With the World Cup still weeks away, one of the biggest football debates online has already kicked off. It has nothing to do with Lionel Messi, Kylian Mbappé, or Cristiano Ronaldo.
Instead, it’s all about a YouTuber-turned-global star who has managed to get fans, creators, and FIFA itself talking about his new song.
That debate boils down to one simple question: has IShowSpeed actually gone ‘2 for 2’ with his brand-new World Cup anthem, ‘World Cup (Champions)’?
Back in 2022, Speed’s first World Cup song blew up online, eventually crossing 200 million views to become a major soundtrack of the tournament.
Now that he has dropped ‘Champions’ right before the 2026 FIFA World Cup, fans are convinced he has delivered another massive hit that perfectly captures the energy of football supporters everywhere.
There are a few reasons why the music video went viral so quickly.
Speed is seen throughout the clip wearing Portugal colors, showing off his long-time love for Cristiano Ronaldo.
Fans noticed tons of CR7 easter eggs right away.
Fans feel the song doubles as both a World Cup anthem and a tribute to a football legend.
Another standout part of the video is the massive country shout-out.
Rather than sticking to the usual football giants, Speed races through country names from every corner of the globe.
The internet is having a lot of fun with this section, with fans laughing at his unique pronunciations but appreciating the effort to include everyone.
The music on ‘Champions’ doesn’t sound anything like those perfect, studio-made official World Cup tunes.
The song relies on loud stadium drums, heavy beats, crowd chants, and simple words that thousands of fans can easily shout back.
“Let’s go, let’s fight
We up, tonight
One world, unite”
The chorus is even more direct:
“Oh, ayy-oh, ayy-oh, ayy-oh
Let’s go, we the champions”
Instead of sounding like a typical pop song, it feels like a chant that could explode from the stadium crowd before a huge knockout game.
This comparison is exactly what everyone is debating online.
FIFA’s official 2026 lineup includes major names like Shakira, Future, and Daddy Yankee.
While their tracks are slick, polished, and made for the radio, Speed’s song is raw, loud, and chaotic.
Supporters are arguing that while the official songs sound professional, Speed actually captures the true spirit of the game.
The numbers prove the internet is on board.
2 days since its release, the video easily has crossed 10 million views and 1.2 million likes on YouTube.
Though it pales in comparison to the most official 2026 World Cup song by Shakira and rapper Burna Boy called Dai Dai, which was released 10 days ago and has 69 million views and 2.2 million likes on the Google-owned platform.
But the ultimate moment came when FIFA actually answered Speed’s call for recognition to make his track an official anthem as well, replying with a simple message:
“👀 we will be in touch.”
Whether FIFA eventually officially accepts the song or not, football fans have already given their verdict.
To them, ‘Champions’ isn’t just another track.
For supporters online, it is already the unofficial soundtrack of the 2026 World Cup, proving that Speed can deliver back-to-back hits.
