Or check our Popular Categories...

June 19, 2026 By chutebr View: 2

Ranking all 48 World Cup national anthems

If you’ve sat through every match at the World Cup, first, well done (you really lasted the whole of Ghana…
Notícias de Esporte

If you’ve sat through every match at the World Cup, first, well done (you really lasted the whole of Ghana versus Panama?) and second, your name is probably Gianni Infantino.

If you’re a mere mortal at home watching on television, though, and you’ve tuned in a few minutes before kick-off for every match, you’ve also sat through every national anthem. That’s 54 minutes and 39 seconds of players singing out of tune, fans crying and lots of trumpet.

Some anthems are average ditties made great by how heartily the team’s fans sing it (hello, the United States and Scotland), some are musical tour de forces (hey, Brazil), and some are neither of the above and offer a good moment for a pre-match trip to the fridge/toilet.

Of course, this is entirely subjective, but there is logic to what makes a good national anthem. We’re looking for stirring, passionate songs that the players and fans engage with, that aren’t played too long at the tournament and, regardless of your nationality, make you want to stand up and yell: “YES, I love you, Curacao!”

A point of order – Italy may not have necessarily won the World Cup if they had qualified, but they certainly would have won the World Cup of national anthems.

Anyway, to the list!

48. England

Let’s have an honest conversation about England’s national anthem. It’s dreadful. The music drones on unforgivingly and the lyrics, unlike every other anthem in this list, are about one old bloke. And it’s not even David Attenborough. If you’re a religious monarchist who enjoys banal, aimless music, go nuts for this. If you can’t stand stuffy, ceremonial nonsense, join my non-existent campaign for a new anthem that actually has the slightest relevance to most of the country’s population.

Length at tournament: 42 seconds
Key phrase: “God save our gracious king, long live our noble king.”
Stirring rating: 1/10

U.S. readers can watch here:

And for our UK readers:

 

47. Jordan

Short and straight to the point. If you enjoy 33 seconds of Jordan players singing quite badly out of tune amid a background of repetitive notes, this is the anthem for you. The second-shortest anthem at the World Cup and non-Jordanians are grateful for that.

Length: 33s
Key phrase: “A revolution gives us our motivation.”
Stirring rating: 2/10

 

46. Spain

You’d think there might be some heartfelt, special reason the Spanish anthem has no lyrics. Their country is so incredible, words don’t do it justice. Nope, just like Bosnia and Herzegovina, they just can’t agree what to sing. Every four years, some smart Alec on social media will sarcastically query why the Spain players haven’t bothered to learn the words. Anyway, nice tune but not exactly galvanising. Surely they can knock up a verse about Lamine Yamal’s dribbling ability?

Length: 50s
Key phrase: “Doooo do do dooooo do.”
Stirring rating: 2/10

45. Germany

Sure, pleasant enough, but is it really going to fire you up to unleash a reducer on the opposition midfielder in the opening 30 seconds? Like so many western and northern European anthems, it undoubtedly means a lot to its people and it might feel sacred for others to criticise it… but come on, if you were starting from scratch in 2026, you surely wouldn’t make this. It’s just very melancholic.

Length: one minute, four seconds
Key phrase: “Unity and justice and freedom for the German fatherland.”
Stirring rating: 3/10

U.S. readers watch here:

 

44. New Zealand

Unnecessarily lengthy at one minute and 50 seconds, God Defend New Zealand is the country’s second anthem and more commonly used than God Save the King. A lot of saving going on either way and, to be honest, it’s dreary. Also one of the quietest renditions, since few Kiwis have made the long trek to Los Angeles. The longest anthem at the tournament and that is not a good thing. Maybe boil the kettle when it starts.

Length: 1m 50s
Key phrase: “From dissension, envy, hate and corruption guard our state, make our country good and great.”
Stirring rating: 3/10

43. Austria

Like so many western European anthems, this is slow and cumbersome. Even Marko Arnautovic looked bored before the Jordan game.

