Ranking every World Cup Song
Although the tradition of official World Cup songs originated in Chile in 1962 with the track "El Rock del Mundial" by Los Ramblers, it was not until 1998 when the host country France hired Latin sensation Ricky Martin that they became the phenomenon they are today. His song "Copa de la Vida" debuted as No. 1 on the United States charts, which inspired all subsequent host countries to pick a fun, catchy tune for the World Cup moving forward. As the kick-off time for Russia 2018 creeps ever closer let us revisit some of the hit songs of previous World Cups. In this list you will find some of the "greatest" World Cup songs from the history of the event. Some of these are official songs chosen by FIFA or the host nation, some are productions sponsored by Coca Cola to and some that either support a team or simply the work of an artist celebrating the coming together of nations for the "Beautiful Game". Over the years, there have been some stunners and some shockers, official and unofficial, anthems and albums. Listen to these historic World Cup anthems, some paired with video of footage of beautiful games past and let us know what your ranking of best world cup song would be.
Introduction
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Waka Waka (This Time for Africa) - Shakira (2010)
#12.5After it was announced as the official song for the 2010 World Cup in South Africa, "Waka Waka (This Time for Africa)" by Shakira initially received some negative reactions. The greatest criticism of this catchy number was that the official song for the first World Cup in Africa should ideally have been sung by an African singer. However, once the criticism of Shakira taking the spotlight away from African artists died down, the song became a global hit that transcended the time of the 2010 World Cup. The song has positive lyrics making it a happy and passionate song and the music video is so colorful and vivid that it makes you want to sing along to this tune while doing the "Waka Waka" dance! The video also has historical footage of many of the greats from the past – Ronaldo, Zidane, Messi, Maradona, Pele and Baggio. The song finishes with the words: “We’re all Africa” signifying the world coming together for the World Cup. The music video is still one of the most-watched videos of all time on YouTube. The popularity of this 'most-listened-to' World Cup song ever hints at the massive power of that songs associated with the World Cup has.
Wavin' Flag - K'naan (2010)
#22.7For their 2010 World Cup campaign Coca-Cola chose Somali-Canadian artist K'Naan's "Wavin' Flag" from his popular album "Troubadour". The song's lyrics originally talked about growing up in war torn Somalia and aspiring for freedom but was adapted into a "Celebration Mix" to recognize the first World Cup in Africa. Apart from the inspirational lyrics, the song boasted a catchy tune and K'naan's authentic earthy vocals, which made it an instant hit around the world. While this was not the official World Cup theme (the honor of which was given to Shakira's "Waka Waka"), Wavin' Flag was adopted by football fans around the world. The celebratory international version reached the top ten in more than 20 different charts around the world. Many bilingual versions of the Celebration Mix have also been made, for use in each of their respective countries and feature stars like David Bisbal, Nancy Ajram and Jacky Cheung. These versions have gone on to become hits of their own, which goes to show why this song is one of the best World Cup songs of all time.
La Copa de la Vida - Ricky Martin (1998)
#32.8Before releasing pop behemoth "Livin' La Vida Loca", Ricky Martin recorded the official song of France 98 - The Cup of Life ("La Copa de la Vida" in Spanish). Both the English and Spanish versions did very well all over the world. This extremely catchy Latin-flavoured tune caught the public's imagination as it went to No. 1 in several countries. Australia, for example, couldn't get enough of it as it stayed at the top of the charts for six weeks and was the most popular song of 1998. It almost seemed like Ricky Martin was talking about something other than football in this song. But his rousing carnavalesque screamer brought soccer anthems to a new level when it made charts worldwide and officially set off the so-called Latin music explosion when he performed it on the Grammys. All of this makes this song a Classic, and forever timeless World Cup tune.
La Copa de Todos - David Correy ft. Paty Cantu and Wisin (2014)
#45.2Although 2014 official Coca Cola World Cup song "The World is Ours" has several versions that have garnered huge popularity on Youtube and elsewhere on the internet, "La Copa de Todos" featuring the popular Mexican singer Paty Cantu and the former "Wisin y Yandel" front-man Wisin is definitely one of the most popular. This version put together by Wisin himself channels the good vibes and party spirit of "futbol" and the World Cup. His take on the track adds some nice hip-hop elements and heavy thumping beats that every "Wisin y Yandel" fan appreciates. This version of the song features both English and Spanish lyrics, and the guest vocals from the always beautiful Paty Cantu just makes the song all the more memorable.
Anthem - Vangelis (2002)
#55.8Anthem by Oscar-Winning Composer Vangelis was the theme music for 2002 FIFA World Cup held in South Korea and Japan. The single was commercially successful in Japan, being certified platinum for sales of over 100,000 copies. The single reached #89 position in the UK single charts and received the "Song of the Year" award by the Recording Industry Association of Japan. Several versions of the song including an orchestral and synthesizer rendition were included in the official soundtrack Fever Pitch and The Official Album of the 2002 FIFA World Cup. The song mainly has two parts, the second of which is more popular as it signified the beginning of every match in the World Cup. The first part starts of somber and gives way to the drumbeats that reveals the celebratory crescendo that fans love.
