A diverse set of football anthems created by Black artists from across the globe has soundtracked major tournaments, from the FIFA World Cup to the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON), becoming enduring cultural touchstones for fans.
Unofficial World Cup Anthems
- Somali-Canadian artist K’naan‘s global hit became synonymous with the 2010 World Cup after Coca-Cola selected it as a promotional anthem. Originally released a year earlier and written about Somalia, the track was ubiquitous throughout the tournament.
- Days after France secured its second World Cup title in 2018, an Orléans-based rapper of Ivorian descent released a celebratory track naming the entire winning squad. The song quickly became an unofficial national team anthem that remains in rotation.
- Colombia’s dancing goal celebrations during the 2014 World Cup drew inspiration from salsa choke, an Afro-Colombian genre from the country’s Pacific Coast. One salsa choke track in particular became the soundtrack to the team’s historic run, and players danced to it on stage upon returning home.
- A Chicago rapper delivered a fast, energetic track in 2014 as the official rallying anthem for the U.S. Men’s National Team during the World Cup in Brazil.
African Tournament and National Team Anthems
- An Abidjan-based singer and composer, backed by an all-star musical team, released a multilingual track in French, Arabic, and Nouchi in December 2023, one month before AFCON kicked off in Côte d’Ivoire. The host nation went on to win the tournament, and the song’s Afrobeat and zouglou rhythms propelled its YouTube video to nearly 170 million views and earned a platinum certification in France.
- Dakar legend Omar Pène released an homage to the Senegal Lions in 1993, after reassembling his famed band Super Diamono with new members. The mbalax and funk-infused track has remained a team anthem for decades.
- Arab Ghanaian Talal Fattal composed an official song for his Ghanaian TV station to support the Black Stars at the 2006 World Cup in Germany. He was joined by singer Ashitey Love and reggae and dancehall star Samini (then known as Batman), whose rap verse near the end became a memorable highlight for many Ghanaians who grew up around that tournament.
- In 2001, largely unknown musician Austino Milado created a hype track for the Nigerian Super Eagles in the gyration style of Lagos parties. The song continues to be embraced by both fans and players.
- Children’s YouTube channel Karibu Kidz, run by a Congolese-American family, scored a surprise viral hit with a Lingala-language song supporting DR Congo’s qualification for the current World Cup. After the Leopards secured their spot through play-ins in Mexico, the track ignited a dance craze in Congo and beyond.
- Cabo Verde made its first-ever World Cup appearance, and artists Cuxi (a winner of the French edition of The Voice a decade ago) and Johnson (born António Miranda) delivered a rare chill kizomba hype song in Kriolu that became the rallying track for the national team.
Official 2026 World Cup Collaborations
- American rapper Future and South African singer Tyla joined forces for “Game Time,” an additional official song for the 2026 World Cup. The track, which pairs trap beats with Tyla’s silky vocals, appears on the official tournament album alongside 16 other songs.
- Nigerian superstar Burna Boy features on one of the official World Cup songs, bringing a blend of African rhythms to the track. Unlike some previous official tournament songs, this one is proving popular with listeners.
