Argentina’s victory over England to reach the 2026 World Cup final has cemented a new musical trend in football: the appropriation of global rock hits by stadium crowds. According to writer Manuel Soriano, author of ¡Canten, putos!, the adoption of Oasis’s “Wonderwall”—adapted for the national team by Joaquín Levinton—illustrates how fans strip original meanings from songs to create collective identity.
The Evolution of Football Chants: From “Wonderwall” to “Seven Nation Army”
The transition of “Wonderwall” from a 1995 Britpop ballad to an Argentine stadium anthem didn’t happen overnight. While the song is decades old, it only became a fixture of the 2026 World Cup cycle after being reimagined by Levinton. This follows a pattern where the age of a track is irrelevant; what matters is the specific moment a crowd decides to claim it.
A primary example is “Seven Nation Army” by The White Stripes. Released in 2003, the riff has spent twenty years as a universal football cry across multiple continents. According to Soriano, these songs survive not because of Spotify algorithms, but because they pass the “locker room test”—crossing the final border from the stands to the players themselves.
Did you know? Noel Gallagher previously acknowledged that “Wonderwall” had ceased to belong solely to Oasis, becoming the property of the people after the band performed it with 20,000 fans in Dallas.
Why Certain Songs Jump from Radio to Stadiums
Not every hit becomes a chant. Soriano explains that the “national team fan” is a distinct specimen compared to the weekly club supporter—often more family-oriented or nostalgic. This allows for a diverse repertoire, ranging from the childlike simplicity of “Mandarina, mandarina” to the tango-influenced longing of “Volveremos a ser campeones como en el 86.”
The “spark” for a new song often requires a historical rival. Soriano notes that the crowd didn’t align on a new, “spicy” chant until Brazil hosted a World Cup, which prompted the adaptation of Creedence Clearwater Revival’s “Bad Moon Rising.” The tension of the England match provided a similar catalyst for the “Wonderwall” phenomenon.
The Logic of Appropriation: Argentina vs. Europe
The narrative depth of Argentine chants differs sharply from European traditions. Soriano observes that English fans rely more on short, improvised slogans and hymns—essentially “catchphrases”—rather than the complex lyrical narratives found in South American stadiums.
| Region | Chant Characteristic | Musical Root |
|---|---|---|
| Argentina | Narrative, lyrical transformations | Rock, Pop, Folklore |
| England | Short, improvisational slogans | Traditional Hymns |
Genre-Bending: When Synth-Pop and Country Hit the Terraces
The limits of musical genres vanish in the “popular” section of the stadium. Soriano cites the case of Erasure, a British synth-pop duo. Their track “Oh L’amour” was transformed into a targeted chant against the club Ñuls, proving that even the most polished electronic pop can be weaponized by a football crowd.
Similar transformations occur with folk music. A Venezuelan ballad, popularized in Argentina by Gladys, la Bomba Tucumana, was repurposed as a chant against All Boys. Even the late Welsh singer Bonnie Tyler experienced this; Soriano shared emails with her manager expressing surprise that “It’s a Heartache” became the foundation for the chant “Jugadores, la concha de su madre,” which fans use to vent frustration at their own players.
Pro Tip: If you’re analyzing stadium trends, look for “cross-border” musicality. The most successful chants often come from songs with simple, repetitive melodic structures that can be easily modified with new lyrics.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Manuel Soriano?
Manuel Soriano is a writer and author of ¡Canten, putos!, an essay that analyzes the origins and evolution of football chants in Argentina.
How did “Wonderwall” become a football chant?
The song was adapted by Joaquín Levinton into a chant for the Argentine national team, eventually gaining viral status and adoption by the fans during the 2026 World Cup cycle.
Why do fans change the lyrics of famous songs?
According to Soriano, it is a collective process of appropriation. Fans strip the original meaning (such as “impossible loves”) and replace it with themes of loyalty, rivalry, or frustration to create a shared identity.
What song do you think will be the next global stadium hit? Let us know in the comments below or subscribe to our newsletter for more deep dives into the intersection of sports and culture.
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