Shakira’s ‘Dai Dai’ meaning in English: Explaining the lyrics for official 2026 World Cup anthem

Every World Cup has a soundtrack. The 2026 version of the famous competition enlisted one of music’s most distinctive voices to headline its score.

Shakira returned to her post as the World Cup’s signature songstress, partnering with Nigerian superstar Burna Boy for “Dai Dai”, the official anthem for the competition. The song, written by Shakira, Burna Boy, Benny Adam, Jon Belion, Ed Sheeran and Alexander Castillo, is the latest in a string of songs used to back the beautiful game – and its less beautiful corporate sponsors – in recent years.

Shakira and Burna Boy largely perform the tune in English. The song’s title and refrain wouldn’t suggest that, however.

With that, here’s what you need to know about Dai Dai, including its English lyrics.

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Shakira’s ‘Dai Dai’ meaning

“Dai Dai” is a sporting anthem that espouses all the common tropes associated with professional athletics. It refers to “the highs and lows” that come with being an athlete, using the rhythm of the beautiful game as an analogy for life.

The song is not the most eloquent, especially in comparison to Shakira and Burna Boy’s respective discographies. Nevertheless, it is easily accessible – a prerequisite to representing an amorphous entity like FIFA and its corporate partners.

Most of the song is crooned in English – both Shakira and Burna Boy are fluent in the language. Nevertheless, there are a few lyrics that hail from other tongues. Shakira delivers the final four lines of her chorus in Spanish. They are as follows:

Dale

No olvide’ lo que vales

Juega como tu sabes

Como tu sabe’

Here’s the English translation of those lyrics:

Come on,

Don’t forget what you’re worth

Play as you know

As you know

There’s also the case of Shakira’s refrain, which features phrases from five different languages. Here’s a look at the lines:

Dai, dai, ikou, dale, allez, let’s go

Dai, dai, ikou, dale, allez, let’s go

The lyrics, delivered in Italian, Japanese, Spanish, French and English, all mean the same thing: “Let’s go.” It’s supposed to serve as a rallying cry for those seeking motivation.

The song also features various references to soccer players past and present, from Pele and Diego Maradona to contemporary stars like Lionel Messi, Kylian Mbappe and Mohamed Salah. All told, it’s a fairly 

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‘Dai Dai’ lyrics in English

Oh-eh-oh-eh, eh-oh-eh

Oh-eh-oh-eh, eh-oh-eh

You knew from the day you were born

That here in this place you belong

You been this brave all along

What broke you once made you strong

 

Come on, let’s go, hit it, go, let’s go (x2)

Come follow your desire

Where there’s a will, there’s a way

You are the owner of that fire

No one can take it away

Sweat and blood to write your story

That is how you paved the way

You’re about to reach the glory

Only one step away

All the highs and lows

All the tears and the pain

You been there through it all, been through it all

Just do it again

Now you got to believe (I believe)

‘Cause you know what it takes

To be living my dream

At the top of your game

Feel it, got everything you needed

Now bring it like you mean it

Just like you mean it

Come on, don’t forget what you’re worth

Play as you know

As you know

Energy is contagious, you know

And it never fails

No, no

No one’s getting tired

I know

‘Cause you got that fire

Hey-oh

Dream a little higher

Let’s go, let’s go, let’s go

Hey-oh

Hey-oh

We’ve taken all that our hearts can hold

We can’t hold on to the past no more

From the dirt and the tears, we make gold

We are more than flesh and bones

All the highs and lows (Highs and lows)

All the tears and the pain

You been there through it all, been through it all

Just do it again

Now you got to believe (I believe)

‘Cause you know what it takes

To be living my dream

At the top of your game

Feel it, got everything you needed

Now bring it like you mean it

Just like you mean it

Come on, don’t forget what you’re worth

Play as you know

As you know

Pelé, Maradona, Maldini, Romário

Cristiano Ronaldo

El Pibe, Iniesta, Beckham y Kaká

Messi, Mbappé, Sala

Brazil, Uruguay, Argentina, Colombia

US, England, Germany, France

South Africa, España, México, Japan

Korea, Netherlands

Oh-eh-oh-eh, eh-oh-eh

Oh-eh-oh-eh, eh-oh-eh

You knew from the day you were born

That here in this place you belong

You been this brave all along

What broke you once made you strong

Come on, let’s go

Hit it, go, let’s go

Come on, let’s go

Hit it, go, let’s go

Come on, let’s go

Hit it, go, let’s go

Come on, let’s go

Hit it, go, let’s go

What is ‘Dai Dai’ about?

“Dai Dai” is an exhortation for motivating listeners. It makes reference to athletics, although sporting success also represents an analogy for life. The song contains a fair few double entendres and the lyrics fail to dazzle. However, the track is uncontroversial, completing its stated aim of representing broad swaths of the population without actually making a real statement. “Dai Dai” is a bit like a horoscope, offering vague musings on sentiments that generally are true but failing to delve any deeper.

For an institution like FIFA, that’s just what was needed. Soccer’s governing body has made a habit out of erecting things that offer ambiguous “solutions” to material problems. “Dai Dai” – with its bouncy beat and glitzy music video – captivates audiences, even if its lyrics fail to deliver in the same way.

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