Sign of a Victory - R. Kelly (2010)
#67.5"Sign of a Victory" is a song by American singer R. Kelly, featuring the South African gospel choir Soweto Spiritual Singers. It was the official anthem for the 2010 FIFA World Cup. Released on June 6 for digital download, the song received generally positive critical reception, and became a minor hit. It was later included on Listen Up! The Official 2010 FIFA World Cup Album, released on May 31 and in Kelly's compilation album Epic. "Sign of a Victory" was performed by R. Kelly and the Soweto Spiritual Singers at the 2010 FIFA World Cup Kick-Off concert in Soweto on June 10, 2010.
The World is Ours - David Correy ft. Aloe Blacc (2014)
#77.8Coca-Cola joined forces with internationally acclaimed singer-songwriter Aloe Blacc, to launch ‘The World is Ours’ – a mash up of a newly written and recorded Aloe Blacc song combined with lyrics and sounds from the original version of ‘The World Is Ours’ by David Correy and Monobloco. The beat for ‘The World is Ours’ by Aloe Blacc and David Correy captures the spirit and excitement of the 2014 FIFA World Cup and host country, Brazil, while the lyrics express messages of inclusivity, celebration and happiness.
The World is Ours - David Correy ft. Ira Losco (2014)
#89.1Like many other famous performers around the world, Maltese superstar and Eurovision runner up Ira Losco also collaborated with David Correy for an English version of "The World is Ours" song. If you have not yet checked out this official Mycoke Malta Coca Cola take of the 2014 World Cup song, you are missing out on one of its best renditions!
Oh Africa - Akon (2010)
#910.2"Oh Africa" was Akon's hit charity single featuring Keri Hilson that was featured in the "Listen Up! The Official 2010 FIFA World Cup Album:. The song was released to raise funds for Akon's charity 'Konfidence' to aid underprivileged children in Africa. The Soweto Gospel Choir and young singers from many countries are also featured on the single. The footballers Thierry Henry, Didier Drogba, Kaká, Fernando Torres, Lionel Messi, Frank Lampard, Michael Ballack and Andrei Arshavin also make cameo appearances in the music video.
The Cup of Life - Ricky Martin (1998)
#1010.5Before releasing pop behemoth "Livin' La Vida Loca," Ricky Martin recorded the official song of France 98 - The Cup of Life. The extremely catchy Latin-flavoured tune caught the public's imagination as it went to No. 1 in several countries. Australia, for example, couldn't get enough of it as it stayed at the top of the charts for six weeks and was the most popular song of 1998. It seemed like Ricky Martin was talking about something other than football in this song. But his rousing carnavalesque screamer brought soccer anthems to a new level when it made charts worldwide and officially set off the so-called Latin music explosion when he performed it on the Grammys. All of this makes this song a Classic, and forever timeless World Cup tune.
Colors - Jason Derulo (2018)
#1110.8"Colors", by Jason Derulo is the Coca-Cola anthem for the 2018 World Cup tournament, and hits all the right notes, making unity among all the people in the world a centerpiece of both the lyrics and the video. Jason Derulo is no stranger to delivering catchy, uptempo hits, and "Colors" is no exception. The music video was shot in both Miami and Haiti, featuring a strong international presence, with flags from all around the globe. The video was helmed by Gil Green and includes Wyclef Jean on the guitar. It features people coming together with dance and football in front of beautiful scenery from The Citadel Laferriére, a mountain-top fortress in Haiti.
La La La - Shakira (2014)
#1211.3"La La La (Brazil 2014)" was released on 27 May as the second theme song for the 2014 World Cup. This was Shakira's second time singing a theme song for the FIFA World Cup (the first being in 2010). The song included new lyrics and features Brazilian musician Carlinhos Brown. The version was praised by music critics and fared well commercially. An accompanying video was directed by Shakira's long time collaborator Jaume de Laiguana, the music video is influenced by Afro-Brazilian heritage and tribal imagery and features cameos from a variety of football players including Lionel Messi, Neymar, Cesc Fàbregas, Sergio Agüero, Radamel Falcao, James Rodríguez and Eric Abidal, Shakira's boyfriend Gerard Piqué and their son Milan.
The World is Ours - David Correy ft. Monobloco (2014)
#1313.4Although he was eliminated in the finals of The X-Factor in the U.S., David Correy bounced back with nothing less than the official Coca-Cola song for the 2014 World Cup in Brazil, the country of his birth. Brazilian percussion ensemble Monobloco initially collaborated with Brazilian-born producer Mario Caldato, Jr. to record the song’s rhythm tracks, which the popular songwriting team Rock Mafia then used to craft the lyrics and melody. And Correy’s rousing vocals were the final ingredient to this mix. “The World is Ours” – fuses Correy’s soaring pop vocals with samba, baile funk and technobraga rhythms and exposes football and music fans around the world to the signature sounds of Brazil. It became a hit with World Cup viewers and is undoubtedly one of the most memorable features of the 2014 tournament.
