Ed Sheeran and Shakira Team Up for World Cup Collaboration

• The 2026 World Cup kicks off.
• A forthcoming duet with Ed Sheeran.
• Ed Sheeran as Shakira’s guest in New York.

Music and football have long shared a special bond, capable of bringing millions together around a single emotion.

As the FIFA World Cup 2026 approaches, to be staged in North America, expectations are sky-high, both on the pitch and culturally. To accompany this global event, FIFA has teamed up with internationally renowned artists to craft a soundtrack worthy of the moment. It’s in this context that Colombian singer Shakira, already famous for her football-related hits, revealed Dai Dai alongside Nigerian star Burna Boy.

However, the creation of this official song could have taken a very different route. In an interview with Vogue magazine, published Sunday, Shakira revealed she personally reached out to British singer Ed Sheeran to propose a collaboration on this ambitious project.

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Convinced that her songwriting talent and her ability to connect with an international audience would make him an ideal partner, she didn’t hesitate to pitch the idea to him. This confession offers an unprecedented glimpse behind the scenes of crafting one of the year’s most anticipated tracks.

A Solid Duo in the Making

This new collaboration reinforces the close bond between Shakira and the FIFA World Cup. Indeed, the Colombian singer isn’t new to crafting an anthem for the world’s biggest football tournament.

She had already made headlines in 2010 with Waka Waka (This Time for Africa), which became a global hit and one of the most famous sports anthems of all time. Four years later, she returned with Dare (La La La) to accompany the World Cup 2014 in Brazil.

“I called Ed Sheeran and asked if he would like to write it with me. He told me his dream would be to write something for the whole world… We work very well together, we understand each other. I wanted this song to be a fusion of different elements. I wanted to weave in Afrobeat influences, Caribbean influences, guitars… The cherry on top was Burna Boy. I love his voice,” says the popular singer.

With Dai Dai, on which Ed Sheeran shares writing credits alongside producer Alexander Castillo, Shakira continues this tradition and further strengthens her musical legacy tied to the world of international football.

And then… in New York?

Set for July in New York, Shakira’s concerts are among the summer’s most anticipated music events.

The Colombian star, who has been delivering hits for more than two decades, will return to the American metropolis’s audience for evenings that promise to be rich in emotion and energy. Known for her spectacular performances, she is expected to deliver shows that blend her greatest classics with new material.

One of the high points of these performances could be Ed Sheeran appearing on stage as a special guest.

The British singer, one of the most popular artists of his generation, is expected to join Shakira on stage for a performance eagerly awaited by fans.

This rare appearance would further amplify the allure of these New York shows, already heavily covered by the media. Between meticulously staged choreography, ambitious production, and surprise collaborations, Shakira intends to once again prove why she remains one of the most influential figures on the international music scene.

All eyes will be on New York in July for this must-attend event.

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