By Steven Seedo
PARAMARIBO – Dai Daithe official 2026 World Cup song by Colombian superstar Shakira and Afrobeats icon Burna Boy, has been voted the best World Cup song of all time by readers of renowned music magazine Billboard.
In a poll held in early June, readers could vote for the ten official World Cup songs released by FIFA since 1990. Dai Dai finished at the top with more than 31 percent of the votes. Shakira’s own World Cup classic finished in second place Waka Waka (This Time for Africa) with more than 26 percent of the votes. La Copa de la Vida by Ricky Martin completed the top three.
Carlos Pinas, broadcast coordinator of Radio SRS, thinks the song is certainly successful. “It doesn’t sound bad. But this time there is not just one World Cup song. Because there are three organizing countries, each country also has its own song. Shakira and Burna Boy’s was the first to be released.”
Giwani Zeggen, who prepares the World Cup broadcasts together with Radio 10 DJ Sidney Grünberg, also sees the appeal of the song. “At first I didn’t really think it was special, but the more I hear it, the more it grows. Still, for me it doesn’t come close to Waka Waka and Wavin’ Flagwhich still evoke that World Cup feeling for many people.”
Raynel Dalen, broadcast coordinator of Trending FM MC and event organizer, mentions Dai Dai an excellent song for the World Cup atmosphere. “It is a beautiful fusion of two continents and their music cultures. I also find it striking that the IShowSpeed song is strongly connected to the World Cup vibe and the idea of countries coming together.”
Radio 10 DJ Steven “Fiddy” from Frederiklust calls the song “catchy and globally appealing”. “It’s great that Shakira is coming up with a World Cup song again. The song, just like the World Cup itself, connects people all over the world. I think the Hall of Fame section, in which football legends are mentioned, is a strong addition. Shakira is a living legend in Latino music and Burna Boy is becoming a real world star. Together they get the world moving.”
Dai Dai (literally: ‘Come on, come on’) was released in May and combines Afrobeats, dance pop, world music and reggaetón. In the song, Shakira and Burna Boy also pay tribute to football icons such as Diego Maradona, Paolo Maldini, Romário, Cristiano Ronaldo, David Beckham, Kaká and Lionel Messi.
