Acclaimed artist Rahma Riad has dropped a new anthem celebrating the passion and pride of football fans across the Middle East ahead of the FIFA World Cup 2026, the world’s biggest football tournament this summer.
The song called ‘First Among the Best’, has been recorded in collaboration with Coca-Cola, an official FIFA World Cup 2026™ sponsor.
Commenting on the track, Riad said, “This song celebrates the passion, pride and shared love of football across the Arab world as fans come together to support their teams on the world’s biggest stage. With Coca-Cola, we are releasing this song in celebration of the beautiful game. I hope when people hear it, they feel pride, joy and sense of rising together.”
She added, “We hope this anthem becomes something that belongs to all of us, reflecting the well-deserved pride we share in our nations. I also hope the Arab teams deliver performances that match the aspirations of their fans and create historic moments that we can all be proud of.”
The 2026 tournament will feature more Arab countries than ever, including Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Iran, Iraq and Jordan; with Iraq qualifying for the first time in 40 years and Jordan for the first time ever.
Generations of fans who waited, who dreamed, who never stopped believing will see their teams at the world’s biggest stage in sport from 11th June.
The collaboration continues Coca-Cola’s long-standing commitment to bringing together the worlds of sports and music. As a partner of FIFA for more than four decades, Coca-Cola has created some of the sport’s most memorable fan experiences, using music as a powerful way to connect supporters across cultures and borders.
On a global scale, Coca-Cola recently unveiled ‘Jump’, the FIFA World Cup 2026™ anthem featuring J Balvin, continuing the brand’s tradition of using music to bring football fans together around the world.
Cynthia Karam, Senior Director of Communications and Public Affairs at The Coca-Cola Company Middle East, said, “Rahma Riad has one of the most beloved voices of the Arab world with a career defined by powerful songs and heartfelt lyrics. This makes her well positioned to release an anthem that celebrates the pride of football fans across the region and the shared experience of being in this together. As a brand we have a long history in sport and music, and we hope this latest collaboration will capture the shared passion for all the Arab teams on the pitch this summer.”
The partnership also reflects Rahma Riad’s continued success as one of the Arab world’s most influential artists, whose music resonates with audiences across generations.
“Football has always felt bigger than the game itself,” Rahma added. “It’s how we celebrate, how we connect, how we feel close to each other no matter where we are. This anthem is for every fan who’s waited for moments like this – for the hope, the joy, and that feeling when the whole region comes together behind the teams we love.”
As part of the Coca-Cola’s commitment to young Arab Talent, the company has previously brought together leading female artists from across the Arab world for “A Kind of Magic (Coke Studio Mix for the FIFA World Cup 2022™)“, celebrating regional talent and the unifying spirit of football.
Rahma Riad’s new anthem builds on that legacy, shining a spotlight on a new generation of Arab football stories and the representation of Arab nations at this year’s tournament.
