All the 2022 World Cup Songs (Updating)
Written by djfrosty on November 22, 2022
The FIFA Men’s World Cup, one of the biggest sporting events in the world, kicked off Nov. 20 with the Ecuador vs. Qatar (host country) match. As has been tradition for many years now, a select number of songs soundtrack the global soccer event, in which 32 teams — representing different countries — participate and, in the end, one is crowned the World Cup champion.
Songs such as Ricky Martin‘s “Cup of Life,” the official song of the 1998 event held in France, and Shakira‘s “Waka Waka (This Time for Africa)” for the 2010 World Cup in Africa have become anthems for soccer fans, and given the event’s popularity, they’ve also had a presence on the Billboard charts. “Waka Waka” peaked at No. 38 on the Billboard Hot 100 dated July 3, 2010, while Martin’s euphoric “Cup of Life” peaked at No. 45 on the Hot 100 in 1998.
So far, a number of songs tied to this year’s World Cup have been released, with a few being part of the official FIFA soundtrack and others that aren’t but are still worthy of a mention.
In April, FIFA released the first single, titled “Hayya Hayya (Better Together),” from the official soundtrack. The uplifting track, featuring Trinidad Cardona, Davido and Aisha, fuses R&B and reggae influences. Four months later, the football federation released the second song from the soundtrack titled “Arhbo,” with Latin star Ozuna and French Congolese rapper Gims. “Arhbo” is a local slang word for “welcome” in Qatar and comes from the Arabic word “Marhaba.” For the first time, the tournament’s soundtrack will feature a multi-song collection, with international artists “showcasing diverse musical genres that span the world, setting the tone for a truly global celebration,” according to FIFA.
Below, find an updating list of the 2022 World Cup-themed songs that have been released.