Published by: Élodie Maurel-Lescure — Editor specializing in music training
Updated on 23 March 2026
Enjoy the 2018 World Cup music, it is to dive into a sound mosaic where official hymns, committed tubes and spontaneous impulses weave powerful memories. Let it be the universal fever surrounding Live It Up or the variety of playlists created around the world, each note recalls how creativite, exchange and expression form the living web of these great appointments. Finally, each one finds his way to defy, listen, and vibrate in his own way (and some remember it long after).
Contents
The official anthem of 2018: Live It Up
It's best not to talk about the 2018 World Cup without making a detour through its inescapable soundtrack. For this edition, FIFA has relied on an energetic and unifying hymn: Live It Up performed by Nicky Jam, Will Smith and Era Istrefi. Once unveiled, the song was invited to both stadiums and social networks around the world.
Birth of Live It Up and choice of artists
Choosing Live It Up was not commonplace. FIFA's will: to breathe a message of unity and sociable energy through a resolutely cosmopolitan trio – the American Will Smith, the reggaetonner Nicky Jam (from Panamanian and American origin) and the kosovare pop star Era Istrefi. It is a way of paying tribute to the diversity of the tournament, and to this contagious enthusiasm that, according to some event professionals, makes fans and players vibrate.
Produced by Diplo (DJ touch-to-all global collaborations), the song was officially presented on May 25, 2018. He quickly imposed himself: the official video of "Live It Up" recorded more than 200 million views on YouTube in just one year. Some say that the song has provoked debates and encounters between fans having nothing in common but the chorus... (But not everyone has necessarily appreciated the absence of "Russian sounds": tastes and colors!)
Dissemination and international reception
The hymn clearly had a contrasting welcome: many praised his energy, some regretted a "too universal" style, and little identifiable to Russia. However, international media as fans on streaming platforms stopped propelling him in the final of July 15, 2018, and he served as a background sound to many commercial spots.
- Official exit: 25 May 2018
- YouTube Views in 2024: approximately 250 million;
- Direct presence on Spotify and Apple Music flagship playlists from the opening ceremony.
For those who wish to (re)discover the atmosphere: "Live It Up" is available on Spotify or through FIFA music archives For the most curious.
Other songs and playlists from Mondial
The official anthem only opens the door to a vast musical universe around the tournament. Each edition generates a multitude of national songs, creations supported by sponsors and improvised initiatives by fans... These are the atmospheres that animate the stadium, the street, or the house.
Distinction between official song, sponsor and local initiatives
In 2018, "Live It Up" remained the FIFA benchmark, but many other titles have won. France, for example, had its inescapable "Rate the Cup at home" from Vegedream (not many times a recovery will have scored so much in the summer after a victory). Some sponsors, such as Coca-Cola, also went there from their own musical creation, relayed worldwide by multilingual campaigns.
- Hymne FIFA: Live It Up (Nicky Jam, Will Smith, Era Istrefi)
- French viral success: "Take the cup home" (Vegedream)
- Sponsored initiative: Coca-Cola (with international dissemination)
Some enthusiasts say that it is not uncommon to confuse these titles! Finally, this musical bouquet perfectly reflects exuberance, spontaneity and shared energy around this type of event. A sociologist confided that this plurality is also an indicator of popular vitality.
Playlists and compilations of the 2018 World Cup
To relive, even for a moment, the tournament's sound atmosphere, several platforms offer dedicated compilations. Spotify Officially, but a significant number of fans prefer to explore alternative selections where local anthems, viral tubes and flagship sounds of about thirty teams are next to each other. On YouTube or Deezer, aficionados are happy to find montages in unforgettable moments or by national exploits.
Does it work to "awake" the stadium fever at home? For many, just launch "playlist World Cup 2018" and get carried away (tested and approved...even by those who had never set foot in steps!).
Comparison of iconic FIFA hymns
Take a step backwards, it regularly gives an interesting reading of the music trends around FIFA. Official anthems have evolved significantly since the 1990s, both in their styles and in their global reach. Here is a condensed chronology of the hymns that marked the minds – and sometimes divided the amateurs – from one edition to the next.
Evolution of the official soundtrack: 1998 to 2018
Until the late 1990s, each edition highlighted a single title, usually in the language of the host country. Since 1998, there has been an acceleration of internationalisation thanks to the French edition. And since 2010, most World Cups include two or three official songs by edition. The real change? The arrival on stage of planetary stars that make the competition resonate across borders, as reported by a former musical communication officer at a sports broadcaster.
| Editing | Main hymn | Artist | Key Statistics |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1998 (France) | The Court of the Great | Youssou N的Dour & Axelle Red | First official song in French |
| 2002 (Korea/Japan) | Anthem | Vangelis | Global Instrumental |
| 2010 (South Africa) | Waka Waka | Shakira | 1.8 billion YouTube views |
| 2014 (Brazil) | We Are One | Pitbull, J.Lo, Claudia Leitte | Multicontinental tubes |
| 2018 (Russia) | Live It Up | Nicky Jam, Will Smith, Era Istrefi | around 250 million views in a year |
We often notice that each iconic anthem gives birth to times, parodys, and even heated debates on THE song of the moment! This effervescence (regardless of its support) shows how much music comes into pop culture, as has been regularly observed by a specialized radio programmer.
