The 2026 World Cup is getting closer, and naturally, excitement is building among fans. Recently, FIFA announced a new partnership with YouTube.
Also, they have released the first official song for the tournament. Fans were waiting for the song for a long time, as many of the previous songs have become iconic.
However, the first official World Cup song has got reactions that very few expected. Now, the tournament itself will be historic. It will feature 48 teams for the first time.
It will also be hosted across the USA, Canada, and Mexico, making it one of the biggest World Cups ever. So, expectations from this year’s World Cup are very high.
That is why the first official track mattered to the fans, and FIFA introduced it as part of a global project with different cultures and sounds. Even Gianni Infantino teased it as something “magical.”
The track, titled “Lighter,” brought together two very different styles. One side leans into country and Southern influences.
The other carries a strong Mexican sound. On top of that, production comes from Cirkut, a Grammy-winning name.
So, in theory, everything was there. But fans did not feel the vibe it was supposed to create.
Almost immediately, social media reacted, and not in a good way. One fan wrote, “Cancel the whole damn tournament.”
Another pointed out how far things have fallen. They compared it to past classics, especially songs ‘Wavin’ Flag & Waka Waka’ from previous World Cups that carried real energy.
Then came the comparison that really caught attention. One X user said the track sounded more like a WWE pay-per-view theme than a World Cup anthem, and that says a lot.
The artists behind the song are Jelly Roll and Carin Leon. FIFA clearly aimed for a global fusion. But right now, that idea is not landing with everyone.
FIFA will release more songs as the tournament gets closer, but the first one did not connect with fans.
The first song of the Official FIFA World Cup 2026™ Album, Lighter, by @JellyRoll615 and Carín León drops this Friday. Pre-Save now. pic.twitter.com/MmDr11FDqK
— FIFA World Cup (@FIFAWorldCup) March 17, 2026
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