How Tyla and Future dropped the anthem the 2026 FIFA World Cup

How Tyla and Future dropped the anthem that the 2026 FIFA World Cup didn’t know it needed.

Nobody asked for a Tyla and Future collab. And yet, the second you hear it, you realise it’s the only thing that makes sense. Game Time — the latest single off the official 2026 FIFA World Cup Album dropped on May 29, and it hits exactly the way you’d want a World Cup anthem to hit: big, confident, and effortlessly cool.

This isn’t just two famous names slapped together on a tournament tracklist. This is Atlanta trap meeting South African Afropop at the biggest sporting stage on the planet. The future brings that signature murky, melodic energy. Tyla brings the warmth, the bounce, and the international crossover magic she’s been building since “Water” made her a global name. Together? It shouldn’t work on paper. It absolutely works in practice.

More than a tournament song

Here’s what makes this release matter beyond just the track itself: both Tyla and Future are set to perform live at the FIFA World Cup opening ceremonies. Tyla is booked for New York and Mexico City, a double-billing that speaks to how seriously FIFA is treating African and global South artists this cycle. She joins a lineup that includes Katy Perry, Shakira, LISA, Rema, and Anitta.

For South Africa, this is a proper moment. Tyla teased the collab at the 2026 Billboard Women in Music Awards, saying she was working on something “big” with one of her favourite rappers. FIFA then dropped an Instagram reel of her in a soccer jersey number 24, with “A-POP” on the back, while Future rapped in the background. The internet connected the dots before the announcement was even official.

The 2026 World Cup soundtrack is clearly leaning hard into cross-continental sound. Burna Boy, LISA, and Anitta, these aren’t regional bookings. They’re a statement: football’s audience is global, and so is its music. Game Time fits that energy perfectly.

Tyla booked for New York and Mexico City. Two opening ceremonies. One era-defining moment.

With the World Cup kicking off in just a few weeks, expect this one to follow you everywhere  stadium playlists, TikTok edits, warm-up sessions, and club pre-drinks. Game Time isn’t just a song. It’s the soundtrack to the next month of your life.