Seven Nation Army, Freed from Desire, Sweet Caroline set to soundtrack World Cup 2026 | OneFootball

North America’s World Cup opened to music and will make history on 19 July, when MetLife Stadium stages the tournament’s first half-time concert with Shakira, Madonna and BTS. Openings featured Shakira and Burna Boy in Mexico City, Michael Bublé and Vegedream in Toronto, then Katy Perry in Los Angeles.

According to L'Équipe, the soundtrack will come from the stands, though its volume may hinge on travelling support. Stéphane Basset is wary of singalongs and recalls vuvuzelas of 2010, while Andrew Lawn is upbeat but warns costs and visas could quieten things.

Seven Nation Army, brought to stadiums by Club Bruges fans on their way to AC Milan in October 2003, is quieter now. Lawn says ubiquity dulls appeal and that songs should move on after two or three seasons.

Freed from Desire leads Deezer listening in France among World Cup songs in the last month, its Will Grigg’s on Fire twist from Euro 2016 making it easy to adapt to any player. Sweet Caroline has become an England staple since Covid, bolstered by the men’s Euro 2021 final and the women’s Euro 2022 title.

Allez Allez Allez stems from Righeira’s 1985 L’estate sta finendo, via L’Aquila and Napoli to Atlético Madrid and Liverpool, and echoes at the Emirates, though clubs like Manchester United favour Manchester-born numbers linked to the Stone Roses. Dai Dai, the official track by Shakira and Burna Boy, tops official World Cup songs in France and could be among this summer’s most played.

Source: L'Équipe