Music has emerged as the World Cups unexpected star and every nation has its own soundtrack

We all know the names Messi, Ronaldo, Mbappe, and Haaland, but at the 2026 FIFA World Cup, music has become one of the tournament’s most unexpected stars.Goals are now followed by carefully selected anthems blasting through stadium speakers.After victories, the winning team and their supporters have their own soundtrack they sing together.

Players who grew up on different continents all find themselves singing the same songs along with a chorus of strangers in sold-out stadiums across North America. In many ways, the tournament has become a global jukebox.FIFA recruited the help of some of the world’s biggest recording artists for its 18-track official 2026 World Cup Album, but it also asked each of the 48 participating nations to submit songs to be played inside the stadium during pregame warmups, hydration breaks, after goals and victories. Most countries selected one song for goals and another for victories, though several federations have adjusted their choices throughout the tournament as certain tracks caught fire with supporters.When England defeated Croatia in Dallas, tens of thousands of supporters belted out “Three Lions” as if it were a second national anthem.Hours later, clips of the squad singing Oasis’ “Wonderwall” back toward traveling fans exploded across social media.

England has also embraced Neil Diamond’s “Sweet Caroline,” Planet Funk’s “Chase the Sun” and even The Beatles’ “Hey Jude” throughout the tournament.Australia leaned heavily into its identity after defeating Turkey, celebrating to Men At Work’s “Land Down Under” while AC/DC’s “Thunderstruck” continues serving as one of the tournament’s most recognizable goal songs.Then there is the United States.No nation has embraced the concept quite like Mauricio Pochettino’s squad.The Americans entered the tournament with a playlist that feels less like a coordinated marketing campaign and more like a cross-country road trip.Lynyrd Skynyrd’s “...