'Dai Dai' beats 'Tukoh Taka' in World Cup song debate

The debate over the soundtrack of a World Cup is almost as old as the tournament itself. On Reddit, user /u/Puzzled-Repeat8434 cut to the chase: asked to name the best and worst song at this edition, their answer was emphatic — "Dai Dai" for the top spot, "Tukoh Taka" firmly at the bottom. It is a take that will resonate with thousands of fans who found themselves humming the unofficial tunes rather than the glossy official releases.

A fan favourite from the terraces

For every World Cup, FIFA lines up a slate of official songs, from Shakira's "Waka Waka" to Pitbull's "We Are One." These tracks are built for global radio, with famous artists and big-budget videos. But in the stadium, the real songs are the ones that grow organically. "Dai Dai" belongs to that category — a chant that turns a match into a party, repeated by fans who may not know a single word of the original lyrics but know exactly how it feels.

The Reddit verdict taps into a wider truth: the best World Cup music often has nothing to do with the official campaign. When supporters are bouncing in the stands, they are not looking for a polished hook. They want something that bonds strangers in a moment. "Dai Dai" delivers that, which is why it has earned the unofficial title of winner.

Why "Tukoh Taka" struck a wrong note

"Tukoh Taka" arrived with serious credentials: Nicki Minaj, Maluma, Myriam Fares, and the backing of FIFA as the official Fan Festival anthem for the 2022 World Cup. It was loud, colourful, and designed for the content era — a TikTok-friendly melody with trilingual verses. Yet for many fans, it felt like too much. The song divides listeners, and the Reddit fan who named it the worst is far from alone in finding it grating on repeat.

There is a common complaint about official World Cup songs: they are overproduced and disconnected from what actually happens on the pitch. "Tukoh Taka" had all the ingredients of a hit, but it did not seem to emerge from the culture of football. It was a product, not an anthem. Contrast that with "Dai Dai," which has no marketing push, yet has become the soundtrack of celebration.

A shift toward organic anthems

The gap between official releases and fan-driven songs is not new, but the internet has made it wider. Social media allows a chant from one set of supporters to travel around the world in a matter of minutes. When the tournament ends, the songs people remember are usually not the ones on the official playlist. The 2022 edition already produced multiple viral moments, and the conversation around "Dai Dai" versus "Tukoh Taka" is proof.

For FIFA and the music industry, the lesson is simple: you cannot manufacture a terrace anthem. The next World Cup will bring more official songs, bigger artists, and grander marketing campaigns, but the real winner will probably be a song no one expected. That is the beauty of the tournament — it creates its own culture, no focus group required.