For the first time in FIFA World Cup history, each of the host cities is putting its own take on the iconic official World Cup theme song.
The last World Cup, held in Qatar, had a single theme song — as in past tournaments. But this year, each of the 16 host cities is creating a local variation that FIFA is calling a Sonic ID.
In North Texas, this honor falls to four-time Grammy Award-winning producer Tre Nagella, a Dallas native who has crafted a remix of the FIFA World Cup theme to embody the city’s energy. His Dallas Sonic ID blends elements of a variety of music types to highlight the diverse identity of the region.
How Nagella Created The Song
Nagella, co-owner of Luminous Sound Studios in Dallas, has worked with a range of artists, including Lady Gaga, Blake Shelton, Travis Scott and Ed Sheeran. But it’s his understanding of the Dallas music scene that made him an ideal choice for this project.
“I knew that I needed to keep certain elements of the original FIFA theme intact, like the tempo and the signature melody,” Nagella told Local Profile. “It's a sports theme, so it needs to feel big and exciting and have energy. Then I started thinking about what people around the world would think of when they think of Dallas.”
According to Nagella, the obvious musical choice for him was country, so elements of the genre were incorporated, including acoustic guitar and pedal steel for a classic country twang. However, recognizing that those sounds might also be associated with Nashville, a Dobro — a southern metallic slide guitar — was added to give the piece a uniquely Texas identity.
“I didn't want it to come off cliche, and Dallas also has a lot more to offer musically and culturally than just country, so I added some urban and pop elements as well to try to represent other aspects of North Texas.”
Nagella also infused subtle but powerful details into the track — things that you might not notice on the first listen. You can hear a stadium of cheers, a clock ticking down and even the heavy breathing of a player.
Bringing The World Cup To Music Fans
Nagella’s work in the music industry spans 25 years, and he sees this project as one of his proudest achievements. “Starting as an intern at a recording studio in high school and working my way up to now being the co-owner of Luminous Sound Studios here in Dallas, winning Grammys, getting to be in the room with amazing artists and now adding producing the theme to represent Dallas in the biggest sporting event on the globe, The 2026 World Cup. I'm very humbled and grateful.”
With the Dallas Sonic ID now set to resonate across the world, Nagella hopes it will capture the energy of the city and the excitement of the World Cup. “Hopefully the music represents Dallas and North Texas' diversity, style, and culture and captures the energy of the city and the excitement of The World Cup,” Nagella said. “I will feel like I've done my job well when soccer and sports fans hear the music, they immediately identify it with Dallas, and it's so memorable that the theme gets stuck in their heads and drives them crazy.”
The Dallas Music Scene Is Growing
According to Nagella, the North Texas music scene is often overlooked. But with a region of over eight million, there is a plethora of talent. “The Deep Ellum area has been revitalized, and we have longstanding venues like Trees, the Majestic Theatre and the Granada,” he said.
“New venues like Lava Cantina and The Box Garden at Legacy Hall are also thriving. The city of Dallas recently created the Dallas Music Office to support the music industry, and initiatives like Jambaloo, a new weeklong concert series, are helping to grow the scene.”
How To Listen To The Song
The Dallas Sonic ID is now available for fans to enjoy on YouTube and FIFA’s official social channels. It will also be featured online, at in-person events leading up to the tournament, and during in-stadium activations throughout the World Cup.
Listen to it here.
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