June 17 – Robbie Williams has been unveiled as FIFA’s latest Music Ambassador, headlining the start of the new-look Club World Cup with his official tournament track, Desire.
The song debuted ahead of the tournament opener in Miami – a goalless draw between Inter Miami and Al Ahly that did little to justify the fanfare.
FIFA President Gianni Infantino, still riding his PR hype train, hailed the anthem with characteristic hyperbole: “Our FIFA Music Ambassador, Robbie Williams, has created what is a fantastic, incredible, emotional and brilliant Official FIFA anthem, and to feature Laura Pausini is wonderful… This is going to be truly epic.”
“Epic” might be overselling it. Miami’s curtain-raiser was flat, with poster boy Messi kept relatively quiet and the game ending 0-0 – not quite the blockbuster start FIFA had hoped for. The match also offered a stark reminder of Miami’s ageing legs and a glaring lack of top-tier sharpness, Messi excluded.
Later in the day, Bayern Munich obliterated Auckland City 10-0 in what felt less like a contest and more like a branding misstep. If this is the “best against the best,” as Infantino has dubbed the expanded tournament, then someone forgot to tell Auckland. The gulf between Europe’s elite and the rest is already clear – and we’re only in the first round.
In Group B, Paris Saint-Germain laid down a serious marker, dismantling Atletico Madrid 4-0 in a dominant performance that reinforced their status as European champions. Botafogo edged out the Seattle Sounders in a far tighter clash, setting up what will likely be a humbling against PSG later this week.
Elsewhere, Palmeiras and Porto played out yet another 0-0 draw – the tournament’s second in just a few fixtures.
And through it all, Robbie Williams’ Desire echoed across stadiums. If the football doesn’t set the tone, at least the soundtrack is consistent.
Discussing his new role, the former Take That singer said: “Music and football bring people together like nothing else – each with their own universal language of connection, spirit and community. When those worlds come together, there’s nothing like it – and I’m beyond honoured to be FIFA’s Music Ambassador.
“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.
“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.”
Contact the writer of this story, Harry Ewing, at moc.l1750184241labto1750184241ofdlr1750184241owedi1750184241sni@g1750184241niwe.1750184241yrrah1750184241