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GTA taxi music makes unexpected World Cup cameo, sparking speculation from fans
Did you spot it?
Rockstar Games / Rich Storry / Getty Images
- Rob Leane
Published: Friday, 12 June 2026 at 12:44 pm
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There's no denying that GTA 6 and the World Cup are two of the biggest cultural moments happening this year, but did you clock the unexpected connection between them?
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During the opening fixtures of the FIFA World Cup 2026 on Thursday 11 June, fans noticed a link between the GTA franchise and the footballing action. Or, more specifically, a break in the footballing action.
Of course, GTA 6 is always in the news at the moment. We've recently seen reports about the game's potentially massive file size, and the speculation about GTA 6 trailer 3 shows no signs of slowing down. And that's not even to mention the constant stream of interviews with Take-Two boss Strauss Zelnick.
But yes, what about the World Cup? How exactly is GTA showing up at the tournament? Well, fans with impeccable hearing have noticed the GTA taxi music playing during the hydration breaks at the World Cup. And, of course, that is more than enough to get GTA fans speculating about what it could all mean.
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The GTA 5 taxi song, if you were wondering, is actually called El Sondito. It is performed by Hechizeros Band, a Mexican band, and it was first released back in 2009.
And yes, it is the same song that you've heard playing during the hydration breaks at the World Cup. This could be simply because it's a popular song in Mexico, one of the host nations, but that won't stop GTA 6 fans looking for deeper meaning where there might not be any to find.
Fans have already started bickering on Reddit (across multiple Reddit threads) as to whether Rockstar Games could be behind this musical moment at the World Cup. Could it mean that a GTA 6 teaser trailer, or a cover reveal, or some other marketing beat could be happening later in the tournament?
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Certainly, the World Cup is always a huge opportunity for advertising. The eyes of millions are all pointed on the same place at the same time, making it an ideal environment in which to place your product.
To us, though, this seems like it is likely just a coincidence. Somebody chose the song, but that doesn't mean Rockstar was involved. Someone could have done this as a deliberate joke to get people talking, or they could have simply picked the same song without realising the hubbub it would cause online.
That said, if GTA 6 does get promoted during the World Cup, we'll be sure to let you know!
Read more World Cup 2026: Matches on today | Radio coverage | Stadium guide | BBC presenters | ITV presenters | Highlights
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Authors
Rob LeaneGaming Editor
Rob Leane is the Gaming Editor at Radio Times, overseeing our coverage of the biggest games on PlayStation, Xbox, Switch, PC, mobile and VR. Rob works across our website, social media accounts and video channels, as well as producing our weekly gaming newsletter. He has previously worked at Den of Geek, Stealth Optional and Dennis Publishing.
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