2026 World Cup: eight years after dismissing Damso, Belgium causes controversy by entrusting its anthem to Roméo Elvis

Eight years after entrusting and then withdrawing the Damso rapper the task of producing Belgium’s anthem for the 2018 World Cup due to his misogynistic lyrics in his songs, the Belgian Football Federation created controversy this Wednesday. The body has entrusted this same mission for the 2026 World Cup to the Flemish musician Sylvie Kreusch, as well as to the singer Roméo Elvis.

Problem: the latter, who is also the brother of the famous singer Angèle, confessed in 2020 “to having used his hands inappropriately” on a young woman who accused him of sexual assault on social networks. Facts revealed alongside the hashtag #BalanceTonRappeur, popular at the time, and which had created a major controversy forcing Lacoste, one of its partners, to end their collaboration.

Internet users react

Nothing to discourage the Belgian Federation, which has designated it for its anthem for the next World Cup, scheduled from June 11 to July 19 in the United States, Canada and Mexico. Many Internet users were offended by this choice.

“A discernment with variable geometry” or even “he has battles to fight but the people who lead them have the wrong target, we will never move forward”, we can read this Wednesday on social networks. The rapper Damso, for his part, published quite evocative emojis in his Instagram story, as if to indicate that he was following this story closely.

Sylvie Kreusc and Roméo Elvis thus unveiled this Wednesday the sound “Kiss The Grass (Allez Allez)”, translation of “kiss the grass” in English. This is a nod to the song “Allez Allez” released in 1981 by a historic Belgian funk group, which included the musician Serge Van Laeken (alias Marka, his stage name)… the father of Roméo Elvis and Angèle. It remains to be seen whether, as in 2018, RTBF will reconsider its choice.