British singer Robbie Williams has been announced as the official FIFA Music Ambassador.
As part of his new role, the former Take That singer has written and recorded a new track for the upcoming FIFA Men’s Club World Cup, named ‘Desire’. The track will be played ahead of all tournament matches as the teams walk out onto the pitch. The song was written with the help of Karl Brazil, Erik Jan Grob and Owen Parker, with Grammy Award-winning Italian singer Laura Pausini featuring on the vocals. It marks the first official anthem commissioned by FIFA, and will be featured in all FIFA tournaments, including the 2026 World Cup.
The 2025 FIFA Club World Cup kicks off at 1am UK time tomorrow, 15 June, with the song debuting alongside a music video, displayed on the jumbotron screens of Miami’s Hard Rock Stadium.
Speaking about his new ambassador role, Robbie Williams states in a press release: “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.
“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.
“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.”
In a video shared to social media, FIFA President Gianni Infantino discusses the new track, describing it as: “Absolutely fantastic. Incredible, beautiful, it’s exactly what we were looking for.” He goes on to say that ‘Desire’ is “Our song. The world’s song. The football song,” adding that it will perfectly set the mood for the Club World Cup.
In the same video, Laura Pausini comments: “The track’s energy really captures the spirit of football, and I can’t wait for the world to hear the song during the opening match.”
Williams has worked with FIFA previously, though not without controversy. In 2018’s Men’s World Cup in Moscow, Russia, Robbie Williams stuck up his middle finger to the camera during his performance at the opening ceremony, causing U.S. broadcaster Fox to issue an apology. Currently, Robbie Williams is in the midst of his ‘Britpop’ tour, wrapping up the UK leg this evening in Bath’s Royal Crescent. ‘Britpop’ is due to release later this year.
The FIFA Men’s Club World Cup will be available to watch on Channel 5 from midnight, and will open with Egypt’s Al Ahly facing local team Inter Miami.
Click here for more MXDWN coverage on Robbie Williams and his ‘Britpop’ tour.
