265 songs, albums, videos submitted this week, but I decided to review World Cup Songs since I
am writing this while watching Mexico win 2-0 over Ecuador
These 6 World Cup songs are all on the radio and playlists in the US, and in Mexico.
Por Ella, single by Los Ángeles Azules & Belinda. A Spanish-language Mexican cumbia with lyrics that sound like a romance song that sings of the passion and dream of conquering the World Cup trophy. It even slips in “olé, olé-olé” and lyrics about a 90th-minute goal. A must during the matches. Stream on all major platforms. Spanish
Goals, single by LISA, Anitta & Rema. A High-energy track featuring K‑pop, Brazilian funk and Afrobeats with voices in English and Spanish. Very hooky and in places very clever. A solid earworm. Stream on all major platforms.
Game Time, single by Future & Tyla. Trap and Amapiano house music crossover, a little low-key, but the line “20 seconds to game time” sticks in your head. Stream on all major platforms.
Illuminate single by Jessie Reyez & Elyanna. I love this World Cup song. It blends Jessie Reyez’s alternative R&B with Elyanna’s Arabic/ Latin global pop, creating a hybrid that feels both soulful and very “World Cup anthem.” I really love the warm, syncopated percussion and big, chant-like hooks, with traditional Middle Eastern rhythmic accents. I think I hear a table hand drum in there. These two have put together what I think is the best World Cup song. Stream everywhere.
Echo single by Daddy Yankee & Shenseea Reggaeton meets dancehall – high-octane reggaeton/dancehall hybrid with EDM sheen. It’s short, hooky, and built like a stadium chant, all about resilience, unity, and that collective “World Cup” rush. The bilingual lyrics scream collective strength—“you are tougher than your struggle. A soundtrack for getting up and going again ( but the knockout round makes that unlikely). Stream on all major platforms
Dai Dai, single by Shakira & Burna Boy. What can I say? The tournament’s official song, blending Shakira’s pop‑Latin style with Burna Boy’s Afrofusion. It’s also the lead single on the World Cup album. I reviewed it last week, and you can’t avoid it, so enough said. It’s everywhere.
Patrick O’Heffernan
Banner: Daddy Yankee and Shenseea. Daddy Yankee Facebook