Length: 1m 12s
Key phrase: “Hotly contested, fiercely disputed, you lie at the heart of the continent like a strong heart.”
Stirring rating: 3/10

U.S. readers watch here:

 

42. Qatar

If you’re going to play your anthem for one minute and 39 seconds, it needs a bit more variety than Qatar’s As-Salam al-Amiri, which is pretty forgettable. Marks off for Julen Lopetegui (unlike Graham Potter with Sweden and Jesse Marsch with Canada) not learning the words of his adopted country.

Length: 1m 39s
Key phrase: “Qatar is the land of the foremost men, who protect us in time of distress.”
Stirring rating: 3/10

41. Netherlands

One of the world’s oldest national anthems, with its music dating back to the 16th century. To be honest, it shows. A nice enough tune and William of Orange fighting for independence, but it does fall into the England and Germany bracket of just sounding a bit dull.

Length: 48 seconds
Key phrase: “Prince of Orange am I, free and fearless.”
Stirring rating: 3/10

U.S. readers watch here:

 

40. Croatia

A bit flat. Hummed by a lot of the Croatian players. Nice violins but a lack of gumption and not much to get excited about. The lyrics are at least relevant to the current Croatian team…

Length: 1m 5s
Key phrase: “Fatherland of old glory, may you be forever blissful.”
Stirring rating: 3/10

39. Ghana

Sounds like an African version of the German national anthem — quite grand but jazzed up a little. Either the Ghana players don’t know the words or just don’t like singing them.

Length: 48s
Key phrase: “God bless our motherland Ghana and make our nation great and strong.”
Stirring rating: 4/10

 

38. Belgium

Jolly enough but a lack of unbridled passion for a song written during the 1830 Belgian Revolution. Kevin De Bruyne didn’t sing a word. Neither did Jeremy Doku. Disappointing.

Length: 55s
Key phrase: “Noble Belgium, o dear mother to you our hearts, to you our arms.”
Stirring rating: 4/10

37. Saudi Arabia

Saudi Arabia are The Hives of the national anthem world with the shortest tune at the World Cup — just 32 seconds of glory to God and the homeland.

Length: 32s
Key phrase: “And raise the green flag carrying the written light reflecting guidance.”
Stirring rating: 4/10

36. Uzbekistan

The only ex-Soviet state in the World Cup and it shows. Grand, imperialistic and introduced in 1991 after independence, but it didn’t elicit tears from their hardy bunch of footballers, despite this being their first World Cup. A more stirring anthem needed, clearly.

Length: 58 seconds
Key phrase: “The torch of independence, guardian of peace, just motherland be eternally prosperous.”
Stirring rating: 4/10

 

35. Norway

A dreary ‘God Save the King’-esque tune but with far superior lyrics. The players all knew the words and sang them with gusto.

Length: 54s
Key phrase: “Yes, we love this country as it rises forth, rugged, weathered, above the sea.”
Stirring rating: 4/10

34. Cape Verde

No frills, just a trumpety tune and words about life, hope, oceans and stars. Lyrics could do with less genderising.

Length: 1m 8s
Key phrase: “Sing, my brother, for freedom is hymn and the man the certainty.”
Stirring rating: 4/10

 

33. Switzerland

There’s a theme with these European anthems. Grand but dull tune, about a minute long, words about the land and religion. Can’t they chuck a guitar solo in there to liven it up?

Length: 58s
Key phrase: “When the Alps glow bright with splendour, pray to God, to him surrender.”
Stirring rating: 4/10

32. Paraguay

Cheerful and to the point, with a fun musical intro lasting fully 40 seconds before some fast-paced words about winning a battle (hasn’t everyone?). Nice enough but not that memorable.

Length: 1m 12s
Key phrase: “Paraguayans: republic or death! Our spirit gave us liberty.
Stirring rating: 5/10

31. Algeria

You can imagine that in front of tens of thousands of home fans in Algiers this would be spectacular, but in Kansas City it was a bit nondescript, a bit like Algeria’s team.

