Why "Wonderwall" and "Freed from Desire" Keep Playing at World Cup 2026

If you watched any games at World Cup 2026, you probably heard some familiar songs blasting through the stadiums. Tracks like "Wonderwall," "Freed from Desire," and "Livin' on a Prayer" seem to pop up again and again. But are those songs chosen at random, or is someone actually planning all of it? It turns out FIFA, the organization that runs global soccer, picks every single song on purpose.

FIFA has a group called the "Stadium Entertainment Team" that works hard before the tournament even starts. They pick more than 750 songs in advance and work with each country's soccer group to build the perfect playlist. The goal is to mix well-known stadium classics with songs that are special to each country. This way, fans from all over the world can feel both included and excited.

Every team that plays in the World Cup gets its own set of songs. There is a "signature" song played when players walk out before the game. There is also a warm-up song and a special tune that plays every time that team scores a goal. On top of that, if a team wins, their fans get to hear a post-match anthem and sing along in celebration.

Some songs show up on more than one team's list because they are popular all around the world. "Seven Nation Army" by The White Stripes, "Thunderstruck" by AC/DC, and "Freed from Desire" by Gala are a few examples. "Freed from Desire" is a 1990s Eurodance song that has been heard at sports events for over ten years. Songs like these have a way of feeling right no matter where you are from.

Andrew Lawn, a British author who wrote a book about soccer chanting, says the best stadium songs are catchy, fun, and easy to recognize. But he also says the moment matters just as much as the music. "They become associated with a moment if that moment is successful," he said. "Then they stick because that kind of emotion gets kind of attached to the song."

Not every song is meant for every country — some teams chose music that means something special to their own fans. Argentina picked "El Matador" by Los Fabulosos Cadillacs as their warm-up and goal song. While the chorus of "Matador! Matador!" sounds like it could be about Lionel Messi's amazing goal-scoring, the song is actually about dark events in Latin American history. It is a reminder that music can carry deep meaning even in a sports setting.

Ghana's signature and goal song is "Kakalika," a dance track from 2025 by a duo called DopeNation. The Ghanaian artists said they wanted the song to blend music styles and languages from around the world. Their goal was to celebrate diversity and get people moving and having fun. It has been a huge hit with fans in the stadiums.

"Wonderwall" by Oasis became a regular at England's games after fans sang it during England's first match, a 4-2 win over Croatia. England captain Harry Kane said it was one of his favorite moments ever in an England shirt. "We have that connection right now, but that moment, singing 'Wonderwall' in the stadium — everyone knew the words — was really special," he said. Sometimes the best musical moments are the ones that happen naturally.

In the United States, fans quickly picked up John Denver's "Take Me Home, Country Roads" as their anthem. American soccer fans had been teased online for their simple "USA! USA!" chant, so the new song felt like a welcome change. Andrew Lawn says American soccer culture is still growing, but he believes that if the song sticks around for 30 years, it will truly feel like something genuine and special.