The official song of WC 2026 is "Dai Dai", a collaboration between Shakira and Burna Boy released on June 2026. It headlines a wider identity that includes a first-ever final halftime show, the slogan WE ARE 26, and a three-nation mascot trio.
This guide covers the music, the branding and the visual identity of the tournament that kicks off on 11 June 2026, with cross-links to the full mascot guide.
✅ Official song: "Dai Dai" by Shakira and Burna Boy, via Sony Music Latin.
✅ A first: a halftime show at the final on 19 July, with Shakira, Madonna and BTS.
✅ Slogan: WE ARE 26, rendered as SOMOS 26 and NOUS SOMMES 26 across the hosts.
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Start with the song everyone will hear this summer, then the halftime show, slogan and visual identity.
Table of contents
The official song: Dai Dai
The official song of WC 2026 is "Dai Dai", performed by Colombian star Shakira and Nigerian artist Burna Boy, released through Sony Music Latin on June 2026. The title is an Italian expression meaning roughly "come on" or "let's go", and the track blends Latin pop with Afrobeats into a deliberately global, multilingual record.
The chorus runs through several languages, and the lyrics name-check footballing greats and competing nations. Royalties from the song go to a global education fund run with Global Citizen, which aims to raise 100 million dollars to widen access to education and football for children worldwide. The pairing of the two artists is a deliberate strategy: Shakira's Latin pop reach and Burna Boy's standing as a leading Afrobeats voice are meant to connect with two of the largest music audiences in the world at the same time.
It is Shakira's fourth song tied to the tournament, after "Waka Waka" in 2010 and appearances at the 2006 and 2014 closing ceremonies. For Burna Boy, a Grammy winner credited with taking Afrobeats mainstream, it is the highest-profile sporting collaboration of his career so far, and a sign of how central African music has become to the global pop conversation.
The first final halftime show
For the first time, the final will feature a halftime show in the style of the Super Bowl. It takes place at the New York New Jersey Stadium on 19 July 2026, the same venue that stages the closing match.
The line-up brings together Shakira, Madonna and the South Korean group BTS, and fans can expect "Dai Dai" to feature. The show marks a clear shift in how the tournament packages its showpiece, treating the final as a global entertainment event as much as a football match. It also borrows from the host market, where the Super Bowl halftime slot is one of the most-watched entertainment moments of the year. Bringing that format to the final is a clear attempt to grow the tournament's reach beyond traditional football audiences. For the match itself, see the WC 2026 final page.
Other tournament music
"Dai Dai" is the headline release, but it sits inside a larger soundtrack. The organisers are also putting out an official album featuring artists from the three host nations, spanning country, regional Mexican and contemporary Latin and pop styles.
| Track | Artists | Role |
|---|---|---|
| Dai Dai | Shakira and Burna Boy | Official song |
| Lighter | Jelly Roll and Carin Leon | Album single (host nations) |
| Por Ella | Los Angeles Azules and Belinda | Album single (host nations) |
| Illuminate | Jessie Reyez and Elyanna | Album single (host nations) |
| Jump (reimagined) | J Balvin, Travis Barker, Amber Mark | Sponsor anthem |
The sponsor anthem, released in March 2026, is a reworking of Van Halen's "Jump". As at every recent tournament, these official releases sit alongside countless unofficial fan songs that often end up defining the atmosphere just as much. For Belgian listeners, the spread of Latin, Afrobeats and country pop is a reminder that the soundtrack is built for a worldwide audience rather than any single market.
A short history of the songs
Tournament songs have become an event in their own right over the past two decades. The recent official releases show how the music has travelled across genres and continents.
| Year | Song | Lead artists |
|---|---|---|
| 2010 | Waka Waka | Shakira with Freshlyground |
| 2014 | We Are One | Pitbull, Jennifer Lopez, Claudia Leitte |
| 2018 | Live It Up | Will Smith, Nicky Jam, Era Istrefi |
| 2022 | Hayya Hayya | Trinidad Cardona, Davido, Aisha |
| 2026 | Dai Dai | Shakira and Burna Boy |
"Waka Waka" remains the benchmark, with hundreds of millions of views, and its return of Shakira for 2026 is no coincidence. The trend is clear: a mix of Latin, African and global pop, chosen to reach as many audiences as possible. Each release leans on a recognisable global name, and most pair a headline pop star with artists who carry regional weight, a formula the 2026 song follows closely.
Slogan and visual identity
The official slogan is WE ARE 26, localised as SOMOS 26 in Spanish and NOUS SOMMES 26 in French. It is meant to capture both the year and the idea of three nations and 48 teams coming together as one event, and it gives the host cities a single line that works across all three official languages.
The visual identity centres on a logo that places the trophy above a large, stacked "26", paired with bold colour palettes drawn from the host cities. The system is designed to flex across digital screens, stadium signage and merchandise, in keeping with a tournament built for a heavily online audience. The branding rolled out well before kick-off, appearing on tickets, host-city signage and social channels, so the look of the tournament was familiar long before the first match.
The mascots, in brief
The tournament also has three mascots, one per host nation: Maple, a moose for Canada; Zayu, a jaguar for Mexico; and Clutch, a bald eagle for the United States. They were unveiled on 25 September 2025 and, like the music and branding, are designed to work across digital platforms as well as stadiums.
For the full breakdown of each character, the design reaction and six decades of mascot history, see the dedicated WC 2026 mascots guide.
The Belgium angle
No Belgian act is attached to the official soundtrack this time, but the music still travels well here. "Waka Waka" and "Live It Up" were fixtures in Belgian bars and fan zones at past tournaments, and "Dai Dai" is built for the same role. Belgian broadcasters and fan zones tend to pick up the official song quickly, and a track designed for singalongs in several languages suits a mixed Flemish and French-speaking crowd.
Expect the song across broadcasts and big-screen events as the Belgians begin their campaign. The official identity, from the song to the slogan and mascots, is designed to be visible wherever the tournament is followed, and Belgium's fan culture around big screens and city squares fits that template neatly. For the national-team picture, see Belgium at WC 2026.
Frequently asked questions
What is the official WC 2026 song?
"Dai Dai", performed by Shakira and Burna Boy and released on June 2026 through Sony Music Latin. It is a multilingual blend of Latin pop and Afrobeats.
What does Dai Dai mean?
It is an Italian expression meaning roughly "come on" or "let's go", used to urge someone forward, fitting the song's theme of pushing through hardship to succeed.
Who is performing at the final's halftime show?
Shakira, Madonna and BTS headline the first-ever halftime show at a tournament final, staged at the New York New Jersey Stadium on 19 July 2026.
What is the WC 2026 slogan?
WE ARE 26, rendered as SOMOS 26 in Spanish and NOUS SOMMES 26 in French, reflecting the three-nation, 48-team format.
Has Shakira done a tournament song before?
Yes. "Dai Dai" is her fourth, after the hugely popular "Waka Waka" in 2010 and performances at the 2006 and 2014 closing ceremonies.
Where do the song royalties go?
To a global education fund run with Global Citizen, which aims to raise 100 million dollars to widen access to education and football for children.
Is there a separate sponsor song?
Yes. In March 2026 a sponsor released its own anthem, a reworking of Van Halen's "Jump" featuring J Balvin, Travis Barker and Amber Mark. It sits alongside the official song rather than replacing it.
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