Not much time is left before the 23rd edition of the FIFA World Cup kicks off. And as anticipation builds around football’s biggest tournament, organizers have started unveiling details surrounding the event, including the artists selected to contribute to its official soundtrack. Among the
latest names announced is Palestinian-Chilean singer Elyanna who, after already being confirmed to perform at the opening ceremony, has now also been tapped to record a track for the competition’s official soundtrack.
Titled
Illuminate, the track—released just days ago in collaboration with Canadian singer-songwriter Jessie Reyez—marks the fourth single unveiled so far from the tournament’s official World Cup album. Previous project releases have also featured a number of globally recognized artists, including Daddy Yankee and Shenseea, who recently teamed up on a reworked version of an original composition by Lebanese trumpeter Ibrahim Maalouf; Mexican Cumbia band Los Angeles Azures; and American rapper Jelly Roll, to name just a few.
It still remains unclear how many songs will ultimately feature on the full project, or when the complete soundtrack is expected to officially drop. Still, it’s refreshing to see a visible Arab presence tied to this year’s tournament, even if, for now, it’s arriving primarily through music. Alongside Elyanna’s involvement, Moroccan-Canadian artist Nora Fatehi has also already been confirmed to perform during the World Cup’s opening ceremony.
Beyond the sonic aspect of things, this forthcoming edition will also mark the tournament with the highest number of Arab nations ever involved, with Morocco, Egypt, Tunisia, Algeria, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, the United Arab Emirates, Iraq, and Jordan all having secured qualification for the group stages.
The 2026 FIFA World Cup is set to run from June 11 to July 19 across the United States, Canada, and Mexico.