Football Once Again Brings Musicians Across Seas Together: Shakira and Burna Boy’s “Dai Dai”
Football and music have long shared a unique relationship with major tournaments often producing songs that extend the excitement beyond the pitch. As the 2026 FIFA World Cup gets underway, “Dai Dai” arrives as one of the records aiming to capture that same spirit. The single is a collaboration between Colombian superstar Shakira and Nigerian Grammy winner Burna Boy.
For Shakira, the territory is familiar. The singer remains synonymous with football anthems.”, all thanks to “Waka Waka (This Time for Africa)”, the official song of the 2010 FIFA World Cup, which became one of the most recognisable sporting records of the century. From its opening moments, “Dai Dai” starts off energetically. The track begins with catchy, resonant beats which complement Shakira’s long-established affinity for dance-driven records. Her performance brings warmth and vibrancy, while Burna Boy provides a complementary presence, adding his unmistakable vocal texture and Afro-fusion flavour to strengthen its global appeal.
One of the song's strengths lies in its a embrace of cultural diversity. Through its multilingual approach and international collaboration, “Dai Dai” mirrors the coming together of nations that defines the World Cup itself. References to football legends and participating countries further position the record as a celebration of the sport's global community rather than a song centred on a single perspective.
Beyond its festive production, the song is anchored by a message of perseverance. The lyrics speak to overcoming setbacks, embracing challenges and finding strength which are qualities that appear within competitive sport. The line, "You've been this brave all along, what broke you once made you strong," stands out as a reminder of the persistence required to succeed, whether on the pitch or beyond it.
The song's writing credits include Shakira, Ed Sheeran, Jon Bellion and Alexander “A.C.” Castillo Vasquez, while Shakira also serves among the producers. Additional production and engineering contributions from Alexander “A.C.” Castillo Vasquez, Pamela Vélez and Dave Clauss help deliver a polished production that matches the scale of the occasion.
Overall, “Dai Dai” may not carry the immediate cultural impact that accompanied “Waka Waka” over a decade ago, but it succeeds in what it sets out to do as a contemporary football anthem. It embraces the same spirit of unity and celebration and more importantly, it understands the assignment of a football record which is bringing people together through a shared feeling of hope, excitement and possibility.
As a World Cup release, “Dai Dai” serves as a fitting reminder that football's biggest moments are often accompanied by music capable of crossing borders just as easily as the game itself.
