"It's very inspirational. It's a story of resilience."
Nora Fatehi says she wants to bring a message of celebration, unity and representation to Canada’s World Cup opening ceremony.
She will perform her official FIFA World Cup song, ‘Siir Siir‘, during the opening ceremony in Toronto on June 12.
Inspired by a popular Moroccan football chant meaning “go, go”, the track aims to capture the spirit of the tournament and unite fans from around the world through music and sport.
Speaking to BBC Newsbeat, Nora explained why the tournament represents more than just football.
She said: “This is the time where we see everyone from across the world, different countries that qualify, come and take centre stage.
“This is the time that we celebrate talent – and music and football really do come hand in hand.
“And I wanted to use this as an opportunity to represent, to create multiculturalism within art and also to tell my story.”
Nora previously performed at the 2022 World Cup closing ceremony but her return to Canada for such a big event carries a special meaning.
She left Toronto at the age of 22 to pursue a career in India and has since become one of Bollywood’s most recognisable international stars.
Describing the opportunity to perform on one of football’s biggest stages in Canada, Nora said:
“It’s very inspirational. It’s a story of resilience.
“It’s a story of someone who dared to dream, and I want people to take this example and motivate themselves to be very ambitious and to go for whatever their heart desires.”
Preparations for the performance have involved extensive rehearsals and costume fittings. Nora said she wants the show to be “energetic, impactful and dynamic”.
Created alongside Vegedream and Sanjoy, ‘Siir Siir’ blends Moroccan Darija, Arabic, French and English. The multilingual approach reflects Fatehi’s own background and the global nature of the tournament.
The song’s accompanying music video was filmed on the streets of Morocco. Nora said the visuals were designed to reflect football’s journey from neighbourhood kickabouts to the world’s largest sporting stages.
She added: “So football in itself as a sport has a story.
“It has a journey just like me as an artist, just like the other artists who are part of this track.”
The inspiration for the song came when thousands of supporters chanted “siir siir” during the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations, which was hosted by Morocco.
The chant left a lasting impression and ultimately became the foundation of the official World Cup track.
Nora Fatehi is one of several international artists contributing to FIFA’s official soundtrack for the tournament.
The 18-song collection features a range of musical styles and artists from around the world.
Among the biggest names are Shakira and Burna Boy, who collaborated on ‘Dai Dai’, an Italian phrase meaning “let’s go”. The pair performed the song during Mexico’s opening ceremony on June 11.
Listen to ‘Siir Siir’
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