52 Days to Go: FIFA's World Cup Soundtrack Shakeup — 'Lighter' Flops, 'Por Ella' Saves the Day

With fewer than two months until the 2026 FIFA World Cup kicks off across the United States, Mexico, and Canada, the tournament’s “official sound” has taken an unprecedented turn — instead of betting on a single earworm anthem, FIFA is releasing a full multi-artist, multi-language, multi-genre official album. Over the past month, the album’s first two lead singles have sparked two very different waves of public opinion.

Farewell to the “Waka Waka Era”: No More One-Song World Cups

For decades, “World Cup theme song” was practically a proper noun in the minds of football fans worldwide — Shakira’s Waka Waka, Ricky Martin’s The Cup of Life, songs that single-handedly defined the collective memory of an entire tournament.

But at the 2022 Qatar World Cup, FIFA first experimented with an “official soundtrack album” to replace the single anthem. In 2026, that strategy has been amplified. As the official music album for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, FIFA has chosen to release a multi-artist compilation, continuing the 2022 multi-genre approach rather than the 2018 model of one official theme song plus a playlist.

FIFA President Gianni Infantino’s logic is clear: a 48-team, 104-match tournament spanning three countries needs a collection of sounds reflecting “different cultures, different rhythms, different languages” — not just one song. But the question remains: are fans ready to accept a World Cup without “that one anthem”?

Lead Single ‘Lighter’: Three Nations Unite, Yet Criticized as “Car Commercial Music”

On March 20, the album’s opening chapter officially dropped. Lighter, the first single from the 2026 World Cup official album, features American artist Jelly Roll and Mexican singer Carín León, produced by Canadian hitmaker Cirkut, released globally on March 20, 2026.

The lineup reads like a textbook host-nation combination: an American country-hip-hop rising star (Jelly Roll), a Mexican regional music king (Carín León), and a Canadian producer who just won the 2026 Grammy for “Producer of the Year, Non-Classical” (Cirkut). Released through Def Jam Records, the song blends Jelly Roll’s country roots with Carín León’s Mexican regional style, bridging musical genres to reflect North America’s shared cultural energy.

However, the market response caught FIFA off guard. The country-infused pop-rock track drew criticism from both fans and music critics, with some comparing it to the kind of background music you’d hear in a car commercial. On social media, “forgettable,” “too safe,” and “what does this have to do with the World Cup?” became the most common complaints. Compared to Waka Waka’s instant global chart domination, this “tri-national” opener felt restrained.

Jelly Roll responded diplomatically, emphasizing that “music can reach places you’d never expect.” León expressed pride in collaborating with Jelly Roll for the world’s biggest sporting event. Producer Cirkut acknowledged they wanted to create “a song that carries the voice and soul of the host nations.”

But the market feedback was clear: FIFA needed a counterpunch.

Second Single ‘Por Ella’: Belinda + Los Ángeles Azules Pull Off a Latin Rescue

On April 17, the rescue arrived — the album’s second single, Por Ella, officially dropped.

This time, FIFA played a pure Latin card: the track features legendary Mexican cumbia band Los Ángeles Azules and Latin pop star Belinda, executive produced by multi-Grammy-winning Puerto Rican producer Tainy, released through Def Jam Recordings. Performed entirely in Spanish, the song fuses traditional cumbia rhythms with modern pop arrangements, becoming the album’s most distinctly Mexican cultural statement.

The accompanying music video was filmed at Mexico City’s iconic Monument to the Revolution and other landmarks, filled with images of the Virgin of Guadalupe, traditional costumes, and peseros (minibuses) — unmistakable Mexican cultural symbols — while the lyrics capture the passion and fervor of stadium stands.

Notably, Belinda and Los Ángeles Azules had previously collaborated on the hit Amor a primera vista. Their reunion was described by Mexican media as “a national-level gift for their country’s World Cup.” Belinda herself stated at the launch event that this collaboration was one of the most important of her career, hoping the song would become “an anthem inviting everyone to dance and celebrate.”

Within days of release, Por Ella’s reception far surpassed Lighter. Many Mexican media outlets and fans predicted the song could appear at the June 11 opening match at Mexico City’s Estadio Azteca, becoming the de facto “voice of the tournament.”

An Album as a “Series”: Will Shakira and Bad Bunny Join?

According to FIFA’s official schedule, the 2026 World Cup album will continue releasing new singles in the coming weeks, each representing a different region and genre. The official position: “every fan should find a song that belongs to them in this album.”

The two names generating the most buzz are Latin American superstars Shakira and Bad Bunny. The former is the voice behind Waka Waka, widely regarded as the “living legend” of World Cup music; the latter has been the world’s most-streamed artist in recent years. While FIFA has not officially confirmed either’s involvement, rumors of “leaked snippets” and “early listens” have repeatedly set social media ablaze.

Beyond FIFA — Broadcasters and Teams Launch Their Own Soundtracks

Beyond the official album, the 2026 World Cup’s “music ecosystem” is expanding on multiple fronts:

Broadcaster level: US Spanish-language network Telemundo released its own World Cup theme Somos Más on March 3, performed by Colombian singer Carlos Vives, Argentine rising star Emilia, reggaeton pioneer Wisin, and Spanish pop singer Xavi, promoting a message of “we are more — united.”

Sponsor level: Coca-Cola’s official 2026 World Cup theme JUMP hit major platforms in mid-March, following a classic “advertising anthem” formula.

Team level: The Japan Football Association announced its national team’s World Cup support song Keshiki (Scenery) will be released on June 3, with the tagline “see that view from the summit,” rallying Japan’s squad for the tournament. Several other Asian teams are expected to announce their own anthems soon.

The Old Question Returns: Do We Still Need “The One” World Cup Anthem?

From Nessun Dorma to Waka Waka, World Cup theme songs were once the soundtrack to generations of childhoods. Now FIFA is replacing one song with an album, aiming to reflect the tournament’s unprecedented diversity and scale — but also blurring the anchor point of a “global singalong” memory.

Lighter’s cold reception and Por Ella’s comeback encapsulate this transition: FIFA wants a “mosaic of cultures,” while fans still crave the emotional peak of “just one song.”

In 52 days, when the opening whistle blows at Mexico City’s Estadio Azteca on June 11, which song will echo through the stadium? Lighter’s country rock, Por Ella’s Mexican cumbia, or an as-yet-unrevealed “ultimate ace”?

That may be one of the most exciting mysteries before this World Cup begins.

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Stay tuned: The full album tracklist will be released on a rolling basis in the coming weeks. Fans can follow the “FIFA World Cup 2026” official accounts on Spotify, Apple Music, and other major platforms for real-time updates.