Team 2018 - DJ Smash ft. Polina Gagarina & Egor Kreed (2018)
#1414.6To express their excitement for the 2018 World Cup in Russia, music stars DJ Smash, Polina Gagarina and Egor Kreed put together 'Team 2018', an upbeat track that celebrates the competition and good sportsmanship, with a healthy dose of national team support. Released together with social project #Live, an initiative focused on overcoming social barriers, Team 2018 is not just about football: in true wholesome fashion, the song applauds teamwork in all spheres of life.
Magic in the Air - Magic System ft. Chawki (2014)
#1515.4
Bandera de Libertad - K'naan ft. David Bisbal (2010)
#1615.8
Time of Our Lives - Chawki (2014)
#1716.0
Hot Hot Hot - Arrow (1986)
#1818.5"Hot Hot Hot" is a song written and first recorded by Montserratian musician Arrow, featured on his 1982 studio album, Hot Hot Hot. The song became an instant dance floor hit and was later covered by artists around the world, most notably in 1987 by American singer David Johansen under the name Buster Poindexter. The song was also the theme song of the 1986 World Cup in Mexico and is about as timeless of a song as you could ask for.
Samba e Gol - Bellini (1998)
#1919.5Originally titled Samba de Janeiro, this is Samba at its best and a video interspersed with some fantastic footage of Brazil’s previous World Cup winning teams is one of the more popular tunes that accompanied the 1998 World Cup.
Un'estate Italiana - Edoardo Bennato & Gianna Nannini (1990)
#2020.0Italia 90 will forever be intrinsically linked with Pavarotti's epic version of "Nessun Dorma," but the official song from that year was actually "Un'estate Italiana (To Be Number One)" by Edoardo Bennato and Gianna Nannini. This ode to the "magic nights following a goal under the sky of an Italian summer." was originally composed by Girgio Moroder, as "An Italian Summer". This Italian version is possibly one of the most passionately performed World Cup songs ever and reached No. 1 in the charts in Italy and Switzerland.
Shagga' Bi Alamak - K'naan ft. Nancy Ajram (2010)
#2120.7
Dar um Jeito - Carlos Santana and Wyclef Jean ft. Avicii (2014)
#2221.7"Dar um Jeito" (We Will Find a Way) was a 2014 FIFA World Cup anthem performed by singer Carlos Santana and Wyclef Jean featuring Avicii and Alexandre Pires. The song was Executive Produced and co-written by Arnon Woolfson who was the brainchild of the project. It is an official anthem for the 2014 FIFA World Cup, with one verse in English and the other in Portuguese, and is track number 2 on the album "One Love, One Rhythm" – The 2014 FIFA World Cup Official Album. The song peaked at number 14 in US Hot Dance Club Songs.
A Special Kind of Hero - Stephanie Lawrence (1986)
#2323.5'A Special Kind Of Hero' by Stephanie Lawrence is certainly inspired by ABBA and deftly balances the sappiness and sentimentality that was typical of World Cup songs at the time.
Boom - Anastacia (2002)
#2424.2American singer Anastacia, who burst onto the pop music scene in the early 2000s, was, by all measure, an unlikely choice to sing the official World Cup song of Japan/Korea 2002. Anastacia's song "Boom" appears to have absolutely nothing to do with football, but it was selected as one of the official anthems for the 2002 World Cup in Korea and Japan. It failed to make much of an impact in the charts anywhere in the world, but it did manage to reach No. 5 in Belgium. Although 'Boom' is not as catchy as her most popular electronic-soul fusion number “I’m outta love”, it is still a fairly pleasing dance number though the link to football seems very tenuous, despite the music video featuring football.
Celebrate the Day - Herbert Gronemeyer (2006)
#2524.6
Arriba Arriba - Ana Barbara, Mariana Seoane, Anaís Martínez, Pablo Montero (2006)
#2625.6
Live It Up - Nicky Jam ft. Will Smith & Era Istref (2018)
#2726.1Following in the footsteps of ‘We Are One (Ole Ola)’ performed by Pitbull and Shakira’s ‘Waka Waka (This Time for Africa)’, Diplo produced this lively song to fill the stadiums around Russia with a lively atmosphere that is sure to bring fans together. The artists of this song came together through Will Smith's friendship with Latino artist Nicky Jam, who has previously worked with the likes of Enrique Iglesias and Daddy Yankee - and it has led to the pair getting in the studio in Budapest to produce this upbeat track.
The Time of Our Lives - Il Divo (2006)