FIFA has once again used Pakistani music, this time honoring French football star Kylian Mbappe. After using Arif Lohar’s song “Aa” last month for Lionel Messi’s 37th birthday, FIFA has now featured the popular track “Blockbuster” in a video celebrating Mbappe’s on-field prowess.
In a recent TikTok post, FIFA highlighted Mbappe’s impressive moments set to the lively Punjabi song. “Blockbuster,” composed and penned by Pakistani artists Xulfi, Umair Butt, Faris Shafi, and Shamroz Butt, was captioned as Mbappe’s dynamic entry.
Read more: Arif Lohar’s Song Highlighted on FIFA World Cup’s Instagram
The song, known for its traditional folk music essence, features vocals by Faris Shafi, a well-known Pakistani rapper, alongside Umair Butt and the all-female Gharwi Group comprising Abida, Rooha Rawal, Sajida Bibi, and Saba Hassan.
This move by FIFA underscores its embrace of cultural diversity and music from around the world to enhance the football experience. The use of “Blockbuster” not only celebrates Mbappe’s impact on the field but also highlights the global appeal of Pakistani music in sports entertainment.
The song, featured in Coke Studio Pakistan’s season 15 in May, has gained immense popularity among Pakistani and international audiences alike.
Xulfi expressed his excitement on Instagram upon discovering FIFA’s post: “From Coke Studio Pakistan to FIFA’s global stage – our ‘Blockbuster’ just made an appearance with Mbappe on FIFA’s official TikTok page! This feels surreal. Our voice and beats transcending boundaries, creating timelines that were once deemed improbable. Congratulations Pakistan. This is wonderful and this is huge.”
The song’s appeal grew thanks to its catchy melody and single-take music video. It also trended on Spotify India, where listeners remarked on its international success. One Indian listener commented, “It feels like I’ve crossed borders just by scrolling through.”
