
Even if you don’t watch football, you’re going to hear this track everywhere. On May 21, the song Goals dropped. It’s the new anthem for the 2026 FIFA World Cup. Three artists teamed up for it: Nigeria’s Rema, Thailand’s LISA from BLACKPINK, and Brazil’s Anitta. Three stars. Three continents. One massive hit.
This isn’t just background music. It’s already a moment. FIFA brought together artists from Africa, Asia and South America specifically for this track. Shakira and Burna Boy did their thing earlier, but right now everyone’s talking about Goals. Plenty of punters are already checking out the best football betting sites to get a wager on the opening matches and add a bit more excitement.
And yes, we’ll get to who else is performing at the opening ceremony and why our boys won’t be at the tournament.
Three Voices, One Anthem
The track was produced by Tropkillaz, the Brazilian duo. They packed everything into one song: Afrobeats, K-pop and Brazilian funk. The result hits hard.
- LISA (from BLACKPINK) brought her fast flow and a melodic chorus.
- Anitta added her signature Brazilian rhythm and energy.
- Rema – he’s the glue, holding it all together with that Afrobeats sound. And he’s the only guy in the trio. His verse sounds confident as hell.
The music video, by the way, is full of street football, choreography and non-stop energy. It grabs you right away. And this is just the start.
The Big Show in Los Angeles
The live premiere happens on June 12. The 2026 World Cup opening ceremony takes place at SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles. Rema, LISA and Anitta will perform Goals live.
But that’s not all. Also hitting the stage:
- Tyla (South Africa) – she’s everywhere right now.
- Katy Perry – pop royalty.
- Future – the rap heavyweight.
It’s going to be seriously loud.
Painful but True: Nigeria Without Football
Now for the difficult part. We’ve got mixed feelings here in Nigeria. Rema is singing the World Cup anthem, but our national team isn’t going. The Super Eagles failed to qualify for the 2026 World Cup. The appeal to FIFA over DR Congo didn’t help.
Second straight World Cup without our boys. That stings. But here’s the thing: our music is still there. Rema is on the biggest stage. He’s put Africa at the centre of attention.
And if you’re looking for a reliable best football betting app so you don’t miss any matches, now’s the time to download them – African teams are showing up in record numbers.
Who’s Representing Africa
Here are the 10 teams that will actually play at this World Cup:
| Team | What They’re Known For |
| Morocco | Semi-finalists at the last World Cup |
| Senegal | Africa Cup of Nations 2021 champions |
| Egypt | Salah’s last dance |
| Algeria | Africa Cup of Nations 2019 champions |
| Ghana | Young and hungry |
| Tunisia | Tough to break down |
| Ivory Coast | Hosts of AFCON 2023 |
| South Africa | Hosts of the 2010 World Cup |
| Cape Verde | First-ever World Cup appearance |
| DR Congo | They beat us to it. Respect. |
Ten teams. That’s a record for Africa. The tournament has expanded to 48 teams, which is why so many of ours made it through.
Watch and Cheer
Bottom line: Goals is already a hit. Even if you’re not a football fan, give the track a listen. And if you are a fan, get ready for a massive tournament. The schedule is set. Matches start on June 11.
Stock up on drinks, download your apps, and get behind all our teams. Let’s go, Africa.
How to Follow the Action: Betting, Streaming, and the Full Schedule
The tournament kicks off on June 11 with Mexico against South Africa in Mexico City, and runs all the way to the final on July 19 at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey. That’s 104 matches spread across 16 cities in three countries. The group stage alone runs from June 11 to June 27, with up to six matches per day during the final round of group games.
If you want to add some extra excitement while watching, you can check out best football betting apps to place bets directly from your phone. A lot of platforms are rolling out special World Cup promotions right now – free bets, enhanced odds, and accumulator insurance are pretty standard across the board. No need to go anywhere or fill out paper slips. Just open the app, pick your market, and you’re in.
Where the Real Value Is in the Group Stage
Here’s the thing about betting during the World Cup – the group stage is where the real value is. Favourites like Brazil (1.21 to win Group C) and Spain (1.22 to win Group H) are priced so short that backing them outright doesn’t offer much return. But if you look at the underdog markets – teams like Cape Verde at their first World Cup, or Egypt with Salah on his farewell tour – that’s where the interesting odds live.
Group D, by the way, is being called the “Group of Death” by bookmakers. The USA are slight favourites at 2.40, but Turkey at 3.00 and Paraguay at 5.25 are breathing down their necks. It’s the tightest group in the tournament, and if you’re looking for a bet with real drama, that’s where to look.
Spain and France are co-favourites to win the whole thing at around 4.00 to 5.00, with England, Brazil, and Germany rounding out the top five. But this is a World Cup – anything can happen. That’s the whole point.






