AI-generated songs are taking over the 2026 World Cup

Fans of the 23rd FIFA World Cup, hosted by the United States, Canada, and Mexico, have turned to artificial intelligence to mass-produce songs in support of their national teams ahead of the tournament's kickoff next month. With fan-made chants racking up millions of views on YouTube, TikTok, and Instagram, experts say the trend raises questions about song ownership, compensation for artists, and the value of human creativity. However, many users seem unconcerned, with some even expressing a preference for AI-generated songs over the official anthem commissioned by FIFA from musicians Jelly Roll and Karen Leon. A highly anticipated World Cup song by Shakira was also released last week, but the AI-generated anthem craze continues to fuel excitement on social media for the tournament, which will take place in June and July. This trend seems to have started with a song dedicated to the French national team, titled "Imputable," released in February by artist Cristallo, listed on Spotify as "France's first AI-powered music creator." The song begins by calling out the names of Kylian Mbappé and other stars of the French team. A similar Brazilian anthem followed, featuring the same names set to a popular funk melody. Producer Guilherme Maia, known artistically as M4IA, said he created it by combining various elements with the help of artificial intelligence. Soon after, similar anthems for major national teams like Portugal, Argentina, and Germany, among many others, appeared on various platforms and garnered widespread praise from fans.