We had a truly unforgettable month: the whole world showed up to work sleepy because their favourite team had been playing the night before, memes turned footballers into global superstars even for people who had never watched a match before (a big hi to all the Erling Haaland's fans), and there were heartbreaking farewells as some of the greatest players of their generation left what may have been their final World Cup without lifting the golden trophy. Moments like these inevitably leave you thinking: I wish I could experience it all over again. Do I really have to wait another four years?

Thankfully, no. Music happens to be one of the best time machines around, capable of transporting you straight back to those late-night kick-offs and unforgettable goals in a matter of seconds. And that is exactly what our latest playlist, Focus on FIFA World Cup, is here to do.

The playlist follows the evolution of the World Cup soundtrack over the decades. We begin in the late 1990s and early 2000s with The Cup of Life by Ricky Martin — arguably the song that defined the modern World Cup anthem. From there, we move to the 2002 tournament with Anastacia's Boom, created for the first World Cup ever hosted in Asia.

Next comes South Africa 2010, giving us two songs that have become inseparable from football itself: Shakira's Waka Waka and K'naan's Wavin' Flag. The journey then continues through the anthems of Brazil 2014, Russia 2018, and Qatar 2022, before arriving at the latest chapter with the music of the 2026 World Cup, including Shakira's return alongside Dai Dai.

So, have fun — and don't be surprised if you suddenly find yourself wanting to watch the highlights all over again.