Steve Vai Plays Eddie’s Iconic Solo On New “Jump” Cover For 2026 FIFA World Cup
Van Halen’s classic “Jump” is getting a brand-new spin for the 2026 FIFA World Cup — and guitar virtuoso Steve Vai is stepping in to tackle the legendary solo originally played by Eddie Van Halen.
The updated version comes from Coca-Cola’s Real Thing Records in partnership with Capitol Records, and features a cross-genre lineup including Latin pop superstar J Balvin, singer Amber Mark, Vai, and Blink-182 drummer Travis Barker.
The track keeps the unmistakable synth hook that made the original famous, but pushes the sound toward modern pop. J Balvin contributes a rap verse, while Vai recreates — and adds his own twist to — Eddie’s iconic guitar solo.
The cover was first teased earlier this year as part of Coca-Cola’s “Bubbling Up” campaign promoting the 2026 World Cup.
Originally released on Van Halen’s blockbuster 1984 album, Jump became the band’s biggest hit and their only No. 1 single on the Billboard Hot 100. Its synth-driven sound surprised some fans at the time, marking a bold departure from the band’s earlier hard-rock formula. The gamble paid off, turning the song into one of the most recognizable anthems of the decade.
“Being a football fan means feeling everything at full volume — the joy, the heartbreak, and the hope that keeps you coming back,” said Joshua Burke, Head of Global Music & Culture Marketing at Coca-Cola. “Jump captures those shared highs and lows that unite fans everywhere.”
Singer Amber Mark said approaching the song came with a deep respect for the original.
“Van Halen’s Jump is one of those rare songs that transcends generations,” she said. “Being able to honor the original while bringing a modern perspective was incredibly special.”
Vai’s involvement also provides a historic connection to the Van Halen camp. In the mid-1980s he joined David Lee Roth’s solo band after Roth left Van Halen, performing Eddie’s famously demanding guitar parts on songs like Panama and Hot For Teacher night after night.
The new single arrives alongside an animated music video directed by McFlyy, featuring stylized versions of the performers and an animated cameo from soccer star Lamine Yamal as the road to the 2026 FIFA World Cup heats up.
Steve Vai posts, “I never know what might come across my desk as an inquiry, but this was a taker. I received a reach-out from the musical production team at Coca-Cola, working on their anthem for the FIFA World Cup 26, with a request to play a solo on this year’s song, which turned out to be a pretty wild reworking of “Jump”! Some of the tracks featured musicians are J Balvin (vocals), Amber Mark (vocals) and Travis Barker (drums).
“Part of the campaign was to create an animation of us as superheroes. Geez, can you imagine if I actually looked like my super hero component? I could have been a Pop star!
But it was good fun and the entire team involved were the kinds of folks I enjoy working with.”
Hear it in the video embedded above.