Ishowspeed Releases Unofficial 2026 World Cup Anthem, Sparking Controversy

American internet personality Darren Watkins Jr., better known as IShowSpeed, has sparked debate in the football world with the release of his self‑proclaimed tournament anthem, “World Cup (Champions).”

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the high‑energy music video premiered on YouTube on June 1 and accumulated more than 3.3 million views and hundreds of thousands of likes within 24 hours.

The track incorporates lively crowd chants from various footballing nations, with a prominent focus on Ghana—where Watkins holds honorary citizenship—complete with large flags and traditional dancers.

After the video went viral, Watkins publicly tagged the Federation of International Football Associations (FIFA) on social media, urging the organization to adopt the song as the tournament’s official anthem.

FIFA’s verified account responded with a brief message: “We will be in touch.”

The exchange has ignited extensive online discussion, with fans and commentators comparing IShowSpeed’s independent anthem to FIFA’s official soundtrack, “Goals,” performed by Lisa, Anitta, and Rema, ahead of the World Cup’s opening on June 11 across the United States, Canada, and Mexico.

One X user, @yetunede, praised the creator’s cultural representation, writing: “IShowSpeed putting Ghana on his back for this World Cup video is everything. The energy, the flags, the dancers—this feels more organic and alive than the actual official song. Ghana to the world!”

Another commentator, @hindisilencio, added: “FIFA needs to stop overcomplicating things and just make this the official anthem. Over 3 million views in less than a day for an independent release show exactly what the streets want to hear when the matches start.”

Critics of the track’s raw, internet‑style presentation have defended the artistic quality of the official soundtrack.

@Danyflamez3 tweeted: “People comparing this Speed video to Rema, Lisa, and Anitta’s ‘Goals’ must be joking. One is a globally produced, multi‑million‑dollar masterpiece by Cirkut, and the other is just streaming noise. Let’s keep standard music separate from content creation.”

Meanwhile, @lawizzygotswag expressed concern over FIFA’s response, stating: “FIFA saying ‘we will be in touch’ is hilarious but risky. You can’t sideline established global artists who spent months crafting a multilingual anthem just to chase clout with a YouTuber’s viral video at the eleventh hour.”

NAN reports that FIFA has not yet issued an official statement regarding any changes to its musical lineup or opening‑ceremony schedule as of the time of this report. (NAN)

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