We all know the names Messi, Ronaldo, Mbappe, and Haaland, but at the 2026 FIFA World Cup, music has become one of the tournament’s most unexpected stars.

Goals are now followed by carefully selected anthems blasting through stadium speakers. After victories, the winning team and their supporters have their own soundtrack they sing together. Players who grew up on different continents all find themselves singing the same songs along with a chorus of strangers in sold-out stadiums across North America. 

In many ways, the tournament has become a global jukebox.

FIFA recruited the help of some of the world’s biggest recording artists for its 18-track official 2026 World Cup Album, but it also asked each of the 48 participating nations to submit songs to be played inside the stadium during pregame warmups, hydration breaks, after goals and victories. 

Most countries selected one song for goals and another for victories, though several federations have adjusted their choices throughout the tournament as certain tracks caught fire with supporters.

When England defeated Croatia in Dallas, tens of thousands of supporters belted out “Three Lions” as if it were a second national anthem. Hours later, clips of the squad singing Oasis’ “Wonderwall” back toward traveling fans exploded across social media. England has also embraced Neil Diamond’s “Sweet Caroline,” Planet Funk’s “Chase the Sun” and even The Beatles’ “Hey Jude” throughout the tournament.

Australia leaned heavily into its identity after defeating Turkey, celebrating to Men At Work’s “Land Down Under” while AC/DC’s “Thunderstruck” continues serving as one of the tournament’s most recognizable goal songs.

Then there is the United States.

No nation has embraced the concept quite like Mauricio Pochettino’s squad.

The Americans entered the tournament with a playlist that feels less like a coordinated marketing campaign and more like a cross-country road trip. Lynyrd Skynyrd’s “Free Bird,” Bon Jovi’s “Livin’ on a Prayer,” Lupe Fiasco’s “The Show Goes On,” J-Rock’s “Win” and John Denver’s “Take Me Home, Country Roads” have all emerged as unofficial USMNT anthems.

The image of players and supporters singing “Country Roads” together after the United States’ victory over Australia in Seattle became one of the defining viral moments of the group stage, and The Post broke the story on how it came to be. 

We’ve watched and listened throughout all 44 matches so far and scoured the internet to see which songs fans have identified as well. 

Here is the unofficial list of all 48 nations’ songs: 

Algeria: “One, two, three, viva l’Algérie!” by Medi Meyz

Argentina: “La cumbia de los trapos” by Yerba Brava and “Luz Delito” by WOS

Austria: “Maria (I Like It Loud)” by Scooter

Australia: “Thunderstruck” by AC/DC

Belgium: “Kiss The Grass (Allez Allez)” by Roméo Elvis and Sylvie Kreusch

Bosnia and Herzegovina: “Take Me To America” by Dubioza Kollektiv

Brazil: “Esquentando o Couro” by O Brasil escolheu and “Samba de Janeiro”

Canada: “Goals” by LISA, Anitta & Rema

Cape Verde: “SIKI SIKI (Remix)” by Lisandro Cuxi & Loony Johnson

Colombia: “EL RITMO QUE NOS UNE” by Ryan Castro & SOG

Croatia: “Moja domovina” by Hrvatski Band Aid

Curaçao: “Bluewave” by Jeon Arvani

Czechia: “Národní tým” by DJ Nassi and “Seven Nation Army (Remix) by Mickie Krause.

Democratic Republic of the Congo: “Congo Elonga” by Donat Mwanza

Ecuador: “Ecuador, Si Se Puede” by Damiano

Egypt: “Bilady, Bilady, Bilady” by Sayed Darwis & Yunis El Qadi

England: “Chase the Sun” by Planet Funk, “Wonderwall” by Oasis, “Sweet Caroline” by Neil Diamond, and “Hey Jude” by The Beatles.

France: “One More Time” by Daft Punk and “Song 2” by Blur

Germany: “Major Tom” by Peter Schilling

Ghana: “We Shall Score” by Cj Biggerman & Big Ivy

Haiti: “Ann Ale” by Prophète & Jessica Antoine

Iran: “Iran Football Song: World Cup Anthem Of Iran National Football Team” by Kimiagar

Iraq: “Aja El Iraq” by Mahmoud Al Turki

Ivory Coast: “Coup du marteau” by Tam Sir

Japan: “Ao No Hokori” by Football Poet

Jordan: “Al Nashama” by RedOne, Al Salman & Yara Mustafa

Mexico: “La Negra” by La Hija del Mariachi

Morocco: “Dima Maghrib” by Maher Zain

Netherlands: “Wij houden van oranje” by André Hazes

New Zealand: “Slice of Heaven” by Dave Dobbyn

Norway: “Vi er Norge” by JORN

Panama: “Sube la marea (Remix)” by Los Gaitanes

Paraguay: “Albirockja” by Rolando Chaparro

Portugal: “A Minha Casinha” by Xutos & Pontapés

Qatar: “Freed From Desire” by Gala

Saudi Arabia: “Green Falcons” by Ayed Youssef

Scotland: “I’m going to Be (500 Miles)” by The Proclaimers and “Yes Sir, I Can Boogie” by Baccara.

Senegal: “Teranga Rek” by Football Poet

South Africa: “THIS IS BAFANA” by Shabz

South Korea: “JUMP” by BLACKPINK

Spain: “Once Corazones” by DPG

Sweden: “När vi gräver guld i USA” by Glenmark Eriksson Strömstedt.

Switzerland: “Freed From Desire” by Gala

Tunisia: “Sidi Mansour” by Saber Rebaï

Turkey: “Çalhanoglu Çalhanoglu” by Abul Media Production

United States: “Free Bird” by Lynyrd Skynyrd, “Livin’ on a Prayer” by Bon Jovi, “WIN” by J-Rock, “The Show Goes On” by Lupe Fiasco, and “Country Roads” by John Denver.

Uzbekistan: “Olg’a O’zbekiston” by Jahon Sari

Uruguay: “Cielo de un solo color” by No Te Va a Gustar

Editor’s Note: This unofficial list will continue to be updated throughout the tournament.

---

Download The California Post App, follow us on social, and subscribe to our newsletters