Jelly Roll, Carín León team up for first FIFA World Cup 2026 song

Jelly Roll and Carín León are kicking off the musical era of the FIFA World Cup 2026 with a major cross-genre collaboration.

The two artists have teamed up for a new track titled "Lighter," which serves as the first single from the tournament's upcoming official album. The song also features production from hitmaker Cirkut, signaling a high-profile start to the global project.

The collaboration brings together Jelly Roll's country and Southern-influenced style with León's signature regional Mexican sound, reflecting the global and multicultural spirit that the World Cup aims to represent.

The 2026 tournament, set to be hosted across the United States, Canada and Mexico - is expected to be one of the biggest sporting events in history, and its official album will play a key role in shaping its cultural identity. Like previous World Cup soundtracks, the project is designed to unite international artists and audiences through music.

While more artists and songs are expected to be announced in the coming months, "Lighter" sets the tone for what's to come, a global fusion of genres tied to one of the world's most-watched events.

Jelly Roll launched his career in hip-hop after being inspired by rappers such as Three 6 Mafia, UGK, and 8Ball & MJG. He sold mixtapes out of his car, starting with a string of releases from his first project, The Plain Shmear Tape, in 2003, then following with the four-part Gamblin' on the White Boy series from 2004 to 2011. His 2010 collaboration "Pop Another Pill" with Memphis rapper Lil Wyte reached over 6.3 million YouTube views. This song led to the album Year Round by the hip-hop group SNO, of which Jelly Roll was a member.