Robbie Williams confirmed as the official FIFA Music Ambassador

Robbie Williams has been confirmed as the official FIFA Music Ambassador.

• READ MORE: Robbie Williams on working with Tony Iommi, ‘BRITPOP’, Glastonbury and his bromance with Soft Play

To mark his new role, the singer has written and recorded the first-ever Official FIFA anthem, ‘Desire’, which will be played as players walk onto the pitch during all FIFA tournaments and matches worldwide.

‘Desire’, which features Italian artist Laura Pausini, will debut in full ahead of the FIFA Club World Cup’s opening match later today (June 14), accompanied by a music video which will be played out on the jumbotron screens at Miami’s Hard Rock Stadium.

Discussing his new role, 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.”

Speaking on ‘Desire’, he 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”.

Laura Pausini said: “It’s an honour for me to be invited to join Robbie Williams and be featured on the song DESIRE, written by Robbie. 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.”

In other Robbie Williams news, he just wrapped up his ‘Britpop’ UK tour, which has seen him joined onstage by a slew of surprise guests, including all original members of the ‘90s boyband Five, Wiley and Lethal Bizzle, and Self Esteem.

Other surprise guests on the tour have come from former X Factor star Lucy Spraggan, Lulu, and Scottish singer and former Pop Idol finalist Michelle McManus.

The tour comes as Williams is preparing to release his first studio album in almost a decade, also titled ‘BRITPOP’. Visit here to pre-order. He has already previewed it with the single ‘Rocket’, which was released last month and features guitars from Black Sabbath’s Tony Iommi.

Recently, the ‘Millenium’ singer spoke to NME at the Ivor Novello Awards, where he picked up the Icon Award for 2025. Reflecting on whether ‘BRITPOP’ will recapture the hedonism of the ‘90s, he said: “If hedonism is Jaffa Cake-based or Cadbury’s Fruit And Nut, then I’m in. Everything else I’ve got to park until I die. If I don’t park it, it’ll kill me.”

Discussing his guitar-dominated new approach, he added: “I was playing it safe and I’ve not been driving my own car. I’ve not had my hands on the wheel through second-thinking myself and guessing what people like. I just wanted to do something that I like.”

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