Every match at the FIFA World Cup 2026 now begins with a distinctive soundtrack — and the song responsible is a 1982 instrumental that became legendary through basketball, not football.

All 48 squads walk out together

For the first time at a World Cup, all 26 players from each competing squad enter the pitch together ahead of kick-off, rather than only the starting 11. The change was introduced by FIFA as part of a broader effort to make the tournament feel more inclusive for players not selected in the first lineup.

FIFA president Gianni Infantino explained the thinking behind the format shift. "Having all players and referees face each other in the centre circle during the national anthems will create a moment of unity, pride and emotion that truly belongs to the teams and to everyone in the stadium," he said.

The song: 'Sirius' by The Alan Parsons Project

The walk-out music itself is "Sirius," a two-minute instrumental recorded by British rock band The Alan Parsons Project and originally released in 1982. The track carries an atmospheric, building quality that suits the weight of the occasion.

The song's rise to global fame came not through football but through the NBA. The Chicago Bulls adopted "Sirius" as their official player-introduction anthem in 1984, a choice made by long-serving Bulls announcer Tommy Edwards after he heard the track at a movie theatre and felt it captured the right energy.

The timing proved historic. The Bulls' use of "Sirius" coincided with the arrival of Michael Jordan as a rookie, and the track became inseparable from the team's identity as they built one of the most celebrated dynasties in sport. Led by Hall of Famers Jordan, Scottie Pippen, and Dennis Rodman, the Bulls won six NBA championships between 1991 and 1998.

A nod to North America

FIFA have not issued an official statement explaining why "Sirius" was selected for the 2026 tournament. However, the connection is difficult to ignore — the World Cup returns to North America for the first time since the United States hosted the competition in 1994, the same era in which "Sirius" was at the peak of its cultural reach in the region.

With 48 nations, 104 matches, and an entrance anthem now woven into every game, the World Cup 2026 has added a layer of ceremony — and a familiar sound — to the biggest football tournament on the planet.