2004 (Perú): Gianmarco, “Más Allá de los Sueños,”
The singer-songwriter from Peru added color to the 2004 cup with an optimistic song about conquering dreams.
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The Official Songs of Copa América Through the Years
Written by djfrosty on June 26, 2024
Two things that awaken great passions in Latin America are music and football. While the Conmebol Copa América United States 2024 is being played this summer, we present you the list of anthems from one of the most important continental men’s soccer tournaments in the world, over the years.
Each song reflects the popular sound of the year the tournament took place. For example, in the early 2000s, pop music dominated the scene. Pop songs like Gian Marco’s “Más Allá de los Sueños” and Diego Torres’ “Creo en América” set the scene for the Copa América in Peru in 2004 and the Argentina edition in 2011, respectively. Over time, the sounds evolved towards tropical and urban rhythms, such as “La Gozadera” by Gente de Zona, perhaps one of the most remembered Copa América anthems. It is also common for artists from the host country to provide the official music for the tournament.
While it is true that we are talking about a sport, soccer in Latin America is much more than a game. It is an opportunity to unite from friends to families and entire countries with a common dream: taking home the title. This feat is not easy to achieve — especially with countries like Argentina and Uruguay, the top winners with 15 titles each — which raises the level of competition in South American football to great heights.
The tournament is organized by the South American Football Confederation (CONMEBOL), whose members are Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, Paraguay, Peru, Uruguay and Venezuela. In addition, each edition invites countries such as the six Concacaf teams this year, including the United States and Mexico. As a curious and revealing fact, none of the invited countries has won the cup in the tournament’s entire history.
The Conmebol Copa América, which was played for the first time in 1916 and refers to itself as “The oldest continental tournament in the world,” was held annually until 1929, when it adopted a format every two, three, or four years. Since 2007, it has been held every four years — with some exceptions due to circumstances such as the celebration of the tournament’s centenary, efforts to synchronize the event with the Euro Cup, and the Covid-19 pandemic, which have modified the dates. The official songs have been implemented since the beginning of the 21st century, except for Pájaro Canzani’s song “Todos Goleando,” for the 1995 Uruguay Cup.
Here are the official songs of the Copa América:
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2007 (Venezuela): Juan Carlos Luces, “Gol”
Image Credit: David Becker/Getty Images for LARAS “Alelelele, alelelela, I want to win the Copa América” goes part of the chorus of this Venezuelan tropical anthem that represents the spirit of sports competition.
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2011 (Argentina): Diego Torres, ChocQuibTown & Ivete Sangalo, “Creo en América”
Image Credit: JUAN MABROMATA/AFP via Getty Images “I would like to celebrate/ A world without resentment/ And without borders/ Yes, in America/ I believe, I believe,” goes part of this song, which invites us to leave differences behind and celebrate the unity of all America as a single continent. And Torers led by example, inviting the Colombians of ChocQuibTown and the Brazilian Ivete Sangalo to join this anthem for the cup, held that year in his native Argentina.
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2015 (Chile): Noche de Brujas, “Al Sur del Mundo”
Image Credit: Courtesy Photo The Chilean group Noche de Brujas was in charge of bringing the official music of the Copa América 2015, with a title that refers to the host country. “I live in America/ I believe in America/ I feel in America/ The Copa América” says the contagious chorus of this anthem, which invites us to experience the celebration of South American football in unity.
Watch the video here
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2016 (United States): Pitbull & Becky G, “Superstar”
Image Credit: JC Olivera/Getty Images This Latin anthem in English and Spanish cheered the special edition of the Copa América for its centenary celebration, held in the United States. “From today, forever, yeah, tonight/ We will be superstars, superstars, you and I” sings a young Becky G with Mr. Worldwide.
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2019 (Brazil): Léo Santana & Karol G, “Vibra Continente”
Brazilian artist Léo Santana joined Colombian star Karol G for the official song of the 2019 cup, played in Brazil. The anthem that honors the country’s native genre, samba, also mixes trap and merengue in its sound, while blending Spanish and Portuguese in its lyrics.
Watch the video here
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2021 (Brazil): Gente de Zona, “La Gozadera”
The Cuban duo’s hit, which was first released in 2015 with Marc Anthony, won the Billboard Latin Music Award for best tropical song that year. It also managed to climb to No. 2 on Billboard‘s Hot Latin Songs chart, staying on the list for 32 weeks, while also conquering the top of the Latin and Tropical Airplay lists. In 2021 it was also renewed for the cup, varying its lyrics a little to adjust to the football theme, becoming the official anthem of the tournament — and perhaps the most-remembered to date.
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Unofficial Bonus — 2024 (United States): Shakira & Cardi B, “Punteria”
Although it is not the official song of the tournament, and to date, there have been no indications that there will be one, we included this Colombian hit as a bonus for this year’s tournament. The song is the official theme of TelevisaUnivision’s broadcast of the Copa América in the United States.
Watch the video here.