Shakira has opened up about her decision to feature Burna Boy on 'Dai Dai', the official anthem of the 2026 FIFA World Cup. In a recent interview on the Capital Evening Show with Jimmy Hill, the Colombian superstar explained that the song's musical direction made Burna Boy the logical choice.
Why Burna Boy Was the Only Choice
Shakira described 'Dai Dai' as a genre-blending track with Afrobeats at its core, also drawing from Caribbean and R&B sounds. She noted that the World Cup carries a strong masculine energy, which required a male vocalist with a powerful voice.
'Once I had the song, I felt that I really needed a male vocal, a male voice in the song,' Shakira said. 'The World Cup carries a big male energy, you know? And so I was like, who can give me that very masculine voice that I want in this sort of like Afrobeat setting?'
The Grammy-winning artist revealed she had long admired Burna Boy's work and had wanted to collaborate with him for years. When she reached out, the Nigerian star agreed immediately, but his contribution took time to arrive.
The 20-Day Wait for 'Magic'
Shakira admitted she waited 20 days for Burna Boy to send his verse, during which she began to doubt whether the collaboration would materialize.
'It took a while. I was waiting for 20 days for him to send something. And I'm like, 'Okay, maybe he's not going to do it,'' she confessed.
However, when Burna Boy finally delivered, Shakira was thrilled with the result. 'But then he sent his magic and it was just absolutely perfect. I think his voice is just… It works so well on this song. So well. I couldn't imagine anybody else on it, actually,' she said. She added, 'I was so obsessed about having Burna on this track. I'm so glad that I got him.'
Live Performances Across Continents
Shakira and Burna Boy debuted 'Dai Dai' live at the tournament's opening ceremony on June 11, 2026, at the Estadio Azteca in Mexico City. They reunited on stage for the first-ever FIFA World Cup final halftime show on July 19, 2026, at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey, joined by Uganda's Ghetto Kids dance group.
The collaboration adds another landmark to Shakira's World Cup legacy, following the enormous success of 'Waka Waka (This Time for Africa)', the official song of the 2010 tournament. For Burna Boy, the moment further cements Afrobeats' growing reach on the world's biggest sporting stage.
Chart-Topping Success for Afrobeats
'Dai Dai' made history as the most-streamed World Cup song globally. It debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard Global 200 chart after climbing two spots. The track also held firm atop the Billboard Global Excl. U.S. chart for a third consecutive week, marking the first official World Cup song to lead either chart since their launch in 2020.
For Burna Boy, this milestone represents his first-ever Billboard Global 200 No. 1, while Shakira secured her second chart-topping hit. The achievement underscores the global appeal of Afrobeats and the enduring partnership between two of music's biggest names.
