Emilio Estefan and Cimafunk Bring Cuban Flavor to the Official FIFA World Cup 2026 Album

Foto: FIFA / inside.fifa.com

June 6, 2026

Two giants of Cuban talent, producer Emilio Estefan and artist Cimafunk, have placed the island's unmistakable sound at the center of the world's biggest sporting event by contributing to the official album of the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

Their contribution is the song "Love Always Wins", written and produced by Emilio Estefan and performed by young reggae vocalist Zema alongside Shaggy and Cuban artist Cimafunk. The track was officially launched on June 3, 2026 at a private event held at the Gary Nader Art Centre in Miami, Florida, with FIFA President Gianni Infantino in attendance.

"Love Always Wins was born from a very simple message: to remind us that love always wins," Estefan said at the event, as reported by the official FIFA website. The producer revealed that the composition began taking shape years ago, during a period marked by international conflicts and negative global news, and that he saved it for the right moment to share with the world.

Born in Santiago de Cuba in 1953, Estefan arrived in Miami as a young man and became one of the most influential Latin music producers in history, shaping the sound of artists including Gloria Estefan, Shakira, Ricky Martin, and Thalia. With this World Cup contribution, the Cuban-born producer once again places Cuban talent on the global stage.

Cimafunk — the stage name of Erik Alejandro Vera Rodríguez, from Pinar del Río — brings his signature blend of Afro-Cuban funk, Caribbean energy, and soulful rhythm to the World Cup anthem. His participation in this production marks the culmination of a long-anticipated collaboration with Estefan that had fans buzzing for months.

The 2026 FIFA World Cup kicks off on June 11 at the Azteca Stadium in Mexico City, marking the first edition of the tournament to feature 48 national teams, with matches spread across Mexico, the United States, and Canada. The official album, which includes "Love Always Wins," is now available on digital streaming platforms.

(Sources: inside.fifa.com / WSVN / Local10 / Diario de Cuba)

Fuente: inside.fifa.com / WSVN / Local10 / Diario de Cuba

Emilio Estefan

Arts, Producer, Musician, Society

Of Lebanese descent, he is a musician and producer based in the United States who is today one of the most influential Latin personalities in the world of entertainment at an international level. He gained fame after being a member of the tropical band Miami Sound Machine (Miami Sound Machine) although he is currently better known for being a producer of many famous artists and for being the husband of the famous Latin American music singer Gloria Estefan. In 1968, Estefan moved to Miami, United States, where he shared an apartment with fifteen members of his family.

Cimafunk Erik Alejandro Vera

Arts, Music, Composer, Society

Cuban vocalist, composer and music producer, whose style is an original fusion of funk with Afro-Cuban music. He has drawn from the work of Cuban musicians Benny Moré, Bola de Nieve and Juan Formell, and Americans James Brown, George Clinton, Prince, Al Green, Bill Withers. Cimafunk was born in a rural area 4 km from the city of Pinar del Río.