Pop superstar Shakira revealed why she chose Nigerian artist Burna Boy for the 2026 FIFA World Cup anthem Dai Dai, citing his powerful masculine vocals and Afrobeat energy. The track premiered at the June 11 opening ceremony in Mexico City and surged to global chart dominance following a historic July 19 halftime performance.
The global music landscape shifted noticeably this summer when two titans of international pop and Afro-fusion joined forces for the official soundtrack of the tournament. Speaking candidly about the creative process behind Dai Dai, the pop star admitted that she pursued the collaboration with unwavering determination.
Why Shakira Chose Burna Boy for the World Cup Anthem
The vision for Dai Dai demanded an artist capable of handling a unique sonic blend while projecting a commanding presence. According to Punch Newspapers, Shakira explained that the song merges Afrobeats with Caribbean sounds and R&B elements, though its primary rhythmic foundation remains anchored in Afrobeats. She needed a male vocalist whose voice could command attention against that intricate sonic backdrop.
“Well, once I had the song, I felt that I really needed a male vocal, a male voice in the song. I don’t know, because the World Cup carries a big male energy, you know? And so I was like, who can give me that, you know, very masculine voice that I want in this sort of like Afrobeat setting?”
Shakira & Burna Boy – Dai Dai (Lyrics) World Cup Song 2026
Shakira, global pop star
That search led directly to Burna Boy. The creative partnership required patience, however. As Thecable reported, the Colombian hitmaker waited nearly three weeks for her collaborator to submit his verse, admitting she experienced moments of uncertainty before receiving the final recording.
“It took a while. I was waiting for 20 days for him to send something. And I’m like, ‘Okay, maybe he’s not going to do it.’ But then he sent his magic and it was just absolutely perfect. I think his voice is just… It works so well on this song. So well. I couldn’t imagine anybody else on it, actually.”
Shakira, global pop star
Estadio Azteca, MetLife Stadium, and Record-Breaking Global Charts
Momentum steadily climbed through weekly activations, social assets, and remixes until the campaign reached its zenith. On July 19, 2026, Shakira and Burna Boy reunited at the MetLife Stadium in New Jersey for the first-ever FIFA World Cup final halftime show, accompanied by Uganda’s Ghetto Kids dance group. The performance cemented the song’s cultural footprint and triggered a massive surge in international listening figures.
The commercial response matched the spectacle. Dai Dai captured No. 1 positions on 10 charts worldwide, including the Billboard Global 200 and Billboard Global Excl. Dailypost noted that the track became the first song to rank No. 1 on Spotify’s newly launched Global Music Video Chart. Furthermore, the collaboration established Burna Boy as the first African artist to reach No. 1 on the Apple Music Global Top Songs chart, alongside securing his status as the African artist with the highest monthly listeners in history on Spotify and YouTube Music at 53 million and 600 million, respectively.
Milestones on the Official U.K. Singles Chart
The track’s international ascent also translated into significant chart milestones across Europe. Her last single to reach the top 10 was She Wolf, which climbed to No. 4 in October 2009.
Photo: Punch Newspapers
For Burna Boy, the track represents his fifth career top 10 hit on the U.K. chart, placing him just one entry behind Shakira. His previous entries include Last Last, which peaked at No. 4 in May 2022, alongside collaborations with Dave and Jorja Smith. The single’s enduring strength during the height of tournament excitement also pulled Shakira’s iconic 2010 World Cup anthem, Waka Waka (This Time for Africa), back into the U.K. streaming spotlight at a new all-time high of No. 45.
