Recommendations of the Editorial team
There was no pop music at the “Miracle of Bern” at the World Cup in Switzerland in 1954. It was the black and white period after the Second World War.
Eight years later, distant Chile kicked off the 1962 World Cup with a single for today’s vinyl nerds. With “El rock del Mundial”, written by Jorge Rojas and recorded by the Chilean rock’n’roll band Los Ramblers led by singer Germán Casas, the World Cup received an official song for the first time.
The title became a success in the Spanish-speaking world beyond the tournament and sold more than two million copies worldwide.
Four years later, England continued to play the musical ball. For the 1966 World Cup, skiffle pioneer Lonnie Donegan recorded “World Cup Willie,” named after the first official World Cup mascot, a lion named Willie. Donegan, once one of the most popular British musicians of the pre-Beatles era, was already on the decline of his career. It remained an early attempt to combine football, pop culture and merch marketing.
From humble beginnings, it grew from hits from the German national team (“Football is our life”) to the global megahits of our day.
Here are our top 6 of the best (official) songs from the World Cup. Unfortunately, “Three Lions” has to be cancelled. The track by Baddiel & Skinner, together with the Lightning Seeds, comes from the 1996 European Championships.
And sorry: The house track with Goleo for the German “Sommermärchen” 2006 and the Sportfreunde Stiller anthem (due to “lack of internationality”) didn’t make it into the selection.
Ranking: The 6 best World Cup songs of all time
World in Motion – New Order (1990)
Hardly any other World Cup song combines football and pop as convincingly as “World in Motion”. Recorded not for FIFA, but for the England national team at the 1990 World Cup, the track eschews the usual stadium clichés and instead relies on New Order’s signature synth-pop sound. The real highlight, however, is the rap by kicker John Barnes. Three decades later, the song still feels fresh and is regarded in Britain as a benchmark for every football anthem that came after and was far less kicky.
Un’estate italiana – Gianna Nannini & Edoardo Bennato (1990)
For many, this is the greatest (official) World Cup anthem of all time. The mix of Italian pathos and orchestral rock grandeur gives the song emotional depth. “Un’estate italiana”, also known internationally as “To Be Number One”, is not just about winning, but also about the magic of football. A feeling of an Italian summer.
La Copa de la Vida – Ricky Martin (1998)
“La Copa de la Vida” marks the beginning of the era of modern World Cup songs, which were blown around the globe with marketing power. The track combines Latin rhythms with stadium choirs and pop to create an explosive fair mix. The famous Francophone “Allez, allez, allez” has long been part of the international football vocabulary. The song finally made Martin a global superstar. The commercial potential of a World Cup anthem is therefore firmly established.
Waka Waka (This Time for Africa) – Shakira feat. Freshly Ground (2010)
Hardly any other World Cup song has become so deeply embedded in mainstream pop culture. The combination of African influences, a catchy chorus and the Colombian’s dance moves are still going strong today. The song is regularly played at soccer tournaments and school celebrations. A long-lasting triumph of lightness.
Wavin’ Flag – K’naan (2010)
Unlike many tournament anthems, “Wavin’ Flag” came with its own story. Originally written as a personal song about escape, hope and resistance, the “Celebration Mix” produced for the World Cup became a global hit. It is precisely this mixture of real emotional core and rousing euphoria that gives the song a certain credibility.
Carnaval de Paris – Dario G (1998)
A World Cup classic with no big message and even no actual singing. “Carnaval de Paris” relies on samba rhythms, stadium choirs and a melody that gets stuck in your head after a few seconds. Although the song never became an official FIFA tournament hit, it became the soundtrack of fan miles and football bars around the world.