How the World Cup sent Oasis’ ‘Wonderwall’ to the top of Spotify’s global chart
How a 31-year-old Oasis classic became the world’s most-streamed song.
More than 30 years after its release, Oasis’ Wonderwall has achieved something it never managed during the height of Britpop, becoming the most-streamed song in the world on Spotify.
The 1995 classic climbed to No. 1 on Spotify’s Global Daily chart during the final week of the 2026 FIFA World Cup after becoming England’s unofficial tournament anthem. It was a remarkable turnaround for a song released more than three decades ago, proving that some tracks never really disappear – they just need the right moment to find a new audience.
How ‘Wonderwall’ became England’s World Cup anthem
The story began after England’s opening victory over Croatia.
As the final whistle blew, Wonderwall echoed around the stadium while Harry Kane, Jude Bellingham, Declan Rice and the rest of the squad walked over to celebrate with the travelling supporters. Thousands of England fans sang every word back to the players, creating one of the defining images of the tournament.
Rather than being a one-off celebration, it quickly became a tradition. After every England win, the players stayed behind to join supporters in another rendition of the Oasis classic, with videos of the celebrations spreading rapidly across social media.
Unlike songs such as Three Lions or World in Motion, Wonderwall was never written as a football anthem. Yet its instantly recognisable chorus and universal appeal made it the perfect soundtrack to England’s World Cup run.
Streams soared throughout the tournament
As England progressed through the knockout stages, so did Wonderwall.
Spotify streams climbed after each victory, eventually pushing the song to the top of the platform’s Global Daily chart. On the Global Weekly chart, it also jumped 22 places to No. 4 after recording more than 26 million streams in a single week.
For a song first released in October 1995, it was an extraordinary achievement. It found itself sitting alongside today’s biggest global hits, despite being more than three decades older than many of the songs surrounding it.
The boost wasn’t driven by a re-release or anniversary campaign. Instead, millions of football fans simply pressed play after watching England’s celebrations, turning a Britpop classic into one of the biggest streaming songs in the world once again.
A return to the UK charts
The World Cup success wasn’t limited to Spotify.
Wonderwall also climbed back to No. 2 on the UK Singles Chart, matching the position it originally reached in 1995. Despite becoming one of Britain’s most recognisable songs, it has still never topped the Official Singles Chart.
The resurgence also introduced the track to a new generation of listeners. While Oasis fans have been singing Wonderwall for decades, many younger supporters experienced the song for the first time through England’s World Cup celebrations and the countless videos shared across TikTok, Instagram and X.
Another milestone for Oasis
The song’s success added another chapter to what has already been a remarkable period for Oasis.
Following the band’s long-awaited reunion, interest in their back catalogue was already at its highest level for years. The World Cup gave their biggest hit an unexpected second life, helping introduce it to millions of new listeners while reminding older fans why it became such a defining song in the first place.
Few songs remain relevant more than 30 years after they were recorded. Fewer still manage to become the soundtrack to one of the world’s biggest sporting events.
For two days during the 2026 World Cup, Wonderwall wasn’t just a Britpop classic, it was officially the most-streamed song on Spotify anywhere in the world.