Robbie Williams appointed Fifa Music Ambassador
Robbie Williams has been announced as the Fifa Music Ambassador and has co-written the first official anthem of the global football governing body.
The singer, best known for songs such as Rock DJ, Angels and Candy, has been appointed to the role to "deepen fan connection" and "elevate" the emotion of the game by bringing music and football together on the world stage.
He has co-written a new song, Desire, which will be played before Fifa tournaments and matches worldwide to accompany players as they walk on to the pitch.
The song will debut at the Club World Cup's opening match being held in Miami on Saturday, before being used in all upcoming tournaments including the 2026 World Cup.
Williams said: "Music and football bring people together like nothing else - each with their own universal language of connection, emotion, spirit and community.
"When those worlds come together, there's nothing like it - and I'm beyond honoured to be the Fifa Music Ambassador.
"Football and music have both been part of my life for as long as I can remember, so this means a lot to me on a personal level.
The new anthem was co-written with Karl Brazil, Owen Parker and Erik Jan Grob, and features Italian singer Laura Pausini.
The track will be accompanied by a new video which will be shown for the first time at Miami's Hard Rock Stadium.
Williams added: "I've grown up watching the walk-outs, the anthems, the drama - so writing and recording the official Fifa anthem is a real privilege.
"I wanted to create something that captures all of it - the passion, the nerves, the pride and the majesty of that feeling just before kick-off.
"Football and music have always meant the world to me, and bringing them together on this kind of stage gives me goosebumps.
"I know I'll get to perform this song at some of my favourite tournaments in the coming years, which fills me with excitement. It's a real honour that Laura Pausini accepted my invitation to feature on the song – she's an incredible artist with the perfect voice."
Pausini, 51, rose to fame after winning the 1993 newcomer artists' section of the Sanremo Music Festival, precursor of the Eurovision and one of the biggest and longest running song contests, with her song, La Solitudine.
The singer, who has released Italian and Spanish albums, won a Grammy in 2006 for Best Latin Pop Album and was also nominated for an Oscar in 2020 for best original song with Io si/Seen.
She added: "The song is amazing, really touching. It's a dream to be with him for the Fifa Club World Cup. Since I was a little girl growing up in Italy I remember the thrill and passion for football in my home country.
"To be able to perform live with Robbie Williams in front of passionate football fans and to be heard by music fans around the world will be truly amazing."
It comes as Williams completes the UK leg of his tour which will then continue with concerts in Ireland, Spain and Italy.
His new album Britpop is due to be released this autumn.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The 42
25 minutes ago
- The 42
George Russell sees off Max Verstappen to take brilliant pole at Canadian GP
Updated at 22.43 GEORGE RUSSELL took a brilliant pole position for the Canadian Grand Prix after he saw off rival Max Verstappen to clinch top spot in Montreal. Russell delivered the goods with the final lap of a thrilling qualifying session to cross the line 0.160 seconds clear of Verstappen. Championship leader Oscar Piastri had to settle for third, but it was another bitterly disappointing one-lap showing from Lando Norris, which leaves him seventh on the grid. Kimi Antonelli finished fourth, one place ahead of Ferrari's Lewis Hamilton. Russell started on pole here last year and came from nowhere to secure first place again. Verstappen, who crashed into Russell at the previous round in Spain, will join him on the front row. 'Today was awesome in front of this amazing crowd,' said Russell. 'The last lap was one of the most exhilarating laps of my life. 'I got into the last corner, and I could see on my steering wheel that this lap was mighty. It was a surprise to see I was first, but I was chuffed too.' Verstappen is one point away from a ban following his coming together with Russell in Barcelona, and — when asked about the prospect of being joined on the front row by his rival — Russell added: 'We are mates, so we are all good. 'I have got a few more points on my licence to play with, so let's see.' Advertisement Norris, whose championship challenge has been derailed by errors in qualifying, made a mistake on his first run in Q1 and had to abort the final right-left chicane. 'So, Lando, let's just reset and remember your braking references,' Norris was told by his race engineer, Will Joseph. Norris's error handed the advantage to both Verstappen and Piastri, with the former holding a 0.025-second advantage over the Australian. Norris came round again, but he was 0.377sec off the pace with his father, Adam Norris, grimacing in the back of the McLaren garage. On to the final runs, and it was Piastri who went fastest, only to be usurped by Verstappen and then Russell. Norris, who trails Piastri by 10 points in the standings, was a distant 0.726 behind Russell and half-a-second adrift of Piastri in the other McLaren to deal another blow to the Briton's title hopes. A red flag was deployed in Q1 after bodywork flew off Alex Albon's Williams on the back straight. An eight-minute delay followed as the debris and Albon's car were repaired to allow him to take part in the restart. Albon progressed to the next phase — and qualified 10th — but his team-mate Carlos Sainz, who appeared to be impeded by RB's Isack Hadjar, was eliminated. Hadjar finished ninth, but he could be served a penalty with the stewards investigating the flashpoint. Sainz was left in 17th but will start one place higher after Yuki Tsunoda was demoted from 11th to last following a red-flag infringement in final practice. Home favourite Lance Stroll will start a place back from Sainz after he fell at the first hurdle, 14 days after he withdrew from the race in Spain with a wrist injury.
