Life and music are often connected. Hearing a certain song can take you to a place of nostalgia in an instant. That is what happens with songs that are tied to the World Cup for many football fans. In this way, the music of the World Cup becomes escapism. You may be working a 40-hour week behind a desk at the age of 40, but hearing the opening bars of “Nessun Dorma”by Puccini takes you back to simpler days and the iconic memories of the 1990 World Cup in Italy.
Is there a song for every World Cup? Yes, there is an official FIFA song (often many) for every World Cup. The first World Cup to introduce a song was the 1962 World Cup in Chile, where the song “El Rock del Mundial” was given the honor. In addition to the official World Cup song(s), there are often also songs adopted by the England team officially and yet more songs that become unofficial anthems sung by the fans.
Official Songs
FIFA selects the official World Cup songs in conjunction with advertising and broadcast partners. These are the songs you will hear around the event, used in promotional campaigns in the lead-up to the World Cup and for the duration of the tournament.
FIFA has developed the concept of the official song ever since first picking “El Rock del Mundial” in 1962. The songs are usually sung in multiple languages, which include the host nation’s language, English, and others. The song is often chosen so it can be covered and released in other countries in their native language. The songs chosen – especially in the 2000s – have been happy, up-tempo, and with a positive message.
Here are some of the more well-known FIFA World Cup Songs:
- England 1966 – The Lonnie Donegan performed “World Cup Willie (Where in this World are we Going)” was an early attempt to tie in the mascot of the tournament with its song. Great intentions, terrible song.
- Italy 1990 – It will stun every Englishman of a certain age to find out that “Nessun Dorma” was not the official song of the 1990 World Cup. Instead, “Un’estate Italiana (To Be Number One)” was the choice made by FIFA.
- USA 1994 – Gloryland was an instrumental piece that is barely remembered. The fact that the classic “We Are The Champions” by Queen was also used extensively was much better.
- France 1998 – FIFA started to realize the potential power of their official song here and went with a big name (and big message) for the first time. Ricky Martin was the choice, with “La Copa de la Vida (The Cup of Life)” ticking all of FIFAs boxes.
- Germany 2006 – FIFA went a little weird here with operatic pop group Il Divo having the official song “The Time of Our Lives.” They also didn’t even choose a song that contained German, leaving that for the official anthem of “Zeit dass sinch (Celebrate the Day”).
- South Africa 2010 – Maybe the most robust lineup of all. FIFA, by now, had realized that more songs – and more official songs – was the best way of generating interest (and money). R. Kelly’s “Sign of Victory” is forgettable as the official anthem, but “Waka Waka” by Chakira is iconic, and “Wavin’ Flag” by K’Naan – which was labeled as the Coca-Cola official promotional anthem – was translated into at least 20 languages and charted all over the world.
- Brazil 2014 – No less than 10 FIFA-affiliated songs for this World Cup included “We Are One (Ole Ola)” by Pitbull featuring Jennifer Lopez and “Dar um Jeito (We Will Find a Way)” by Carlos Santana featuring Wyclef, Avicii, and Alexandre Pires. Too much going on, in all honesty, and was a jumbled mess.
- Russia 2018 – The official song was “Live it Up” by Nicky Jam featuring Will Smith and Era Istrefi. The most interesting change was a Hans Zimmer and Lorne Balfe composition called “Living Football” that FIFA used as an anthem for the opening of games and on TV.
- Qatar 2022 – We know Hayya Hayya (Better Together) by Trinidad Cardona, Davido, and AISHA is the first song of the multi-song FIFA 2022 World Cup Official Soundtrack. There will undoubtedly be more to come.
Other Notable Songs
Many songs in England are more well known than the official World Cup songs from the tournament that year. Here are a few that will stick out and bring back memories.
- Back Home (1970 World Cup Squad) – A three-week UK No. 1 song that was among the peak of the songs historically that have had a whole squad singing together. However, it did not do much good with the sweltering heat in Mexico proving too much as the defending champions were knocked out at the quarter-final stage by West Germany.
- World in Motion (New Order and 1990 World Cup Squad) – Only six players showed up at the studio to record this song that has become one of the most beloved of its type over the years. The now famous John Barnes rap was only given to Barnes on the day when the other five players in attendance – including Gazza and Chris Waddle – could not get the timing down.
- Nessun Dorma (Luciano Pavarotti) – The perfect song for the perfect time. To many people, 1990 was when football arrived. The scene as Cameroon beat Argentina, England’s run to the semi-final and Gazza’s tears, Toto Schillaci becoming a household name for 15 minutes, all set to Puccini’s masterpiece and Pavarotti’s vocals. This son spurred interest in Italian football to the point that it was appointment viewing on Football Italia from 1992 onward. That was the power of Nessun Dorma and its selection as the TV theme for the 1990 World Cup.
- We’re On The Ball (Ant & Dec) – A ridiculous song for the perfectly silly 2002 World Cup and a Sven Goran Eriksson England side that was also pretty silly in their inability to find a formation to suit the best players in the country.
An honorable mention has to go to Baddiel and Skinner (with the Lightning Seeds) for Three Lions.
Yes, it was released for Euro 96 and therefore doesn’t count on this song recap for every World Cup, but it is the greatest football-related song ever released. Dishonorable mentions are also in order for “Anfield Rap” and “Diamond Lights” for their crimes to football and music.