Shakira has revealed that she waited nearly three weeks for Burna Boy to send his verse for ‘Dai Dai’, their collaboration on the official soundtrack of the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
Speaking in a recent interview, the Colombian singer said she was “obsessed and determined” to have the Grammy-winning Afro-fusion star on the track from the beginning, explaining that the song required a strong male voice to capture the energy of the global football tournament.
“Once I had this song, I felt I really needed a male vocal in the song because the World Cup carries a big male energy,” she said.
“I was like, who can give me that very masculine voice that I want in this sort of Afrobeats setting? Because this song is very Afrobeats, but it also has some Caribbean sounds and a little bit of R&B.
“I’ve always loved Burna. I always wanted to do something with him, so I called him. I’m like, ‘Hey, are you down to do this?’ And he was like, ‘Yeah, why not?’”
Shakira, however, disclosed that Burna Boy kept her waiting for about 20 days before sending his contribution, leaving her unsure whether the collaboration would eventually happen.
“It took a while. I was waiting for about 20 days for him to send something and I’m like, ‘Okay, maybe he’s not going to do it.’ But then he sent his magic and it was just absolutely perfect,” she said.
“I was so obsessed about having Burna on this track. I’m so glad that I got him.”
Earlier, Shakira had described Burna Boy’s contribution to ‘Dai Dai’ as the “cherry on top,” saying his vocals took the song “to another level”.
She also explained that beyond serving as the World Cup anthem, the song was created to inspire children around the world, reminding them that no dream is beyond reach.
According to the singer, the project also seeks to emphasise the importance of creating better opportunities for children, particularly through access to quality education.