Global music icon Shakira has revealed that Nigerian Afrobeats superstar Burna Boy was her first choice for the official 2026 FIFA World Cup anthem, Dai Dai, because she believed no other artist could deliver the powerful Afrobeat sound the song required.
Speaking during an interview aired on the Capital Evening Show with Jimmy Hill, the Colombian singer said she deliberately sought out Burna Boy after completing the song, convinced that his distinctive voice would perfectly match its energy and global appeal.
Shakira explained that although Dai Dai blends Caribbean and R&B influences, it is fundamentally an Afrobeats-inspired record, making Burna Boy the ideal collaborator.
She disclosed that she had admired the Grammy-winning Nigerian singer for years and had long hoped to work with him on a project. According to her, the opportunity finally came with the FIFA World Cup anthem.
Shakira admitted that after Burna Boy agreed to feature on the song, she had to wait nearly 20 days before receiving his verse, raising fears that the collaboration might not happen.
However, she said all doubts disappeared the moment she heard his contribution, describing it as “magic” and insisting she could no longer imagine anyone else on the track.
The singer added that she was determined to have Burna Boy on the record from the outset because his voice brought the strength and authenticity she wanted for a song celebrating football’s biggest global tournament.
Dai Dai became the official anthem of the 2026 FIFA World Cup and was first performed live by Shakira and Burna Boy during the tournament’s opening ceremony in Mexico City. The pair later reunited for the historic FIFA World Cup final halftime show in New Jersey, further showcasing the growing global influence of Afrobeats.