Role of sponsors and recent trends
Since 2010, a real turning point has emerged: partner brands such as Coca-Cola, Sony or Adidas have each created "their" unofficial song relayed largely by international campaigns. Some observers believe that since this multiplication, music has become an almost as powerful acclaim lever as the round ball.
Between 2010 and 2018, we could see up to about 5 songs associated with the same edition. Many "official" or "secondary" versions have even experienced a second viral life on TikTok or Instagram. Who would be surprised today?
The Emotional and Community Role of World Cup Music
The music, far beyond the numbers, weaves for many supporters an emotional frame, a kind of federative spark. Who ever humped "Waka Waka" with the family, or sang "Rate the cup at home" in the joy of French victory? These airs survive the competition and extend it everywhere, even in memories.
Popular resonance, performance and virality
The numbers mark the blow: "Waka Waka" crossed 1.8 billion views On YouTube, while "El Rock del Mundial" (1962) exceeded the 2 million sales. "Live It Up", even without matching these records, has left its mark on 2018 thanks to almost a handful of millions of views in a year, and a broadcast in more than twenty countries.
- Live It Up: more than 200,000 shares between June and July 2018;
- About 3,000 playlists mixing official anthems and local tubes on Spotify during the period.
At the turn of a bar or a fan zone, these hymns can still be heard, long after the games. It is also this "world magic" which, according to some DJs interviewed, explains the musical longevity of the competition.
Anecdotes and unusual records
One can note a funny fact: every FIFA official song of the last twenty years has been taken over, parodied or remixed, accumulating millions of additional views. Recently, Russian fans even improvised a "Tam tam de la Victoire" on the chorus of Live It Up... Some musicology experts speak here "spontaneous creative explosion", proof that music often overflows from the sports scene!
How to listen and find World Cup music 2018 ?
No more need to navigate on a number of sites: the music of the 2018 World Cup is in the blink of an eye. This greatly facilitates the discovery and the pleasure of regaining the atmosphere of the tournament (and nostalgic ones do not deprive!).
To enrich your playlists inspired by the 2018 World Cup, explore this music without copyright: a guide to legal, practical and creative solutions, ideal for unique sound creations that respect rights.
For artists inspired by the atmosphere of the 2018 World Cup, discover how put his music on Spotify in 2024 steps, solutions and key points and share your creations with the world.
Platforms, playlists and direct access
To save time, here are some particularly useful landmarks:
- Official FIFA Playlist 2018 on Spotify : FIFA hymns and partner tubes available
- Video "Live It Up" on YouTube : official clip, making-of, alternative versions
- Universal Music France : artist information, credits, behind the scenes
To be remembered: all these content is legally available, free of premium options, with strict respect for copyrights supervised by FIFA and its partners. A person in charge of a large music platform regularly confirms this: compliance with licences has never been easier for major events.
Tips for lovers of playlists or discoveries
For those who like to fly over the hits over the years, it's best to make their own selections by punctuating among official anthems, fan choruses and flagship tubes from the largest teams. No need to complicate the procedure: ask your pregnant woman « put the playlist World Cup 2018 »and see where you lead... It is often the opportunity to rediscover a forgotten chorus or fall on an amazing remix!
On most platforms, entering "World Cup 2018 Official Music" or "Chanson World Cup 2018" is enough to find all the iconic titles related to this edition. Some Internet users even report finding unknown nuggets by typing these keywords almost by chance.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ): Music and hymns World Cup 2018
Here are some answers to questions that we hear relatively often, to better distinguish the stakes, access and incredible diffusion of music at the 2018 World Cup.
What is the official song of the 2018 World Cup?
This is « Live It Up » (Nicky Jam, Will Smith, Era Istrefi). Recognised by FIFA, it was broadcast during the final and remains available on all major music platforms, from Spotify to Apple Music.
Were there any other notable songs at the tournament?
There are many "national" or sponsored titles. In France, "Rate the cup at home" imposed spectacularly; Coca-Cola also promoted in parallel its own musical creation for the summer of the tournament.
Where to listen to these musics legally?
Almost all the anthems and tubes associated with the competition are available on Spotify, YouTube, or via official FIFA or Universal Music portals. A community manager of a musical label reminds him of every worldwide news.
How many songs did FIFA sponsor in 2018?
For the first time, three international stars sign the official anthem in common. Other secondary pieces – from sponsors or national initiatives – have enriched the selection.
How to distinguish official anthem and sponsored title?
We note that the anthem is "labelled" FIFA, used at key moments and relayed globally; Other titles are supported by brand campaigns, sometimes shouted in the stands, but without the FIFA officiality label.
Updated on 23 March 2026