Length: 1m 10s
Key phrase: “We are determined that Algeria should live, so be our witness.”
Stirring rating: 5/10

 

30. Sweden

Like the Swedes, this is chilled, calm, friendly and inoffensive. Its lyrics aren’t about war, revolution or bathing in the blood of their enemies, but literally about being friendly. Graham Potter knows the words, too. Really nice, but not stirring.

Length: 1m 6s
Key phrase: “I greet you, friendliest land upon earth.”
Stirring rating: 5/10

29. Senegal

Introduced in 1960, Le Lion Rouge (“The Red Lion”), which may or may not have been named after the most popular pub name in England, is fairly nondescript musically, but the words about nature and mother Africa bring it to life.

Length: 57s
Key phrase: “The red lion has roared; the tamer of the savannah has leapt forward.”
Stirring rating: 5/10

28. Tunisia

A boring melody but some extremely aggressive lyrics about rising up, defending Tunisia and living and dying being loyal to the country. “No place for betrayers in Tunisia,” they sing. Blimey. With words as rousing as that, how could they possibly lose? Oh.

Length: 50s
Key phrase: “The blood surges in our veins, we die for the sake of our land.”
Stirring rating: 5/10

27. Czech Republic

One for the players to mumble rather than bellow but the lyrics are basically about how beautiful the Czech Republic is, talking of orchards, rocks and streams. Nothing about how good the lager is in Prague, strangely.

Length: 1m 3s
Key phrase: “This land of wondrous beauty is the Czech land, home of mine.”
Stirring rating: 6/10

26. Australia

Not Waltzing Matilda, unfortunately, but a pretty standard anthem complete with an uplifting finish, arms aloft, beer in hand, shouting, “Advance, Australia fair.”

Length: 1m 14s
Key phrase: “Australians all let us rejoice, for we are one and free.”
Stirring rating: 6/10

25. Turkey

Musically, some dark Eastern European undertones and words about a red flag that shall never fade. Not one to really belt out, but it’s lively enough.

Length: 1m 4s
Key phrase: “Why the anger, why the rage? Our blood which we shed for you will not be blessed otherwise.”
Stirring rating: 6/10

24. Iraq

Some sprightly trumpet-based action and background violins make the start of this sound like the opening to an old Disney cartoon. Throw in a funky little drumbeat and this is a welcome recent addition to the national anthem range, which was adopted in 2004 after Saddam Hussein’s rule ended.

Length: 1m 5s
Key phrase: “Reaching to the stars, my homeland.”
Stirring rating: 6/10

23. Morocco

Morocco’s anthem was actually written for the football team, with their qualification for the 1970 World Cup shortly after regaining independence necessitating the addition of lyrics to a song composed in 1956. Unleashed with some relish by their fans against Brazil, with the players all putting hands on hearts and facing the flag, but always gets a good airing, including in the recent friendly with Norway.

Length: 58s
Key phrase: “We call to the world that we are here ready.”
Stirring rating: 6/10

 

22. Japan

As anyone who has watched The Simpsons will know, it’s a struggle to sum up dignity in a picture, but Japan’s players and staff quietly appreciating their national anthem might just be it. It’s calm, dignified, hushed and has only 21 words. Manager Hajime Moriyasu was seen bawling his eyes out, lip-wobbling and everything. You can imagine them humming this when they clean up after themselves in the stands.

Length: 56s
Key phrase: “May your reign continue for 1,000, 8,000 generations.”
Stirring rating: 6/10

21. South Africa

Unique in that it is sung in five different languages, each taking a verse: Xhosa, Zulu, Sesotho, Afrikaans and English. That makes the version played at the World Cup a little longer than you’d like, but it’s still a lovely tune.

Length: 1m 42s
Key phrase: “Let us live and strive for freedom in South Africa, our land.”
Stirring rating: 6/10

20. Iran

When this was played before their opener against New Zealand, it was one of the most poignant moments of the World Cup. The players stood identically with their right hand on their heart, left arm linked to their team-mate, even if many in the Los Angeles crowd didn’t appreciate it. But is the anthem any good? It’s not amazing, but at this juncture we can’t exactly mark it low.