RTÉ News
an hour ago
- RTÉ News
Gianluigi Buffon confirms Italy set to name Gennaro Gattuso new boss
Italy are set to appoint their former midfielder Gennaro Gattuso as manager to replace the sacked Luciano Spalletti. "We have worked, we are now waiting for the final details," said Gianluigi Buffon, now the head of delegation with the Italian football federation (FIGC). Buffon, speaking at the Under-21 European Championship, told Italy's state broadcaster RAI when asked to confirm that Gattuso would be the new coach: "The president and the whole federation have had some busy days but I think that in the end we made the best choice." Spalletti's sacking came after less than two years in the job, taking charge for the final time in the 2-0 win over Moldova the day after he announced his own dismissal following a 3-0 loss in Norway in Italy's opening World Cup qualifying game. Gattuso, who made 73 appearances for Italy and was a member of the 2006 World Cup-winning squad, recently left Croatian club Hajduk Split by mutual consent, after a third-placed finish in the country's top flight. Claudio Ranieri had been the FIGC's first choice, but the 73-year-old turned down the offer to focus on his senior advisor role at AS Roma. Gattuso began his managerial career as player coach at Swiss club Sion in 2013 where he finished his playing days after 13 seasons with AC Milan but was fired after winning two of his 10 league games in charge. His only trophy as manager came at Napoli, lifting the Coppa Italia in 2020, in a 12-year career in which he has taken charge at nine clubs, including AC Milan, Valencia and a five-month spell at Olympique de Marseille. Gattuso was appointed as Fiorentina manager in 2021, but 22 days later the club announced they had mutually rescinded the agreement, with reports citing disagreements over transfer strategy. The 47-year-old will be tasked with getting Italy to next year's World Cup, after they missed out on the last two tournaments, and will begin on the back foot after the humbling loss in Oslo.
The Irish Sun
10 hours ago
- The Irish Sun
‘Everywhere I turn, he is there' – Bonnie Ryan reveals heartfelt way she honoured late dad Gerry on wedding day
BONNIE Ryan has revealed the touching way she honoured her late dad on her wedding day. The Irish influencer and her husband John Greenhalgh tied the knot at a quaint old St Augustine's church in the village of La Machi, 2 Bonnie and her husband John tied the knot back in 2022 2 The Dublin beauty has revealed the touching way she honoured her dad at her wedding Credit: Alamy However, Bonnie's late dad, broadcaster The beloved radio jock passed away on April 30, 2010, at the age of 53 . . Before her wedding, the READ MORE ON BONNIE RYAN She told "I don't want to put pressure on myself and I don't want to make a big deal out of it. I will definitely be doing something nice to toast to him on the day though." The radio star recently reflected on her wedding and revealed the special way she paid tribute to her dad. She told the most read in the irish sun "So that was a bit dangerous. We had the best night ever. And then we looked at the time and it was five o'clock in the morning." Bonnie recently opened up on her Lottie Ryan tears at father's 'legacy' on Late Late Show The influencer and her husband John moved to The 32-year-old didn't get to celebrate her wedding anniversary on the day as she had flown to Dublin to attend the Platinum VIP Awards with her mum Morah and her sisters Lottie and Babette. Speaking on the red carpet at the event, Bonnie told "So he flies into Dublin tomorrow. We're going to get to spend time then. Three years. Where's the time gone? It's actually, it's terrifying." 'BRILLIANT' However, Bonnie planned to mark the happy occasion with a family holiday. Bonnie's 2FM host sister Lottie, who "We're going on a big f***ing piss up in Italy and we're going to record an episode of the podcast there." Bonnie added: "We're going to record the podcast. We're going to drink loads of spritzes. Lottie joked: "We'll be locked with like Italian grannies speaking in broken English. It'll be brilliant." Bonnie replied: "I'm going to throw my hat in the ring and see if I can speak any Italian. So it's going to be great."
