Robbie Williams has released ‘Desire’, the first ever official FIFA anthem, featuring Laura Pausini – listen below.
Last month, the singer was confirmed as the new official Music Ambassador for the global football governing body, and he will play the new song live for the first time before kick-off at the FIFA Club World Cup final between Chelsea and Paris Saint-Germain in MetLife Stadium in New Jersey on Sunday (July 13).
‘Desire’ is the first result of Williams’ role as Music Ambassador – he has written the song alongside Karl Brazil, Owen Parker and Erik Jan Grob and recorded it with Italian artist Pausini.
The song is based around a stadium-ready anthemic chorus, and boasts lyrics such as, “Dignity for the weak in the arms of the brave” and “You’ve got the ball and you’re driven by desire”. Listen here:
Speaking about the song, Williams has said: “Music and football bring people together like nothing else so I’m beyond honoured to be the Official FIFA Music Ambassador. To perform ‘Desire’ with Laura at the final of the FIFA Club World Cup and share that moment with fans in the stadium and all the fans watching from home around the world, will be a truly special moment. And it’s just the start, I’m so excited that my song will be a part of some of my favourite FIFA football tournaments in the coming years”.
Pausini added: “It’s an honour for me to be invited to join Robbie Williams and be featured on the song ‘Desire’, written by Robbie. The song is amazing, really touching. It’s a dream to be with him for the FIFA Club World Cup. Since I was a little girl growing up in Italy I remember the thrill and passion for football in my home country. To be able to perform live with Robbie Williams in front of passionate football fans and to be heard by music fans around the world will be truly amazing.”
In addition to performing the song at the Club World Cup final, the song will also be played at all FIFA tournament matches going forwards, including the 2026 World Cup.
Williams has long been known as a football fan, and last year he was even reportedly attempting to buy his own team Port Vale, who are based in his hometown Stoke-on-Trent. He has also been a regular presence at Soccer Aid over the last 20 years, the annual charity game for UNICEF between teams of ex-professional players and celebrities.
Williams is preparing to release his first studio album in almost a decade, titled ‘BRITPOP’. Visit here to pre-order. He has already previewed it with the single ‘Rocket’, which features guitars from Black Sabbath’s Tony Iommi.
Recently, the ‘Millenium’ singer spoke to NME at the Ivor Novello Awards, where he picked up the Icon Award for 2025. Reflecting on whether ‘BRITPOP’ will recapture the hedonism of the ‘90s, he said: “If hedonism is Jaffa Cake-based or Cadbury’s Fruit And Nut, then I’m in. Everything else I’ve got to park until I die. If I don’t park it, it’ll kill me.”
Discussing his guitar-dominated new approach, he added: “I was playing it safe and I’ve not been driving my own car. I’ve not had my hands on the wheel through second-thinking myself and guessing what people like. I just wanted to do something that I like.”
