Robbie Williams beyond honoured’ as he shares huge | UK News

Robbie Williams has landed a main new function on the worldwide stage — as Official FIFA Music Ambassador. The 51-year-old hitmaker made the announcement during a video call with FIFA President Gianni Infantino, confirming that he’s written and recorded the high-energy monitor forward of the FIFA Club World Cup 2025. The former Take That star will kick off the job with his new anthem Desire, set to debut tonight at the opening of the World Cup in Miami.

The monitor can be performed as groups stroll onto the pitch at every FIFA match worldwide, including the FIFA World Cup 26 and all future official fixtures. Robbie mentioned: “Music and football bring people together like nothing else. 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. When those worlds come together, there’s nothing like it, and I’m beyond honoured to be the FIFA Music Ambassador.” 

The anthem — described as the first official FIFA song of its kind — was co-written by Robbie alongside long-time collaborators Karl Brazil, Owen Parker, and Erik Jan Grob. It also features vocals from Italian pop legend Laura Pausini and was produced by Brazil and Parker, with mixing by Richard Flack.

The anthem’s first play will come during a special video presentation at tonight’s clash (June 13) between Inter Miami and Al Ahly, kicking off the newly expanded 32-team tournament. Lionel Messi is expected to start for Miami in the blockbuster opener.

Speaking about the collaboration, Laura said: “It’s an honour to be invited to join Robbie on this song. Desire is amazing, really touching. Since I was a little girl growing up in Italy, I remember the thrill and passion for football. To be part of that on a global stage is a dream.

The announcement comes just as Robbie wraps up the UK leg of his BRITPOP Tour, which has already seen him perform to over 250,000 fans in just two weeks.

The tour will roll on across Europe this summer, with stops in Ireland, France, Germany, Spain, Italy, and Sweden. And fans can expect even more from the singer later this year, with the release of his hotly anticipated new album BRITPOP — due out this autumn via Columbia Records.

Speaking to The Sun, Robbie said: “I set out to create the album that I wanted to write and release after I left Take That in 1995. It was the peak of Britpop and a golden age for British music.”

He added: “I’ve worked with some of my heroes on this album. It’s raw, there are more guitars and it’s an album that’s even more upbeat and anthemic than usual. There’s some ‘Brit’ in there — and there is certainly some ‘pop’, too.”

“I’m immensely proud of this as a body of work and I’m excited for fans to hear it. I also can’t wait to perform a song or two from it on my upcoming ‘Britpop’ tour — which I’m opening in the UK, naturally.”