Few rock songs are as instantly electrifying as Van Halen’s 1984 smash “Jump.” More than four decades after its release, the band’s biggest hit has found powerful new life, reimagined as the centerpiece of a major FIFA World Cup 2026 global campaign.
As anticipation builds for the tournament set to be hosted across the United States, Canada, and Mexico, the iconic anthem has been transformed through an ambitious, all-star collaboration commissioned by Coca-Cola, one of FIFA’s longest-running partners.
A Global Anthem Reborn
Originally released in late 1983, Jump became Van Halen’s only No. 1 hit on the Billboard Hot 100, driven by Eddie Van Halen’s unmistakable synthesizer riff and David Lee Roth’s soaring vocals. Over the years, the song evolved into a universal hype anthem, synonymous with celebration, victory, and high-energy sports moments.
Now, the track has been updated for a new generation.
The 2026 World Cup version features an impressive lineup of artists spanning rock, pop, Latin, and alternative genres:
- J Balvin, bringing global Latin influence
- Amber Mark, adding soulful modern vocals
- Travis Barker of Blink-182, delivering explosive percussion
- Steve Vai, legendary guitarist and former David Lee Roth bandmate
Together, the collaborators reshape Jump without stripping it of its DNA, maintaining its unmistakable melody while injecting modern rhythm, production, and global flair.
Music Meets Football Emotion
The updated track anchors Coca-Cola’s expansive World Cup campaign titled “All the Feels,” designed to capture the emotional extremes that define football fandom—anticipation, heartbreak, chaos, triumph, and unity.
The first campaign film, “Bubbling Up,” showcases fans across continents as the familiar synth line of Jump builds toward its explosive chorus, mirroring the rising tension before kickoff. Two additional commercials are planned to roll out closer to the opening match in June 2026.
According to campaign creatives, the goal was simple: find a song that already lives in stadiums, and elevate it for the world’s biggest sporting stage.
Few tracks fit that description better than Jump.
A Bridge Between Generations
The choice to rework Van Halen’s classic reflects the enduring power of rock music in global pop culture. While the band emerged from Southern California’s hard-rock scene in the late 1970s, their music has long transcended genre and geography.
For longtime fans, the campaign is a reminder of Eddie Van Halen’s lasting influence. For younger audiences discovering the song through football broadcasts and social media clips, Jump arrives not as nostalgia, but as something entirely new.
Legacy In Motion
Though Van Halen officially ended following Eddie’s passing in 2020, moments like this underscore the band’s unmatched cultural footprint. More than 40 years after its debut, Jump continues doing exactly what its title promises, lifting crowds, igniting emotion, and uniting people in shared excitement.
As the world prepares for the largest FIFA World Cup in history, Van Halen’s most recognizable anthem is once again echoing through stadiums, reborn, revitalized, and ready for kickoff.
Leave a Reply