As Jelly Roll brings a bit of country flavor to the 2026 tournament with 'Lighter', we decided it was time to rank the official FIFA World Cup songs from worst to best. Photo: AFP
Image: AFP
Since 1990, Fifa have brought — probably — an equal measure of pleasure and torture by releasing official Fifa World Cup songs to accompany the mood, feel and celebration of arguably the biggest sporting event in the world.
The 2026 World Cup is no different, with some brah named Jelly Roll singing the most American song you will have probably heard in years.
Is it the best? Well, maybe it is just average.
Which brings us to the question: If we were to rank the 10 official songs since Italy 1990, what would their order be?
I turned to my heavy, my swaer, my brother-in-law, Reinhard, to ask the question.
Why him?
Well, he has a piano in his house. And a metronome. The former, along with the guitar and drums, he can play, while the latter, he understands how to use. He also has a room dedicated to his hobby collections — rows and racks of CDs and vinyl records … yeah, he is old school like that.
So, here, Independent Media ranks those songs from best to worst, according to my sister's husband.
Reinhard says: Leaning more into a hip-hop style, it feels disjointed. Will Smith feels out of place, and the party just doesn't really take off.
Reinhard says: A bit of a jumbled mess. The choral section may be an homage to African-American spirituality of the host country, but the result feels like the most forgettable of the official songs.
Reinhard says: Epic and grandiose, Giorgio delivers a style akin to an 80s power anthem that perhaps feels less in line with the more recent genre-mixing we've seen in the official songs in recent years.
Reinhard says: Leaning into 2000s electronic pop, Boom just doesn't reach the heights of Ricky Martin's offering four years prior. While it also tries to tap into World Cup excitement rather than grandiosity, its attempt at ‘cool’ doesn't reach its peak.
Sports editor's note: I hate this song, and would have placed it 11th, if I could. That's how much I detest it ...
Reinhard says: Departing from the more typical party anthems, this laid-back reggae groove is still a lot of fun and brings a smile and easy flow promising a good time.
Sports editor's note: The Caribbean is over 11 000km away from the small Middle Eastern nation ... Weird choice ...
Reinhard says: Catchy and fun, the whistled hook is still pretty memorable. It's a playful song and a fine World Cup offering that brings the vibes.
Reinhard says: Country singer Jelly Roll adds another new genre to the World Cup catalogue, riding the surge of country music the Americas and the globe have been enjoying over the last few years. It's got a sense of power with its stomp, clap and clink, executing on African-American spirituals way better than Gloryland did in 1994.
While also the darkest number on this list, its uplifting message aligns with the World Cup challenge to rise up against the competition.
Sports editor's note: I don't know how we are suppose to sing along to this song during what is suppose to be celebration of football.
Reinhard says: Il Divo and Toni deliver hard on an epic scale with probably the most sophisticated of the official songs. Flawless in delivery (who would expect anything less from these seasoned pros), majestic and impressive, it's the best of the World Cup anthems that aims for grandeur over high energy.
Sports editor's note: A song that feels far too formal and grandiose for me for a major sporting event, especially a football World Cup. I would have popped this much lower down in my ranking.
Reinhard says: The song bangs — it's exciting, uplifting, and the roaring crowds backing the song set the mood for festivity along with the blasting brass parts. Super memorable and a great party starter, the song did well on the global charts, too.
Sports editor's note: This song does bang.
Reinhard says: Undoubtedly the catchiest, hook-filled pop anthem the World Cup has had, hitting No 1 on multiple charts all over the globe, and everyone still remembers it to this day.
The song jives and jams and never lets up, exactly what you should want to represent such a prestigious event. The South African-style guitar lick is an absolute highlight and anchors it firmly in the host country's soil.
Sports editor's note: We are South Africans ... what did YOU expect?