Fans turn to AI to create team songs ahead of World Cup

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Football world governing body FIFA commissioned its official World Cup anthem from musicians Jelly Roll and Carin Leon [AFP]

Football fans across the world are increasingly using artificial intelligence to create songs supporting their national teams ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup, opening fresh debate around creativity, originality and copyright in the music industry.

The AI-generated tracks have quickly gained popularity on social media platforms such as TikTok, YouTube and Instagram, with some attracting millions of views as supporters embrace digital tools to produce catchy football anthems.

The trend reportedly gained momentum after the release of a French football-themed song that mentioned several national team stars in a chant-style format. Similar songs inspired by Brazil, Portugal, Argentina and Germany soon followed, with creators using AI-assisted software to generate lyrics, vocals and instrumentals.

Music producers behind the trend say the technology is making it easier for ordinary fans to participate in music creation without the need for expensive studio equipment or professional production skills.

“What I see happening now is more about people following a trend or trying to recreate a feeling,” said Brazilian producer Guilherme Maia, also known as M4IA.

He noted that while imitation has always existed in music, AI has accelerated the speed at which creators can reproduce certain styles and sounds.

“In music, there are clear rules. You can't just copy someone else's work or use samples without permission, even if AI is involved,” he said.

The rapid rise of AI-generated music has also raised concerns among experts over copyright ownership and how artists are credited when existing music is used to train artificial intelligence systems.

Jason Palamara, an assistant professor of music technology at Indiana University, said questions still remain about where AI-generated material originates from and who should receive recognition.

“It had to come from somewhere,” he said.

Some industry observers argue that AI-created music often lacks emotional depth and originality, pointing to occasional pronunciation mistakes, unnatural accents and repetitive melodies.

Despite the criticism, many football fans appear more interested in energetic and easy-to-sing anthems capable of building excitement ahead of the global tournament.

Experts say the growing use of AI in football culture reflects a wider shift in entertainment, where technology is increasingly shaping how fans create and consume content online.

The 2026 FIFA World Cup, set to be hosted by the United States, Canada and Mexico, is expected to attract massive digital engagement, with AI likely to play a bigger role in fan interaction and content creation.