Shakira Reveals Why She Picked Burna Boy for 2026 World Cup Anthem

Colombian pop icon Shakira has opened up on why she picked Nigerian Afrobeats star Burna Boy for the official song of the 2026 FIFA World Cup, “Dai Dai.”

In an interview that aired July 8 on Capital Evening Show with Jimmy Hill, Shakira said the decision came down to the energy of the tournament and the sound of the track. 

“Well, once I had the song, I felt that I really needed a male vocal, a male voice in the song.” 

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“I don’t know, because the World Cup carries a big male energy, you know? And so I was like, who can give me that, you know, very masculine voice that I want in this sort of like Afrobeat setting?” 

According to Shakira, “Dai Dai” is primarily rooted in Afrobeats, but also blends Caribbean sounds and a touch of R&B. She said she had admired Burna Boy’s music for years and “always wanted to do something with him”. 

“When I had Burna Boy record it, that was the cherry on top. I always wanted to do something with Burna and I think his voice just takes it to another level” 

The song was released on May 14 via Sony Music Latin and serves as the official anthem for the 2026 FIFA World Cup. 

It mixes Afrobeats, dance-pop, reggaetón and world music, with lyrics in English, Spanish, plus phrases in Italian, French and Japanese to reflect the tournament’s global spirit. “Dai dai” itself is an Italian expression meaning “come on” or “let’s go”. c88e

FIFA says royalties from the track will support the FIFA Global Citizen Education Fund, with a goal to raise $100 million for children’s education and football by the end of the tournament. Shakira donated her royalties to the project. 

This marks Shakira’s return to World Cup music more than a decade after, “Waka Waka (This Time for Africa)” in 2010.