Global music icon Shakira has revealed why Burna Boy was the only artiste she wanted on *Dai Dai*, the official anthem of the 2026 FIFA World Cup, saying his voice was exactly what the song needed.
Speaking on the *Capital Evening Show with Jimmy Hill*, the Colombian superstar explained that the track blends Afrobeats, Caribbean and R&B influences, making Burna Boy the perfect fit from the very beginning.
“Once I had the song, I felt that I really needed a male vocal, a male voice in the song. The World Cup carries a big male energy… I was like, who can give me that very masculine voice that I want in this sort of Afrobeat setting?” she said.
Shakira disclosed that she had admired Burna Boy for years and had always hoped to collaborate with him. Although the Grammy-winning Nigerian star took about 20 days to send his verse, she said the wait was more than worth it.
“I was waiting for 20 days… But then he sent his magic, and it was just absolutely perfect. I couldn’t imagine anybody else on it, actually,” she added.
The duo first performed *Dai Dai* live at the opening ceremony of the 2026 FIFA World Cup on June 11 at Estadio Azteca in Mexico City before reuniting for the tournament’s historic halftime show during the final on July 19 at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey, alongside Uganda’s Ghetto Kids.
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