Fifa's favourite pop singer Shakira stands to make a small fortune from her new World Cup official anthem despite pledges that all proceeds of "Dai Dai" would go to the Fifa Global Citizen Education Fund. English superstar Ed Sheeran will be another beneficiary of the initiative.
By Philippe Auclair
This will be the third time that Colombian pop star Shakira provides the official soundtrack to a Fifa World Cup, after her 2010 megahit "Waka Waka" and "La La La Brazil 2014". She will perform “Dai Dai” at both the opening ceremony and final’s half-time show of the World Cup.
As on previous occasions (*), it has been announced that all the proceeds of her new song, "Dai Dai", recorded with Nigerian singer-songwriter and producer Burna Boy, a.k.a. Damini Ebunoluwa Ogulu, will benefit the Fifa Global Citizen Education Fund. Shakira serves as an advisory board member of the fund. The initiative’s stated aim is to raise 100 million USD by the end of the 2026 tournament "to expand access to education and sports across regions in Latin America, Africa, and Asia".
"Since I was 18", Shakira said, "I've spent my entire life doing two things: making songs and building schools. So finally, during this World Cup, those two paths meet, come together and I'm very excited. I've created this song, “Dai Dai”, specifically for this World Cup but also for so many kids around the world who don't have a voice and who are waiting for an opportunity -- kids who don't have access to quality education and kids who are being left behind."
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