England opened the 2026 World Cup with a 4-2 victory over Croatia, and every England goal triggered Planet Funk's "Chase the Sun". The Football Association selected the track for its links to darts, where the tune regularly accompanies major tournaments. Fans in Dallas and back home sang along, turning the song into a spontaneous stadium chant.

Scotland, Australia, France and the United States each chose a distinct anthem – The Proclaimers' "I'm Gonna Be (500 Miles)", AC/DC's "Thunderstruck", Daft Punk's "One More Time" and a remixed Lynyrd Skynyrd classic. Germany and Curaçao endured the repetitive play of Peter Schilling's "Major Tom" during Germany's rout of the newcomers, highlighting how goal songs are now a fixture in international football.

With 40 of the 48 nations scoring in the first group‑stage round, the novelty has spread to clubs such as Bayern Munich, Chelsea and Crystal Palace. The trend adds a layer of fan identity and commercial flair, cementing music’s role in the modern World Cup experience.