A new study has revealed the most popular football songs dominating World Cup playlists on Spotify and how much they earn, with Shakira’s Dai Dai taking the top spot.
The research, conducted by ticket suppliers at Skiddle, analysed Spotify data for keywords associated with the FIFA 2026 World Cup to identify songs that appeared in the most football-themed playlists and estimate the streaming revenue they earned. The keywords examined were football, soccer, and World Cup. The data was used to determine the top 15 football songs and create the ultimate World Cup playlist.
Dai Dai by Shakira appeared in the most World Cup-themed playlists on Spotify. The track was released in May 2026 in collaboration with Nigerian artist Burna Boy and is the official song for the World Cup in North America. With 82,596,008 streams on Spotify and £231,268 in potential revenue, it takes the top spot.
We Are One (Ole Ola) by Pitbull ranked 2nd, with 445,537,257 global streams. The song appeared in the second-most football-themed playlists after being released in early 2014, with potential revenue of £1,247,504.
Freed From Desire by Italian singer-songwriter Gala came third. Released in 1996, it has been streamed 772,693,926 times on Spotify, generating total potential revenue of £2,163,542.
Shakira dominates the overall ranking, with 3 entries in the top 15 and a combined total of more than £3.8 million in potential revenue.
Magic in the Air (feat. Ahmed Chawki) by Magic System placed 4th, with 266,175,928 total Spotify streams. Released in 2014 in collaboration with Moroccan singer Ahmed Chawki, the track’s total revenue is estimated at £745,292.
In fifth place is Colors, Jason Derulo’s official Coca-Cola promotional anthem for the 2018 World Cup in Russia. It has been streamed 162,304,921 times, earning rights holders an estimated £454,453.
Here’s the top 15 data as a table
| Rank | Song title | Artist | Streams on Spotify | Potential revenue (£) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Dai Dai | Shakira | 82,596,008 | 231,268 |
| 2 | We Are One (Ole Ola) | Pitbull | 445,537,257 | 1,247,504 |
| 3 | Freed From Desire | Gala | 772,693,926 | 2,163,542 |
| 4 | Magic in the Air (feat. Ahmed Chawki) | Magic System | 266,175,928 | 745,292 |
| 5 | Colors | Jason Derulo | 162,304,921 | 454,453 |
| 6 | Three Lions | Baddiel, Skinner & Lightning Seeds | 63,247,739 | 177,093 |
| 7 | Live It Up | Nicky Jam | 168,931,360 | 473,007 |
| 8 | La La La | Shakira | 198,411,547 | 555,552 |
| 9 | Waka Waka | Shakira | 1,090,740,483 | 3,054,073 |
| 10 | Wavin’ Flag | K’NAAN | 298,263,728 | 835,138 |
| 11 | World in Motion | New Order | 24,584,211 | 68,835 |
| 12 | Hayya Hayya (Better Together) | Trinidad Cardona | 62,900,676 | 176,121 |
| 13 | Seven Nation Army | The White Stripes | 2,216,725,029 | 6,206,830 |
| 14 | One Kiss (with Dua Lipa) | Calvin Harris | 2,718,727,889 | 7,612,438 |
| 15 | Sweet Caroline | Neil Diamond | 944,949,766 | 2,645,859 |
Jamie Scahill, Marketing Director at Skiddle, commented: “The FIFA World Cup is not just a sporting event, it’s a cultural phenomenon. Music plays a huge role in creating that atmosphere, so what’s particularly interesting about the rankings is the blend of fan-adapted football classics and official tournament anthems.”
“Songs like Dai Dai are benefiting from the global spotlight of the 2026 World Cup, while tracks such as Seven Nation Army and Freed From Desire show how football fans can transform songs into real stadium anthems long after their original release.”
“What stands out is that a track released in 1996, Freed From Desire, has generated more than £2.1 million in streaming revenue so far and will continue to do so, largely because football fans adopted it as a pump-up song. That kind of longevity shows the commercial power of football culture.”
The study highlights how both new official anthems and long-standing classics continue to drive engagement around the world’s biggest football tournament, blending nostalgia with fresh releases tailored for the 2026 event in North America.