Colombian singer, songwriter and dancer Shakira is regarded as one of the most prominent figures in global music. Over more than three decades, she has played a significant role in bringing Latin music to a worldwide audience. A defining aspect of her international profile is her repeated association with the FIFA World Cup through official songs and performances.
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Early World Cup involvement
Shakira’s connection with the tournament began in 2006 at the FIFA World Cup in Germany, where she performed at the final ceremony. Although she was not involved in an official tournament song at that stage, her appearance marked her first participation in a World Cup event and established her presence on its global stage.
Major World Cup contributions
Her most notable involvement came in subsequent editions of the tournament, where she contributed official songs and performances:
In the 2010 FIFA World Cup in South Africa, Shakira performed “Waka Waka (This Time for Africa)” in collaboration with South African band Freshlyground. The song served as the tournament’s official anthem and became one of the most commercially successful sports songs in history. It was performed during both the opening and closing ceremonies and achieved widespread international chart success.
In the 2014 FIFA World Cup in Brazil, she recorded “La La La”, which was also designated as an official World Cup song, marking her second official tournament anthem.
In the 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia, although she did not release an official tournament song, she participated in promotional and opening performances connected to the event.
Overall, Shakira has had direct involvement in at least three World Cups (2006, 2010 and 2014), with two official tournament songs to her name.
Summary of World Cup involvement
| Year | Host country | Role | Song/Performance |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006 | Germany | Final ceremony performance | No official song |
| 2010 | South Africa | Official song artist | Waka Waka (This Time for Africa) |
| 2014 | Brazil | Official song artist | La La La |
| 2018 | Russia | Promotional/ceremonial performances | No official song |
“Waka Waka” remains one of the most widely distributed and most viewed World Cup-related songs in history.
Music career and global rise
Shakira Isabel Mebarak Ripoll was born in 1977 in Barranquilla, Colombia. She began writing poetry and songs at a young age. Her early studio albums did not achieve major commercial success, but she continued her musical development.
Her breakthrough came in 1995 with the album “Pies Descalzos”, which established her as a major artist in Latin America. She later gained international recognition with the 2001 single “Whenever, Wherever”, followed by the global success of “Hips Don’t Lie” in 2006. These releases helped position her as a leading figure in mainstream pop music while maintaining her Latin musical identity.
Recent developments
Shakira continues to maintain a global presence in music and large-scale cultural events. In connection with the 2026 FIFA World Cup, she has returned with new musical work linked to the tournament.
One of the most prominent recent releases is “Dai Dai”, a collaboration with Nigerian artist Burna Boy, which has been presented as an official theme song for the tournament. The track combines Afrobeat and Latin pop elements and reflects themes associated with global unity, as well as football-related energy and international cultural references.
Through her repeated involvement across multiple editions of the FIFA World Cup, Shakira has maintained a sustained presence in the tournament’s musical history, contributing both official songs and ceremonial performances over nearly two decades.