World Cup 2026: Goal-songs chosen by teams for their goals
At this year's World Cup each team pre-selected a short song (goal-music) to play when a goal was cleared. While Mexico's selection of a mariachi band sampled the tune during the first goal caused confusion, other teams' selections later lit up — AC/DC's 'Thunderstruck' for Australia, Lynyrd Skynyrd's 'Free Bird' for America, RedOne's 'Dirou Niyya' for Morocco.
Here's a small but noteworthy quirk of World Cup 2026: This time each team gets a chance to choose a unique song for their goal — the same short song played for every goal in the game. This new change became clear to all as soon as the first goal was scored.
The first goal of the tournament was scored by Julián Quiñones of Mexico. Usually there's no big stadium cheer, no commentator excitement, but when that goal was scored, music like a mariachi band patch was heard in homes and living rooms — and that music turned out to be the goal music Mexico had chosen for their goal. As it turned out, other countries also confirmed their goals.
The Netherlands chose a hip-techno version of the song "Wij Houden van Oranje" by André Hazes for their anthem — a song that has recently been heard on international pitches for Netherlands fans.
Well, some notable selections have already been played live: AC/DC's 'Thunderstruck' as Australia's selection, Lynyrd Skynyrd's 'Free Bird' played at the United States goal. RedOne's 'Dirou Niyya' sounds like a Moroccan goal.
Goal-tunes are commonly used in club football. For example, German club Bayern Munich's stadiums have long played 'Galop Infernal' from Jacques Offenbach's opera 'Orpheus in the Underworld' straight through the speakers — repeating the same song over and over again can be jarring, especially when opponents are advancing in the ring and goals are coming.
Goal-songs — World Cup 2026
Groep A
- Mexico: "Me Nace Del Corazon" — Ernesto Zepeda
- Zuid‑Korea
- Czech Republic: "Seven Nation Army" — Mickie Krause
- Zuid‑Afrika
Groep B
- Switzerland: "Freed From Desire" — Gala
- Canada
- Qatar: "Ana Aqol Ah" — Ali Abdul Sattar
- Bosnië en Herzegovina: "Take Me To America" — Salvatore Ganacci
Groep C
- Scotland: "I'm Gonna Be (500 Miles)" — The Proclaimers
- Morocco: "Dirou Niyya" — RedOne
- Brazil: "Bate no Peito" — Papatinho, LUDMILLA, João Gomes, Zeca Pagodinho, Samuel Rosa, Veigh, Fome de Música
- Haiti
Groep D
- VS (United States): "Free Bird" — Lynyrd Skynyrd
- Australia: "Thunderstruck" — AC/DC
- Turkey
- Paraguay
Groep E
- Curaçao
- Duitsland
- Ecuador
- Ivory coast
Groep F
- Nederland: "Wij Houden van Oranje" (uptempo versie) — André Hazes
- Japan
- Sweden
- Tunisia
Groep G
- Belgium
- Egypt
- Iran
- Nieuw‑Zeeland
Groep H
- Spain
- Uruguay
- Saudi Arabia
- Kaapverdië
Groep I
- Frankrijk
- Norway
- Senegal
- Iraq
Groep J
- Argentina
- Austria
- Jordania
- Algeria
Groep K
- Colombia
- Portugal
- DR Congo
- Uzbekistan
Groep L
- England
- Croatia
- Ghana
- Panama
There is a possibility that some national anthems that are not covered in this list may still be revealed. This list will be updated as more goal music is identified through research.