Alvin M. Keeling 
the fifa world cup the experience is one of the most impactful in the sports world. Those who are privileged to witness it live from the host country, as well as the billions of fans who experience it from their home countries, enjoy not only football action and drama, but also emblematic cultural assets. One of them are the official songs that have accompanied each edition of the tournament for several years.
Although it is now much easier to viralize content thanks to the presence of social networks, where in fractions of a second the whole world can watch and listen to the same thing as many times as you want, the FIFA World generally enhances any product related to it and songs are no exception.
So get ready to embark on a journey that, depending on your age, will take you to reminisce about songs that have been played at editions of the FIFA World Cup that you have experienced, including the upcoming one. Qatar 2022and to know which ones have been the soundtrack of the editions that you could not match.
The FIFA World Cup and its official songs, the antecedent
Like every event in human history, the FIFA World Cup has been refined over its 92 years and 21 editions of history. What may seem normal and logical for Qatar 2022 was not so for Uruguay 1930, when this legendary tournament was played for the first time.
Thus, it is not complicated to understand that during the first six editions, FIFA had far more transcendental logistical questions to settle and resolve than focusing on the request for an official song which would serve as the soundtrack to its most popular tournament. It was not until Chile 1962 that the first official World Cup song was released.
However, it is important to contextualize that two years before the first musical composition related to the World Cup sounded, in Rome 1960 Olympic Gamesthere “Olympic anthem” was created, the first musical product associated with an event of this nature. However, this composition was created in 1896 by the Greeks Spyridon Samaras and Kostis Palamas on the occasion of the celebration of the first modern edition of the Olympic Games.
The official songs of the editions of the FIFA World Cup played from 1962
A distinction should be made, including Qatar 2022 and in the seventy years since the tradition has been established that each edition of the FIFA World Cup has an audible timbre, there have been both official songs and official anthems and songs announced as such for the sponsors of this tournament.
However, there is only one audio product, one official song per edition of the FIFA World Cup since Chile 1962. So, with the upcoming World Cup in Qatar, there will be 16 official songs. Below you will meet each of them, which undoubtedly form an essential part of the memory that all fans have of this tournament.
Chile 1962 – “El rock del Mundial (the rock of the World Cup)”
This song was composed and performed by the Chilean band ‘The Ramblers‘ and was presented to Vina del Mar Music Festival. Initially, it was created to be the only song of the Chilean national team, but due to its success, it was included in the soundtrack of this edition of the FIFA World Cup.
England 1966 – ‘Willie World Cup (Where in this world are we going)’
Featuring Lonnie Donegan, it was not well received by the public. It was the first song composed at the request of a FIFA World Cup Organizing Committee, and was asked to accompany the tournament’s first ever mascot, a lion named willy.
Mexico 1970 – ‘Futbol Mexico 1970’
A 100-voice choir, which once animated Sunday youth masses in a church in Mexico City, gained notoriety until it was granted the right to sing this song which includes typical elements of Mexican music such as trumpets and violin in the purest mariachi style.
Germany 1974 – ‘Futbol’
Although the official song of the tournament is the one performed by the Poles Maryla Rodowicz at the opening ceremony, many remember the song “Fußball ist unser Leben“(Soccer is our life) sung by the players of the German national team, future champions of this edition of the Football World Cup.
Argentina 1978 – “El Mundial” (The World Cup)
This song marked a milestone in the history of official FIFA World Cup songs, as for the first time a renowned musician, the Italian Ennio Morricone, was responsible for creating it. Unfortunately, it was released only 20 days before the start of the tournament and received little public acceptance.
Spain 1982 – “El Mundial” (The World Cup)
A true figure of world music was in charge of interpreting this song. None other than the Spanish tenor Placido Domingo lent his voice to sing this frequently played melody at the Spain 1982 celebration.
Mexico 1986 – “El mundo unido por un balón” (The world gathered for a ball)
Chilean-born artist, Juan Carlos Abarawas in charge of the creation of this song which, with its joyful melody and sound closer to the local, musicalized an edition of the FIFA World Cup which was originally to be played in Colombia.
Italy 1990 – ‘Un’estate italiana’ (An Italian summer)
Musicians Giorgio Moroder and Tom Whitlock, who composed the famous song “Take my breath away” who won the Oscar in 1987 for Best Original Song, composed the official song for this edition of the FIFA World Cup. Performed by Gianna Nannini and Edoardo Bennatothis song became an international hit, the first major hit of an official World Cup song.
USA 1994 – “Gloryland”
The groups Daryl Halll and the sounds of darkness were in charge of interpreting this song with rock, soul and R&B accents. Unable to match the success of its predecessor in Italy in 1990, this song made history for being the first to appear on a World Cup theme album. This included the legendary Queen song We are the champions.
France 1998 – ‘La copa de la vida’ (The cup of life)
A real hit around the world that catapulted the career of the Puerto Rican singer Ricky Martin. This song was performed by the singer himself in English and Spanish, which made it much more popular among fans from different countries. Pop was here to stay in the official World Cup songs.
Korea Japan 2002 – “Boom”
American pop singer Anastasia was responsible for lending her voice to this song, which, despite being released, did not reach the levels of success and acceptance of the songs from Italy 1990 and France 1998. For the record, in the song’s official music video, Javier Pedro Saviolaan Argentinian striker, who played for Barcelona and real Madridwho did not play in this edition, but in Germany 2006, made a brief appearance.
Germany 2006 – “Time of our lives”
This song is tagged as the official tournament song and was performed by the Italian band The Divo and the American musician Toni Braxton. However, in memory of the fans of this edition of the FIFA World Cup, by Shakira song hips don’t lie was used as the opening melody in match broadcasts around the world.
South Africa 2010 – “Waka Waka (This Time for Africa)”
Although she was the sentimental favorite at the previous edition of the FIFA World Cup, in South Africa 2010 Shakira was ultimately the performer of the official tournament song, which was full of local sounds and melodies. The Colombian singer has been a real hit since Ricky Martin’s”cup of life“, the first official song of the World Cup to achieve such success around the world.
Brazil 2014 – “We are one”
The Brazil 2014 organizing committee went to great lengths to ensure the success of this official song and succeeded, recruiting the rapper pit bull, American Jennifer Lopez and Brazilian Claudia Leitte to interpret it, which makes it a success in many countries such as Austria, France, Germany, Italy, Spain and the very host country of this edition of the World Cup.
Russia 2018 – “Live it up”
Interpreted by Will Smith, Nicky Jam and Era Istrefiand produced by DJ and composer Diplomathe official Russia 2018 song peaked in connection with football fans when it was played ahead of this edition’s FIFA World Cup final between France and Croatia in front of 80,000 people at the Luznhiki stadium.
Qatar 2022 – ‘Hayya Hayya (Better Together)’
An American, a Nigerian and a Catari are in charge of performing this song which will be part of the soundtrack that will be part of the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022: Trinidad Cardona, Davido and AISHA. The rhythms that make up the song are R&B and reggae.