Length: 56s
Key phrase: “Upwards on the horizon rose the eastern sun, the light in the eyes of the believers in justice.”
Stirring rating: 7/10

 

19. Haiti

Musically not dissimilar to French anthem La Marseillaise, which makes sense — La Dessalinienne was written to mark the century of Haitian independence from France. Not given much gusto by most of their players but it’s catchy enough.

Length: 43s
Key phrase: “Let us march united, or the country, for the ancestors.”
Stirring rating: 7/10

18. Mexico

A moving acapella version for their opener against South Africa, with 80,000 Mexicans singing every word in unison. A lot of it is about fighting, but it sounds pretty inspiring and will be one of the anthemic highlights of the tournament in the coming weeks.

Length: 1m 35s
Key phrase: “Mexicans, at the cry of war, assemble the steel and the bridle.”
Stirring rating: 7/10

U.S. readers watch here:

And for our UK readers:

 

17. Canada

Alanis Morissette, a piano and 45,000 Canadians (and one American in Jesse Marsch) belting this one out sounded great. Like the Star-Spangled Banner (sorry Canadians, but it is similar), it’s a bit plinky-plonky before a rousing, hairs-on-your-neck key-change finale, plus fireworks, give you that cheesy but beautiful moment.

Length: 1m 24s
Key phrase: “O Canada, our home and native land.”
Stirring rating: 7/10

 

16. Panama

The opposite of God Save the King in that it’s about your average Panamanian reaching victory in the joyous field of the union. Their players grinned, smiled and even laughed their way through it, belting it out while some in the stands had tears flooding down their cheeks. Proper anthem.

Length: 1m 18s
Key phrase: “Ahead the shovel and pick, at work without any more dilation.”
Stirring rating: 7/10

15. Ivory Coast

There’s a deep wind-based instrument doing bits across this one, maybe a trombone, both in the intro and interjected across the anthem. It’s a slow one but the notes are good, so basically the anthemic version of Luka Modric. Like a lot of the African anthems, it benefits from not being written centuries ago, like some of the dreadful European versions.

Length: 1m 15s
Key phrase: “Proud Ivorians, the country calls us.”
Stirring rating: 7/10

14. South Korea

Musically not dissimilar to neighbours Japan but much more euphoric, South Korea’s anthem was adopted in 1948 when the government was formed. They belt it out on the stands and on the pitch. Very nice.

Length: 55s
Key phrase: “Guarded by her people, ever may Korea stand.”
Stirring rating: 7/10

13. Curacao

What’s this? A saxophone? Oh yeah, nice. Kind of a saxophonic Away in a Manger vibes at first but then the lyrics are what make this a beaut, with words about how much they love Curacao, their boulder in the sea and, yes, people may have their struggles but they can always accomplish victory through hard work.

Length: 1m 25s
Key phrase: “Let us do our part for the island’s prosperity.”
Stirring rating: 7/10

U.S. readers watch here:

 

12. DR Congo

Jaunty. Marching band-esque tune to start with, then a bridge that had Yoane Wissa gleefully singing and swaying, eyes closed, hands on heart. References include June 30 (the date of independence in 1960) and populating the soil. Lovely stuff.

Length: 1m 24s
Key phrase: “Arise, Congolese! United by fate, united for the struggle of independence.”
Stirring rating: 8/10

U.S. readers watch here:

 

11. United States

Understated, subtle and downplayed. The Star-Spangled Banner is usually someone (or, in this case, for the opener against Paraguay, two people) going acapella, with the length of the anthem varying depending on how many pauses for dramatic effect, or how many words have been elongated to show off singing prowess. In Los Angeles, as the whole stadium landed the climax of “and the home of the brave” in goosebump-inducing unison while fireworks shot into the sky, shortly after cheering Tom ‘Top Gun’ Cruise and Christian ‘Captain America’ Pulisic being flashed on the big screen, it was hard to imagine a more American scene in history, ever.

