How Oasis’ ‘Wonderwall’ Became the Unofficial Anthem for England’s Epic World Cup Run
Categoria: Musica
Football's coming home to England? We think maaaaaybe...
Por Billboard | 14/07/2026
The England men’s football team didn’t commission an official anthem for this year’s FIFA World Cup , but perhaps the answer was staring them in the face all along. After every match in the Three Lions’ current unbeaten run in the tournament, the team have lined up in front of their traveling supporters and been serenaded with one of the most popular rock songs in history: Oasis’ 1995 classic “Wonderwall.” Related 'The Kelly Clarkson Show,' 'The View' Score in 2026 Daytime Emmy Nominations 'KPop Demon Hunters,' 'Song Sung Blue,' Billy Joel Doc & More Nominated for 2026 Humanitas Prizes: Full List Watch Drake Freestyle at NBA Star Shai Gilgeous-Alexander's 28th Birthday: '2 on the Jersey, But We're Here for the 1' The song has since experienced a remarkable uptick in streams and sales; at the time of writing, the song is up to No. 2 on the Spotify’s top 50 global chart, trailing only Shakira and Burna Boy ’s “Dai Dai,” an official anthem for the tournament. It has leapt 20 places week-on-week on the U.K.’s Official Singles Chart and could go even further and best its previous best of No. 2. Fan edits of the team celebrating have flooded TikTok and Instagram feeds. (Even in the States, its streams are way up: “Wonderwall” collected 1.3 million official on-demand U.S. streams on Sunday, July 12 — the day after England’s quarterfinal victory over Norway — a 108% gain over the 605,000 streams the song posted the prior Sunday, according to early data provided by Luminate.) The trend first began following the team’s opening match against Croatia on June 17, where they won 4-2 in a thrilling group match in Dallas, Texas. It was a typically English display: flashes of brilliance, moments of drama and despondency, and then sheer ecstasy and relief after a great escape. When the players approached their fans to thank them for the support, the in-stadium DJ dropped “Wonderwall” over the Tannoys and an instinctive moment was born: “I don’t believe that anybody feels the way I do about you now,” they screamed back following heroics from captain Harry Kane and talismanic forward Jude Bellingham. Kane has since called it one of his “favorite ever moments in an England shirt”. Fans watching at home may have had moist eyes, too. On Wednesday (July 15) the song could get its loudest outing yet, should England overcome longtime rivals Argentina in the semi-final round. The match will take place in Atlanta, Georgia and should England win, it’ll make for their first World Cup final since 1966. The two nations have a fraught history both on and off the pitch: Diego Maradona’s infamous ‘Hand of God’ played a part in Argentina’s victory over England in the 1986 tournament, a scar that has never quite healed; David Beckham’s red card when the teams met in 1998 still aches. Tensions also persist over the Falkland Islands – known to Argentines as Las Malvinas – the South