Beyond football: Music, culture and tourism to take centre stage at 2026 World Cup
The countdown to the 2026 FIFA World Cup is entering its final stretch before the tournament kicks off on June 11 across the United States, Mexico, and Canada.
This expanded 48-team edition is shaping up to be a global cultural spectacle, combining football, music, entertainment, and tourism on an unprecedented scale.
The tournament's official anthem, "Dai Dai", brings together Colombian pop star Shakira and Nigerian Afrobeats sensation Burna Boy in a high-energy track blending Latin rhythms with Afrobeats influences.
The musical lineup extends far beyond the official track, with a wave of World Cup-themed releases including "Ase Ase" by Rema, Lisa, and Anitta, "Illuminate" by Jessie Reyez and Elyanna, "Lighter" by Jelly Roll and Carín León, and "Champions" by popular American streamer IShowSpeed.
