make people want to sing along in unison, sing out loud at the top of their lungs. It also has that kind of energy,鈥� she says. 鈥淭hat’s a must.鈥�
J Balvin makes the case for a hook
is one-fourth of for the FIFA World Cup 2026, a reimagination of Van Halen鈥檚 鈥淛ump鈥� that also features pop/R&B singer Amber Mark and guitarist Steve Vai. He says any song 鈥� not just a World Cup anthem 鈥� must engage listeners right off the bat.
鈥淣owadays, with the music and every type of music 鈥� it doesn鈥檛 matter if it鈥檚 the World Cup, if it is a reggaeton or hip-hop (song) 鈥� you know, people鈥檚 attention (span) is only like five seconds. And that鈥檚 the reality. I鈥檓 not judging 鈥� you’ve just got to do it with all the love,鈥� he says.
But a World Cup anthem specifically? That should match the intensity of a soccer game. 鈥淔煤tbol brings us together, with all different highs and lows,鈥� he says. 鈥淎ll these different emotions happen in one game.鈥� The song should have the same energy.
Newcomer Nora Fatehi thinks World Cup anthems are for winners
The Canadian Moroccan singer-songwriter Nora Fatehi is featured on the official 2026 FIFA World Cup album with 鈥淪iir, Siir,鈥� a collaboration with French artist Vegedream and Bangladeshi American DJ Sanjoy.
鈥淚t needs a great beat because we鈥檙e here to dance and we need to celebrate,鈥� she says of a World Cup anthem.
But beyond that, Fatehi, who is says that when you hear it, 鈥淵ou feel like you鈥檙e winning, or you鈥檙e gonna win, or you won. That鈥檚 the emotion it needs to evoke.鈥�
For 鈥淪iir, Siir,鈥� she says, 鈥渨hat we were after was finding an emotion. So, the minute you hear that song, it should make you feel like you鈥檝e conquered the world. It should make you feel motivated. It should be aspirational. That鈥檚 what it should feel like.鈥�
Wyclef Jean aims for unity
Wyclef Jean, the co-wrote and performed 鈥淒ar um Jeito (We Will Find a Way)鈥� for the 2014 FIFA World Cup held in Brazil, with guitar guru Santana, and Brazil’s beloved singer-songwriter Alexandre Pires.
鈥淭he topline? It has to electrify the stadium,鈥� Jean says. 鈥淵ou literally have to feel the entire stadium shaking.鈥� If you don’t 鈥� the anthem won’t fly.
鈥淚 don鈥檛 know any World Cup song that don鈥檛 have amazing rhythm and amazing movement,鈥� he says.
Though many nations are represented in the identity of his song’s performers 鈥� Brazil, Sweden, Haiti, Mexico and the U.S. 鈥� Jean says he doesn’t 鈥渢hink like necessarily you need to have five different artists to make a global anthem.鈥�
鈥淲hether they come from the Middle East, Africa, Europe, America, any part of the world, the Caribbean 鈥� people gravitate towards culture,鈥� he says. 鈥淎nd what I love best about World Cup is that before it has a language, it has an energy and a vibe. It has absolutely nothing to do with a language.鈥�
A good hook, a strong melody that anyone can sing along to 鈥� that’s what’s key.
But 鈥淒ar um Jeito鈥� has a strong message of unity, adding to its anthemic quality. 鈥淩esilience is a very important word,鈥� he says of the song’s message. Jean says it was written for 鈥渂oys and girls all over the world,鈥� particularly those in rural areas.
The aim was a 鈥淕et Up, Stand Up,鈥� 鈥渨here the messaging in the song is not being preachy, but it鈥檚 a message of hope,鈥� he says. 鈥淚f you keep fighting the good fight, you鈥檙e gonna get to that stadium. And ain鈥檛 nobody gonna stop you.鈥�
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