Shakira & Burna Boy’s ‘Dai Dai’ Continues Its Global Charts Reign: Here’s How the Song Took Over

More than a month after the World Cup came to an end, its official FIFA anthem, “Dai Dai,” helmed by Shakira and Burna Boy, continues on its global domination streak.

The infectious track — released in May, just two months before the month-long soccer tournament kicked off — laces Afrobeats with dance-pop, world beats and reggaetón, bridging the musical worlds of the Nigerian star and Colombian sensation. Lyrically, it keeps true to the sport’s spirit, sending motivational messages. Additionally, 100 percent of the song’s royalties are donated to the FIFA Global Citizen Education Fund, which provides education and soccer resources to children around the world.

But beyond its musical and philanthropic impact, “Dai Dai” became a force to be reckoned with, making history as the first-ever World Cup song to reach No. 1 on the Billboard Global Excl. U.S. chart dated July 4, and later reached the top of the Billboard Global 200.

Currently — more than one month after Spain was crowned the 2026 World Cup champs — ”Dai Dai” holds its crown as the biggest song in the world, leading the Billboard Global 200 chart for a sixth week and Billboard Global Excl. U.S. for a ninth frame.

“Ultimately, people connected with the song,” Esteban Geller, Sony Music U.S. Latin’s general manager, tells Billboard exclusively. “The [FIFA] World Cup gave it an extraordinary platform, but the audience is what turned that opportunity into a global success.”

Below, Geller elaborates on the song’s creation and its continued global domination, as well as talks about the new Spanish version of the song: 

When did actual conversations begin between FIFA and Sony Music Latin?

The FIFA World Cup was something we had been thinking about well in advance, particularly given Shakira’s history with the tournament and the unique global platform it represents. There was also a natural connection through Shakira’s longstanding relationship with Global Citizen and her commitment to education. As the opportunity developed, it became clear that there was potential to bring those different worlds together: music, football and social impact.

What ultimately made “Dai Dai” particularly special was that it wasn’t simply about creating a song for a sporting event. It became an opportunity to connect a global cultural moment with a cause that could have a lasting impact beyond the tournament.

How did you work with FIFA to amplify the success of “Dai Dai”? 

The collaboration with FIFA was essential because the World Cup is one of the few cultural events capable of bringing audiences around the world together at the same time. Our focus was on making “Dai Dai” feel like a natural part of that experience. Working alongside FIFA, Global Citizen, Shakira’s team and Sony Music teams globally, we created opportunities for the song to live across different aspects of the tournament, from the music and performances to digital, social and fan experiences.

The scale of FIFA’s platform, combined with Shakira’s global reach, allowed the song to connect with audiences far beyond traditional music audiences. Ultimately, the goal was to make “Dai Dai” feel like part of the cultural fabric of the World Cup, rather than simply a song released in connection with it.

“Dai Dai” peaked at No. 1 on the Billboard Global charts in July — two months after its release and in the midst of the World Cup — what do you think truly sparked its global success?

There wasn’t one single factor. It was the combination of the song, Shakira’s global appeal and the extraordinary cultural moment surrounding the World Cup. Shakira has a unique history with this event, and audiences already have a strong emotional connection to her music in that context. At the same time, “Dai Dai” introduced her to a new generation of fans and brought together different musical and cultural audiences.

The official video also helped tell that story visually, bringing together major football stars alongside Shakira, Burna Boy and the Ghetto Kids. It created a connection between music, football and younger audiences while also reinforcing the message behind the Education Fund. Ultimately, people connected with the song. The World Cup gave it an extraordinary platform, but the audience is what turned that opportunity into a global success.

“Dai Dai” is the first official World Cup anthem to reach No. 1 on Billboard: What was the core strategy behind sustaining momentum even a month after the World Cup finished?

We always saw the World Cup as the beginning of a longer journey for the song, rather than its endpoint. Once the tournament ended, we continued to give audiences new ways to engage with “Dai Dai” through additional versions, creative content and performances. The connection to the Education Fund also gave the song a purpose that extended beyond the competition.

There’s also a powerful legacy associated with Shakira’s World Cup music. Songs like “Waka Waka” and “La La La” remain part of the cultural memory of those tournaments, and “Dai Dai” now has the opportunity to become part of that same tradition. The goal was simply to keep the song connected to people and allow it to develop organically beyond the tournament itself.

Why did the team opt to release a Spanish version of the song weeks after the World Cup final?

Spanish was always an important part of the vision for “Dai Dai.” Shakira’s connection with Spanish-speaking audiences is fundamental to who she is as an artist, so we always knew we wanted the song to have a life in Spanish. The timing allowed the English version to establish the song during the World Cup, and then gave the Spanish version an opportunity to create a new moment afterward.

Rather than viewing it as simply another version of the record, we saw it as an opportunity for audiences to experience “Dai Dai” in a different way and for the song to continue reaching new listeners after the tournament.