Length: 1m 36s
Key phrase: “O’er the land of the free and the home of the brave.”
Stirring rating: 8/10

U.S. readers watch here:

 

10. Bosnia and Herzegovina

No words, just a solemn, sole violin (performed by Aleksandar Gajic for their match against Canada) for all of 65 seconds. It’s a poignant one and sounds like something you’d hear towards the end of a Lord of the Rings film. The players all pressed their hands to their hearts, some looking emotional. The anthem splits people back home (some hate it, some sing unofficial lyrics, with attempts to introduce official lyrics having never been agreed upon) but in Toronto (and in the pre-tournament friendlies) it sounded beautiful.

Length: 1m 5s
Key phrase: N/A
Stirring rating: 8/10

9. Uruguay

A cross between the UK’s flag-festooned, ultra-patriotic Last Night of the Proms and something from the Wizard of Oz — and that’s just the opening 42-second intro that takes you on a genuine musical journey of joy. Then it’s all about fulfilling vows and saving the fatherland. Pretty epic.

Length: 1m 35s
Key phrase: “Freedom or with glory we die!”
Stirring rating: 8/10

U.S. readers watch here:

 

8. Egypt

Rousing! Uplifting music (with verses, bridges and key changes), inspiring lyrics and their fans really got into it (even if Mohamed Salah didn’t). Bonus points because it includes the mention of a river.

Length: 1m 30s
Key phrase: “Egypt, o mother of all countries, you are my hope and my ambition. And above all people, your Nile has countless graces.”
Stirring rating: 8/10

 

7. Argentina

Oh yes. Violin intro? Check. Drumroll to speed things up? Check. Manically quick South American shouting? Check. Blubbing in the crowd? Check. The only thing that lets it down is it could go on a little longer.

Length: 59s
Key phrase: “And the free people of the world reply; ‘To the great Argentine people, cheers!’.”
Stirring rating: 8/10

 

6. Ecuador

This will certainly do. Italian-style orchestral intro that lasts fully 34 seconds before the real fun starts. Tears, shouting, singing en masse in a gigantic yellow stadium in Philadelphia. Great stuff. Shame they lost 1-0.

Length: 1m 12s
Key phrase: “Oh fatherland, glory be to you, now your chest overflows with joy and peace.”
Stirring rating: 9/10

 

5. Scotland

A nondescript ballad about a battle in 1314 becomes a tear-inducing war cry because of its people. You don’t sing it — you shout it, spit it and bellow it, amid a background of bagpipes and pride. An incredible rendition for their opener against Haiti will have been heard for miles around, with the players linked arm-in-arm, all singing, some emotional and some smiling. Glorious.

Length: 1m 11s
Key phrase: “O flower of Scotland, when will we see your like again?”
Stirring rating: 9/10

For UK readers:

 

4. Colombia

Magnificent. Great backstory (future president Rafael Nunez wrote the words as a poem in a newspaper to mark the city of Cartagena becoming independent from Spain) and a textbook South American anthem, with 15 minutes of funky trumpet before we’re into the guts of the anthem. The Colombia players were seemingly having a competition as to who could sing/shout it the loudest, James Rodriguez welled up and then a big key change gives it a rousing finish; glorious.

Length: 1m 25s
Key phrase: 2. “‘Independence’ cries the American world; soaked in blood of heroes the land of Columbus.”
Stirring rating: 9/10

 

3. Portugal

The title doesn’t give much away (A Portuguesa, translation: The Song of the Portuguese) but this is a belter. It’s an empowering call to arms, with the repeated refrain “as armas” (aka “to arms”) sung loud and proud. It drew tears from Joao Neves and even their Belgian head coach Roberto Martinez gave it some welly. With a black and white picture of Diogo Jota shown on the big screen during the anthem, this was an emotional moment

Length: 1m 5s
Key phrase: “Raise once again today, the splendor of Portugal”
Stirring rating: 9/10

 

2. France

A classic of the genre. Over the centuries, it has been banned and has represented revolutions and now it gets to be mumbled by Kylian Mbappe before football matches. There was a disappointing amount of mumbling among the French side, actually, but wailing fans in the stands made up for that and its status in the cohort of national anthems remains almost unmatched. Almost.

