When fans around the world gather during the World Cup, beyond the matches they revel in colourful spectacles, bodies of sound, and anthems that have become time capsules. The songs that have lived longer than a tournament are rare. They blend memorable riffs, simple yet uplifting lyrics and a communal chorus that invites “Olé, olé, olé, olé”.
The 1990 FIFA World Cup marked a turning point. England’s “World In Motion” and the Republic of Ireland’s “Put ’em Under Pressure” were produced by notable makers. The Irish track incorporates an electric guitar hook taken from Horslips’ “Dearg Doom” and features audio clips of manager Jack Charlton sounding it out on the field. U2 drummer Larry Mullen Junior co‑produced the track, providing a professional polish that remains visceral.
Barry Devlin—former bassist for Horslips—recalls the experience of turning an Irish rock riff into a soccer anthem. “The guitar riff was adapted and blasted for a football anthem,” Devlin said. “It was an iconic moment that still runs through our wedding playlists.” The ripple effect was that the song became an oral history for fans, long after the original 1990 qualification success.
In contrast, fresher anthems, although delivered by megastars such as Pitbull or Shakira, lack the community‑generating hook. The older songs connect an entire stadium to a shared narrative: the team’s journey, the flavour of optimism and the collective memory of past sporting moments.
Irish football historian Fred Kenny notes that the musical backbones of these songs have features fans could utterly relate to. “Detect your own feelings of the ‘90s while hearing that J C sing back. Fans sing it again every opening day.” This highlights how a great World Cup anthem secures an intimate bond between music and sport, transcending a single generation.
