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A Vancouver remix of the official theme song for the FIFA World Cup brings local Indigenous voices and music to the forefront.
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The audio was remixed by Vancouver DJ and producer Grayson Repp, and includes vocals and instrumentation from the xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam), Sḵwx̱wú7mesh (Squamish) and səlilwətaɬ (Tsleil-Waututh) nations.
“Music has always been a vital part of the FIFA World Cup, and for the 2026 edition, it will reach new heights,” the City of Vancouver and FIFA said in a joint statement announcing the song’s release.
“For the first time in FIFA history, each host city has partnered with a local producer to remix the tournament’s theme and infuse the distinct rhythm, vibe and cultural essence of their location.”
Repp’s remix features “a beat that has echoed through these lands since time immemorial,” a soundscape of Indigenous vocals, rhythms and local sounds of nature “creating a distinctive audio that will connect fans to the lands on which these games will be played and remind of the Nations’ enduring presence and stewardship of them.”
Each city’s remix will be included on an anthology that shows the diversity and creativity of the host regions, including Vancouver and Toronto in Canada, three cities in Mexico and 11 in the U.S.
The song will be heard in the lead-up to the FIFA World Cup and in the stadium during the games, and can be heard online at vancouverfwc26.ca. Vancouver Sonic ID is also available for stream and download on Spotify, Apple Music and other major music platforms.
How it all came together will be released in a special “Making of: FWC26 Vancouver’s Remix.” The video features Repp, xʷməθkʷəy̓əm musicians Alec Dan and Jeffery Dan, Sḵwx̱wú7mesh musicians Peter Yelton and Calvin Charlie-Dawson, and səlilwətaɬ musicians William George-Thomas and Robert D. George.
Repp, who has had homes in North America and Europe, was also FIFA’s official head DJ and music director from 2022 to 2024 and did live performances for millions at the Qatar World Cup.