Length: 55s
Key phrase: Let us march! Let us march! May impure blood water our fields.
Stirring rating: 9/10

 

1. Brazil

Lasts the best part of two minutes and still isn’t long enough. There are a lot of words sung very quickly for most of it, about not fearing battle, about a fearless colossus and a beloved homeland, but the highlight is undoubtedly a glorious 28-second orchestral intro. For their match against Morocco, there weren’t quite the blubbing tears and melodrama we saw before their fabled semi-final back home in 2014, but that’s probably for the best. One of the best anthems in the world.

Length: 1m 48s
Key phrase: “Brazil, an intense dream, a vivid ray of love and hope descends to earth.”
Stirring rating: 9/10



Source link

chutebr

Write a Comment

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Related Posts

África do Sul se reúne para empatar com a República Tcheca no gol de Teboho Mokoena

June 18, 2026 Notícias de Esporte By chutebr
18 de junho de 2026; Atlanta, Geórgia, EUA; Oswin Appollis da África do Sul em ação com Vladimir Coufal da…

Paul Scholes revela o que estará ‘matando’ Cristiano Ronaldo por dentro e destaca quantos minutos o capitão de Portugal deve jogar na Copa do Mundo da FIFA

June 19, 2026 Notícias de Esporte By chutebr
A lenda do Manchester United, Paul Scholes, afirmou que Cristiano Ronaldo deve estar doendo ver Lionel Messi e Kylian Mbappé…

Valquírias explodem Kelsey Plum, Sparks

April 10, 2026 Notícias de Esporte By chutebr
15 de junho de 2026; São Francisco, Califórnia, EUA; A atacante do Golden State Valkyries, Kaila Charles (6), busca um…

Death Riders e Jon Moxley sofrem grande revés na AEW pouco antes de Forbidden Door 2026

June 18, 2026 Notícias de Esporte By chutebr
A estrela da AEW, Jon Moxley, não conseguiu uma grande vitória esta noite. No Dynamite final antes de Forbidden Door,…

Caso de estupro do ex-receptor da BYU Parker Kingston foi arquivado

June 19, 2026 Notícias de Esporte By chutebr
Uma acusação de estupro contra o ex-wide receiver da BYU Parker Kingston foi demitido sem prejuízo Quinta de manhã pelo…

“Ele não pode mais fazer esse trabalho”

June 19, 2026 Notícias de Esporte By chutebr
O futuro de Michael Chandler se tornou um grande assunto de discussão após o UFC Freedom 250, e Chael Sonnen…

Comentário ao vivo – Iraque x Noruega

December 23, 2025 Notícias de Esporte By chutebr
TFTempo total AETDepois da prorrogação AO VIVOEsta é uma partida ao vivo. ETProrrogação HTMeio período Iraque vs Noruega. Grupo I…

O double-double de Angel Reese leva Dream a vencer Fever

June 19, 2026 Notícias de Esporte By chutebr
18 de junho de 2026; Indianápolis, Indiana, EUA; O atacante do Atlanta Dream, Angel Reese (5), reage a uma cesta…

Atualizações ao vivo do Uzbequistão x Colômbia: últimas notícias e preparação do jogo da Copa do Mundo de 2026

June 18, 2026 Notícias de Esporte By chutebr
Meio-campista colombiano Jhon Arias é natural da cidade de Quibdo, localizada no estado de Choco, na costa do Pacífico da…

Embers of the Uncrowned: Melhor guia de construção do Stormbringer

February 12, 2026 Notícias de Esporte By chutebr
Se você gosta da ideia de encadear ataques relâmpago, Stormbringer é a classe perfeita para experimentar na demo Embers of…