The FIFA World Cup 2026™ is expected to hit the highest of notes, from the sounds of jubilant fans in stadiums and sublime skills of the greatest players in the world to the historic first half-time show at the final in New York New Jersey Stadium. And the diversity and creativity of the global showpiece have been amplified by FIFA’s unique Sonic ID initiative, which launched in March 2025.
Some of the most talented and influential producers from the 16 Host Cities across Canada, Mexico and the United States have come together to create bespoke Sonic IDs – audio brands that connect the FIFA World Cup 2026 with Host Cities’ respective communities in a unique and memorable way.
Each Host City selected a local producer to remix the Official FIFA World Cup 2026™ Theme, infusing it with the distinct rhythm, vibe and cultural essence of their city. Philadelphia has collaborated with local Grammy-award winning producer DJ Jazzy Jeff, who was one of the stars of hit TV series The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air, to create a soundtrack that pays homage to iconic soul duo Gamble and Huff.
“I wanted to make something that was very reminiscent of the sound of Philadelphia – do an ode to Gamble and Huff… soulful base lines and soulful keys,” DJ Jazzy Jeff said. “It definitely had to be a Rhodes electric piano, probably a Fender P [Precision] bass and some orchestration, some strings and some horns. That is pretty much the instruments of the sounds of Philly.
“Being the DJ that I am and a producer, I thought it would be really cool to cut and chop some of those in the way I would do it.”
Fans will be able to stream, download and enjoy their city-specific Sonic IDs on popular music platforms, including Spotify, Apple Music, and more, and watch each city’s Sonic ID visualiser on FIFA’s YouTube channel.
In addition, the full Philadelphia Sonic ID is available on Spotify. The playlist celebrates the Host City’s soul, pop, hip-hop and rock legacy with iconic anthems, local classics and modern Philly artists. Artists include DJ Jazzy Jeff and the Fresh Prince, Boyz II Men, Patti LaBelle, Hall and Oates, and Bill Conti.
