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The Cuban musician Cimafunk is among the performers of "Love Always Wins," a song written and produced by Emilio Estefan for the official album of the FIFA World Cup 2026, which was officially released this Thursday at the Gary Nader Art Centre in Miami.
The song is performed by Zema, Shaggy, and Cimafunk, and it also has a Spanish version titled "El amor siempre gana." The presentation event was attended by the president of FIFA, Gianni Infantino, and the art dealer Gary Nader.
Gary Nader emphasized the significance of the theme: "We are especially proud to celebrate Love Always Wins, written and produced by Emilio Estefan and performed by Zema, Shaggy, and Cimafunk, a song that carries a message of love, hope, and unity."
"Love Always Wins" is part of the official album FIFA World Cup 2026™, released under the FIFA Sound label, featuring 19 songs and artists from around the globe.
The album features names such as Shakira, Burna Boy, Daddy Yankee, The Rolling Stones, Lisa, Anitta, Rema, Future, Tyla, Jelly Roll, and Carín León, among others. Cimafunk is the only Cuban artist included in the project.
The participation of the musician from Pinar del Río is not coincidental. Cimafunk and Emilio Estefan had been working together since May 2025, when they both shared images of studio sessions in Miami, and in April 2026 it was confirmed that the Cuban was recording his next album with the producer.
Cimafunk, whose real name is Erik Alejandro Iglesias Rodríguez, was born on April 7, 1989, in Pinar del Río. His musical style blends funk, afrobeat, hip hop, and Afro-Cuban rhythms, and his stage name pays tribute to the cimarrones, enslaved people who escaped and formed autonomous communities in Cuba during the colonial period.
After releasing the album "Terapia" in 2017 and the single "Me Voy" in 2018, which made him popular in Cuba, his career gained international recognition. In 2019, Billboard included him among the "10 Latin Artists to Watch."
Since 2022, he has been based in New Orleans, where he restructured his band under the name "La Tribu." In April 2024, he became the first Cuban to perform at Coachella, and that same year he was nominated for a Latin Grammy for "Catalina," along with Monsieur Periné.
The 2026 World Cup will be held in three host countries—United States, Canada, and Mexico—making it the first in history with three national venues. Miami, the city where the song was recorded and where Estefan has his base of operations, is one of the tournament's locations.
Gary Nader summarized the spirit of the project: "Music, like art and football, has the power to unite cultures, generations, and people around the world. This album is a powerful celebration of that universal spirit."
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