Davido, Burna Boy, Rema and Ayra Starr feature on 2026 FIFA World Cup album
Four Nigerian artists make the official World Cup soundtrack as FIFA unveils a star-studded global music project ahead of the tournament.
Nigeria may not be heading to the 2026 FIFA World Cup, but its music will still have a place at football’s biggest event.
Four Nigerian stars, Davido, Burna Boy, Rema and Ayra Starr have been featured on the official FIFA World Cup 2026 album, reinforcing the country’s growing cultural influence on the global stage despite the Super Eagles’ failure to qualify for the tournament.
The tracklist was unveiled by FIFA President Gianni Infantino, who described the project as an “extraordinarily strong music squad” assembled to accompany the world’s most-watched sporting event.
The album forms part of 2026 FIFA World Cup’s entertainment programme ahead of the expanded 48-team tournament, which will be jointly hosted by the United States, Canada and Mexico between June and July 2026.
For Nigeria, the announcement presents a striking contrast. While the country’s national football team will not participate in the tournament after a disappointing qualification campaign, Nigerian artists remain among the most sought-after voices in global music.
Among the Nigerian acts featured on the project is Rema, whose international rise has continued since the success of Calm Down, one of the most-streamed Afrobeats songs in history. He appears on Goals alongside LISA and Anitta, bringing together three artists who have each built substantial fan bases across multiple continents.
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Ayra Starr, another Nigerian artist enjoying a breakthrough period internationally, features on Show Me alongside American rapper Latto. Her inclusion follows a period of rapid global expansion that has seen her perform at major festivals and receive increasing recognition outside Africa.
Davido joins electronic music collective Major Lazer and Canadian singer Nelly Furtado on No Place Like Home, while Burna Boy collaborates with global pop icon Shakira on DAI DAI.
The album also features an extensive lineup of international stars, including Future, Tyla, Stormzy, Daddy Yankee, Jessie Reyez, Shenseea and The Rolling Stones.
The announcement reflects a broader trend that has seen Nigerian music become one of the country’s most successful cultural exports. Over the past decade, Afrobeats has evolved from a regional genre into a global commercial force. Nigerian artistes now headline major festivals, sell out arenas across Europe and North America, and regularly appear on international charts once dominated by Western acts.
This growing influence has increasingly intersected with global sport. From World Cup fan festivals to NBA events and international football broadcasts, Afrobeats has become a recurring feature of major sporting spectacles. FIFA’s decision to include four Nigerian artists on a single World Cup album underscores how deeply Nigerian music has become embedded in contemporary global culture.
