FIFA faces questions over $9M in Shakira World Cup song royalties
FIFA is under growing pressure to account for an estimated $9 million in royalties generated by Shakira’s 2010 World Cup anthem, “Waka Waka (This Time for Africa).” According to a report by The Times, the funds were collected by Sony Music and transferred to FIFA, which was responsible for distributing profits to charities chosen by the artists involved.
However, South African band Freshlyground, which featured on the track, claims it has been unable to obtain clear information about how the money was allocated over the past decade.
A spokesperson for Sony Music confirmed the company has “paid and continues to pay royalties for the official version of ‘Waka Waka’ to FIFA,” which then oversees charitable distribution.
FIFA stated that portions of the royalties were used to build football infrastructure across 15 African countries. Yet the foundation originally set up to manage these funds appears to have been dissolved in 2014.
In an official statement, FIFA emphasized that its total investment in World Cup legacy projects “far exceeded the royalties received” from the song.
The organization continues to support 20 centers built in South Africa, but calls for transparency regarding the full use of the royalties remain unanswered.
