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Robbie Williams has been announced as the new Fifa Music Ambassador, a role that sees him co-authoring the first official anthem for the international football governing body.

The pop icon, famed for hits like Rock DJ, Angels, and Candy, steps into this position with the aim to strengthen fan engagement and amplify the emotional experience of football by merging music with the beautiful game on a global scale.

His latest track, Desire, penned in collaboration with Fifa, will echo across stadiums worldwide, setting the stage for players as they enter the pitch at Fifa tournaments and matches.

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The anthem is set to make its premiere at the Club World Cup's opening fixture in Miami this Saturday and will feature in all subsequent tournaments, including the 2026 World Cup.

Williams expressed his enthusiasm, saying: "Music and football bring people together like nothing else - each with their own universal language of connection, emotion, spirit and community."

He added: "When those worlds come together, there's nothing like it - and I'm beyond honoured to be the Fifa Music Ambassador."

Reflecting on his personal connection to both fields, he noted: "Football and music have both been part of my life for as long as I can remember, so this means a lot to me on a personal level."

Previously, Williams had provided the theme song, It's Only Us, for the Fifa 2000 video game under the condition that Port Vale, his beloved football club, was featured in the game.

Desire, the newly minted anthem, is a collaborative effort with Karl Brazil, Owen Parker, and Erik Jan Grob, and includes vocals from Italian songstress Laura Pausini.

Hyped for the global stage, Williams' new song will make its debut at Miami's Hard Rock Stadium, setting the tone for epic matchday atmospheres.

Williams enthused: "I've grown up watching the walk-outs, the anthems, the drama – so writing and recording the official Fifa anthem is a real privilege.

"I wanted to create something that captures all of it - the passion, the nerves, the pride and the majesty of that feeling just before kick-off.

"Football and music have always meant the world to me, and bringing them together on this kind of stage gives me goosebumps.

"I know I'll get to perform this song at some of my favourite tournaments in the coming years, which fills me with excitement. It's a real honour that Laura Pausini accepted my invitation to feature on the song – she's an incredible artist with the perfect voice."

Pausini brings her storied career to the collaboration; the renowned Italian songstress first charmed the music world when she clinched victory at Sanremo Music Festival back in '93 with 'La Solitudine'.

A household name across Italy and a Grammy success story, Pausini continues to enchant with multilingual albums and even notched an Oscar nod in 2020 for her compelling original song 'Io si/Seen'.

She remarked: "The song is amazing, really touching. It's a dream to be with him for the Fifa Club World Cup. Since I was a little girl growing up in Italy I remember the thrill and passion for football in my home country.

"To be able to perform live with Robbie Williams in front of passionate football fans and to be heard by music fans around the world will be truly amazing."

As Williams wraps up the UK stretch of his vivacious tour, he's set to enthral audiences across Ireland, Spain, and Italy next.

Fans are also eagerly awaiting the autumn release of his new album, Britpop.