Tonight is the beginning of 3 weeks where i will lose my mind and gorge on a feast of football. As a kid that changed schools often, football was one of my only constants. That being said it’s an irrational love but it’s a love. So what better way than connecting that love than with my other great love which is music. So here is my top 3 football related songs in time for the kick off tonight. Also you can catch me at Birthdays hosting 2/3 of Nigeria’s World cup games, which will include me playing Nigeria music and more an hour before.

Clint Dempsey x Dont Tread

From the 2006 World Cup, Dempsey announced himself on the world in the best way possible. Combining his Texas roots and football becoming more fully recognised as a minority sport, Dempsey teams up with Big Hawk an Xo on this dirty south cut. Whilst Klinsmann is doing an even better job of recruiting all sorts of Americans for the current team, this definitely helped pave the way.

Reggae Boyz x Kick It

Back in 1998, the Jamaican team qualified for the World Cup. The team featured many players that i recognised from the Premiership at the time. Their shirt was instantly recognisable but they also had 1 of the best songs of all time. The OG has the player singing along which is always fun but the remix by Tuff Jam is fantastic. A great garage stormer that definitely play out in the clubs still. In doing research for this post i just found out that there was another anthem which includes Toots Hibbert, Diana King, Ziggy Marley, Maxi Priest, Ini Kamoze, Shaggy, I-Trees, Buju Banton, Tony Rebel and more.

General Pype x Champion (Remix)

Granted this isn’t a World Cup song, its a remix to a song which pays homage to the 1996 Olympic winning Nigeria team. Its actually really good and features Dagrin, Vector, Naeto C, Shasha and GT. Those triumphant horns are great to hear.