Shakira’s FIFA 2026 Anthem Video Just Dropped, And It’s Stacked With the Biggest Names in Football
The Shakira FIFA 2026 anthem video is officially out, and if you’re a football fan in the UAE, this is your first real signal that the World Cup hype machine has fully switched on, with less than two weeks to go before the June 11 kickoff.
Three GOATs, One Video, Here’s What’s in It
Shakira, who has form with World Cup anthems going back to her iconic 2010 hit *Waka Waka*, has returned as the face of FIFA’s official 2026 soundtrack. The music video features appearances from the three most recognisable names in modern football: Lionel Messi, Kylian Mbappe, and Cristiano Ronaldo, all in the same frame, essentially. For context, getting those three names under one creative roof is the kind of cultural moment that transcends sport entirely.
The video also weaves in tribute sequences honouring Diego Maradona, tapping into football’s generational memory and reminding viewers that the World Cup isn’t just a tournament, it’s a living archive of the sport’s greatest chapters. Released on 28 May 2026, the timing is deliberate: FIFA is building a sustained wave of cultural noise in the fortnight before the first match, using shareable, high-emotion content to pull in casual fans who may not have been tracking qualifiers.
Why Dubai and the UAE Are Already Buzzing
In the UAE, major football moments have a well-established knock-on effect. Sports bars, hotel venues, and entertainment districts across Dubai typically see a sharp uptick in bookings and footfall the moment a tournament’s cultural identity crystallises, and an anthem video featuring Messi, Mbappe, and Ronaldo does exactly that. Expect themed screening nights, brand activations, and social-media-driven promotions to accelerate quickly now that the official anthem is in circulation. Venues that move early on programming and staffing plans ahead of the June 11, 2026 start date will be the ones capturing the first wave of fan spending.
- Artist: Shakira (official FIFA World Cup 2026 anthem)
- Featured Stars: Lionel Messi, Kylian Mbappe, Cristiano Ronaldo
- Legend Tribute: Diego Maradona
- Video Release Date: 28 May 2026
- Tournament Kickoff: June 11, 2026
- Tournament Format: First-ever 48-team FIFA World Cup
- Where to Watch: FIFA’s official YouTube channel and social media accounts
Shakira’s return to the World Cup stage, this time with Messi, Mbappe, and Ronaldo alongside her, signals that FIFA is treating the 2026 edition as its biggest cultural moment yet. With the expanded 48-team format and a June 11 start date fast approaching, the anthem is the starting gun for weeks of fan engagement. UAE residents should expect the city’s sports venues and entertainment spots to shift into full World Cup mode almost immediately.
